"You had only to rise, lean from your window, and know that this indeed was the first real time of freedom and living; this was the first morning of summer. " Ray Bradbury- Dandelion Wine
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“Bees do have a smell, you know, and if they don't they should, for their feet are dusted with spices from a million flowers.” 
― Ray Bradbury, Dandelion Wine
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Bugs eye view!
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Loch Tay.
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It's Elcho hot in here.  So take off all your clothes!
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Norrie Miller Walk this Way!
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Dog day at Deuchny Woods.
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“No person ever died that had a family.” 
― Ray Bradbury, Dandelion Wine
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“Sunsets we always liked because they only happen once and go away."
― Ray Bradbury, Dandelion Wine
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Summer Sunset.
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If the sunset stayed and we got bored, that would be a real sadness.” 
― Ray Bradbury, Dandelion Wine
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“A common flower, a weed that no one sees, yes. But for us, a noble thing, the dandelion.” 
― Ray Bradbury, Dandelion Wine
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Summertime

'Summertime and the living is easy', the sun is out, the Tay is low, and we've got some quintessential summer pics for you to enjoy while you lie in the garden and sip your Pimm's.  Weatherwise it's been one of the best Perthshire summers for years and our friends at the Pictures of Perthshire and Beyond Facebook group have been taking advantage of the sunshine to take some amazing sizzlin' snaps.

The pics they came up with really encapsulate summer for me.  My favourite 'summery' novel has always been (and remains) Ray Bradbury's 'Dandelion Wine'.  So when I see a 'Dandelion' clock, all fuzzy and ready to blow away on a summer breeze it signals that summer has well and truly begun.  Connor McLaren's image capture's that feeling perfectly.  He also contributes a great action shot of a bee pollinating flower and a deer enjoying a sumptuous summer sunset.

Speaking of which, there's always something a little bit special about a summer sunset so we've got two more for you to enjoy.  Mark Miller's stunning shot of two tots sitting side by side on a park bench, and Marysia McFarlane's fiery red sunset taken from her garden.  

Despite the heat, Perthshire remains lush and green.  You can see this in Fraser Hetherington's shot of Elcho castle, Wendi Taylor's shot of Loch Tay, Rab Dobbie's pic of Norrie Miller Walk and a woodland scene courtesy of Deborah Wallace.  The collection is rounded out by a great shot of a sunflower and nothing says summer like a water fight as proved by Emily Astrid Jordan.

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Today's amazing pics were provided by the Facebook group Pictures of Perth and Beyond and it's members who include: Marysia Macfarlane (check out her photography page here), Emily Astrid Jordan, Connor McLaren (have a look at his Facebook page here), Fraser Hetherington, Rab Dobbie, Evelyn Kelly Mark Miller, Mark Westwater, Cyndi Cousland and Deborah Wallace of Deborah Wallace Photography. Thanks, guys!!