Unexpected meeting

The shells on the paths of the local botanical garden are cracking under my shoes. A sunny peaceful rest encloses the garden. In the small  -with Marsh Marigold (Caltha palustris subsp. palustris) lined puddle- a duck croaks loudly to express his displeasure about my presence. To create a better position to photograph the duck, I kneel behind the flowers. Suddenly a large insect flutters out of the Marsh Marigold. I am as much startled as she is. With huge paws she grasps a little later a peduncle. It is a female of the Big Daddy-long-legs (Tipula maxima) which is -with a length of 4 and a span width to 6.5 cm- the largest among its species in Central Europe.

Beyond the puddle I see white, pink and lilac wood Anemones. The color of the lilac flowers (Anemone nemerosa 'robinsiana') is so enchanting that I am determined to catch this beauty in a picture. The light and the background work together with me and after a few shoots I'm satisfied.

While I am -kneeled on the ground-  photographing the flowers I see from this low position that the blooming wild flowers, create a large bouquet for me. Here and there are Fritillaries (Fritillaria meleagris) in between and above the floral beauty flutter all kinds of insects. Greedy a fly lands on an unopened flower of the Wild Garlic (Allium ursinum). I understand his impatience, but before they open we both have to wait.

The photos are enlarged even more beautiful. Click on the first picture.

Thanks to all my friends abroad for their spontaneous, nice comments and praising words on my last blog.
I hope we keep in touch. Of course I will visit you on your own blog, although it may take sometimes a little longer. My other very time consuming hobby is my garden and mostly my days and weeks are too short to do everything.

Greetings, Joke