Wee beasties in the garden

I'm taking advantage of the glorious sunshine today - not only is there two loads on washing on the line, but I've also had a bit of tidy up in the garden.

A bit of weeding, deadheading and such like, a bit of rearranging bits and bobs and lots of chuckles as Bill lounges in the sun, eats plants (gggrrrr) and climbs up on the patio table to get a better view (cheeky wee boy).

And a plethora of beasties to be seen - amazing what blipping does for your vision .......

Gorgeous butterflies on the buddleia, spiders spinning webs, slugs - now gone but I know they've been there :( - on the hostas, an enormous collection of wasp / bee / fly type things (correct identification of things in nature not my hot topic - that's James's specialty) - and then loads of ladybirds ......


The Little Ladybird by Caroline Southey

Ladybird, ladybird! fly away home!
The field-mouse has gone to her nest,
The daisies have shut up their sleepy red eyes,
And the bees and the birds are at rest.

Ladybird, ladybird! fly away home!
The glow-worm is lighting her lamp,
The dew?s falling fast, and your fine speckled wings
Will flag with the close-clinging damp.

Ladybird, ladybird! fly away home!
Good luck if you reach it at last!
The owl?s come abroad, and the bat?s on the roam,
Sharp set from their Ramazan fast.

Ladybird, ladybird! fly away home!
The fairy bells tinkle afar!
Make haste or they?ll catch you, and harness you fast
With a cobweb to Oberon?s car.

Ladybird, ladybird! fly away home!
To your house in the old willow-tree,
Where your children so dear have invited the ant
And a few cozy neighbors to tea.

Ladybird, ladybird! fly away home!
And if not gobbled up by the way,
Nor yoked by the fairies to Oberon?s car,
You?re in luck! and that?s all I?ve to say!