The rambla
It now feels that summer is on its way and along the rambla in Las Negras this morning we noticed the change in the nature.
Limonium
Many of the wild spring flowers have withered or are past their best but clumps of blue limonium are now in flower.
Thistle
So are the striking flowers of the thistles.
cochineal beetle on brassicas
There are now many more insects around. Most are too small and flighty to photograph but I managed to get this one of a cochineal beetle on brassicas. Not difficult as there were so many of them.
Mallow Skipper
Little butterflies were flitting around and once again almost impossible to photograph but this mallow skipper did settle on the ground for a moment.
Crested lark
Earlier in the week I took this photo of a crested lark near our home. They are so many of them here that the house is called ‘Las Totobias’, which is Spanish for ‘The Larks’.
About Margaret Merry
I grew up in Falmouth, Cornwall, England where, after leaving Falmouth High School, I spent a year at Falmouth School of Art. Then followed three years at Hornsey College of Art in London where I obtained a Diploma in Art and Design. I then spent a post-graduate year at the West of England College of Art in Bristol where I gained an Art Teacher?s Diploma and a Certificate in Education of the University of Bristol. I lived and worked in Truro for over 30 years and became one of Cornwall's most popular artists. My paintings have been exhibited in New York, Tokyo, Paris and London and have been bought by collectors from all over the world. I have published 4 books which became local bestsellers - 'The Natural History of a Westcountry City', 'Margaret Merry's Cornish Garden Sketchbook', 'Sea & Sail' and 'Tidal Reaches'.
In 2002 I moved to Spain and now live pn a small farmer the town of Alhabia in the Alpujarra Almeriense in the Province of Almeria. I now get my inspiration from the dramatic scenery of Andalucia and its old cities, towns and villages which I usually capture in watercolour.
I also enjoy portraiture and figurative art, particularly nudes and dancers. For these paintings I use artists' soft pastels.
I have written and illustrated 3 children's books - The Wise Old Boar, The Lonely Digger and The Adventure of Princess The Pony - which have been published in the USA.
Country Life in Spain 
Love what i like to call a Scottish thistle which has the most beautiful white patterned leaves. This was growing below my casa in a field which is now the school car park & it was like a field of corn cobs 6 foot high!! amazing!!
Love the poppy picyure and the others . It really looks beautiful in Almeria and makes me long for that landscape again. love Angela