All things bright and beautiful

By lunchtime the sun was shining brightly and the skies clear of clouds. We packed some lunch and headed for the Brahan Estate as Mike wanted to see the flowers. We drove along country lanes lined with delicate cow parsley. We stopped at a little graveyard we know and took our lunch with us as we looked at the wildlife, a good way to spend a Go Wild day.
At first I was disappointed that the grass had not been mown, more council cut backs, but I soon changed my mind when I saw the amount of wildflowers that had been allowed to flourish. Bees buzzed, butterflies fluttered and birds sang loudly including the bright yellowhammer sitting on a lichen covered wall.
We looked at the intricate carvings on some of the gravestones and this cross caught my eye against the clear blue sky. I liked the markings caused by the yellow lichen.
We went on to Brahan and walked down to the pond. The Azaleas and rhododendrons smelt and looked amazing, still at their peak.
One swan swimming on the loch busy feeding from the bottom of the water. We wondered where the female was, maybe on a nest , hope so.
A cup of tea from the deli in Strathpeffer and then home with Black Isle strawberries and Black Isle icecream for pudding delicious :)