Snowdrops and Ladybirds!

 It's lovely to see the snowdrops starting to show themselves! Yesterday I saw this clump in the Dells along the Water of Leith. 

and today I had a lunchtime walk round North Merchiston Cemetery, where several clumps of snowdrops are in bloom, including these

The Royal Botanic Gardens Snowdrop festival starts today! You can find out more here. 

Meanwhile, ladybirds are still hibernating on some of the gravestones, including these Pine Ladybirds. 

It was very nice that one of last week's BBC Winterwatch episodes featured entomologist Ashleigh Whiffin showing BBC presenter Gillian Burke the ladybirds in Edinburgh's Warriston Cemetery. Though, personally, I felt the segment was far too short to really do justice either to Ashleigh's enthusiasm or the ladybirds themselves. Winterwatch has also focussed on the Water of Leith in this series and will also be visiting other places in and around Edinburgh this week. It's nice to see Edinburgh's green-spaces featuring on national TV.