Slowly slowly catchee insect

It is a truth universally acknowledged that insects in South Africa are well-behaved, quiet and polite enough to pause and have their photo taken numerous times before going about their business.

Some of my blogpals in SA—you know who you are—seem capable of getting amazing insect shots of all manner of cute creepy crawlies.

I, on the other hand, end up with a blur or an empty screen, depending on how fast said insect has legged or winged it away from me.

Perhaps life is slower down there, although there isn’t much prisa in Andalucía either, and we are renowned for our mañana syndrome. Or maybe the insects that escape into my organic haven are all budding flamenco dancers practising their sharp fast movements.

Whatever.

But, one little vispa (wasp) decided he would take a go-slow in the basil patch. We do get a lot of them, apart from the basil, they generally seem to be fascinated with whatever’s in the veg plot. And like most insects, if you leave them alone, they are unlikely to bother you. Just don’t ever cook chickpea and sweet potato curry in wasp season. I had the door open, and the doorway was dark with wasps battering against the chains clamouring to come into the wonderful-smelling kitchen. Eventually it occurred to me to shut the door. I didn’t cook that recipe again.

Let’s have a rest here

Yum yum basil flower

See my pretty wings?

And, a daddy-long-legs, or to be more precise a crane fly, that was tormenting little Snowy on the kitchen wall just out of reach. Apparently they are agricultural pests in Europe with their larvae lurking just underneath the top soil and affecting plant roots and stunting growth. Hmm maybe that’s why the dwarf peas were even more dwarfish than expected? Better check the soil next time. But equally they are good for the soil system as they increase microbial activity. Can’t have it all ways.

Crane fly in kitchen

Still, his wings are very pretty. They are also important food for spiders, birds and mammals amongst others. Wiki didn’t reference Podencos and as Snowy didn’t get near it, that one’s still open for debate. He did find a rather slow cockroach to play with, but before he decided what to do with it, it woke up and scuttled under the bed, where it was quickly swept back out and despatched to Partner to deal with in summary fashion.

Here’s a nice horsey, ten years old, and one of our neighbours on Christmas Day morning. He was out bright and early to go down to the stables to exercise some of the horses for which he doesn’t get paid. He gets paid for some of his time down there, mucking out maybe, and taking paying customers out when there are any.

Patient horse

Smile please

A couple more roses, (I snipped the yellow one off by accident so plonked it in a lager glass vase inside), a fern-like plant that I have no idea what it is—looks like a Christmas tree with those delicate bobbles hanging like ornaments, and a garden post isn’t complete without the boys.

Close up centre

Perfect whirlpool

Beauty even when full blown

And this is?

Another view of ?

Moody clouds – they disappeared

Stretchy stretch

Don’t you come any nearer

The sunworshipper

Tell that big dog to get off

Now just listen to me, Little Dog

And … a queue

Have a good weekend people.