Living in beautiful County Durham we're very lucky to have an excellent botanic garden nearby. It's about a half-hour drive from our home, so on Saturday off we went.

Cherry blossom rain
Showering me in swathes of pink
I feel like a bride
(me ~ May, 2010)
In the scree garden there's a beautiful clump of gentian. The colour is amazing! There is a distinct lack of blue flowers in our garden. I need to sow some gentian seeds.
I zoomed my camera in on this little fella sitting on a bough about twelve feet or so above us. He was giving it rock all, singing his little heart out in accompaniment to another robin on a nearby tree. He's obviously used to people, as passers-by didn't distract him at all. By the look on his face I wonder what he's thinking, as me, hubby and daughter gaze up at him. :)
This is a new development since our last visit and I can see it's going to be one of my favourite parts of the garden...... a beautiful woodland walk by the stream, a place where you can wander peacefully away from the busier more crowded areas. We did meet this family though..... Mr and Mrs Duck, possibly searching for their offspring.
...... could this be her? Mary the duckling, basking in the afternoon sunshine. See if you can spot her when you visit the Botanics at Durham. :)