Here are two buds which were ready a little too soon, caught by the frost and snow.
Category: Gardening
Caption?
Courtesy of the BBC
Grey days
The weather has changed overnight. The crisp, just-frozen dew of last night, which sparkled on the grass as we walked over it, has gone, leaving a grey smudge of a day.
These photographs are from yesterday
A yellow rose against the wall Continue reading “Grey days”
Nesting?
A scratching behind the television intrigued Pippi Long Stocking who tried to get in to investigate.
I put her in the (f)utility (if a woman’s work is never done, why start?) while I investigated, by pulling out the TV corner-unit, and taking off the room-side cover of the air-vent installed a few years ago (as a daft requirement of having the walls insulated.)
I fully expected a nest of mice. Inside, to my amazement was a little sharp-beaked bird. Possibly a tree-creeper, but difficult to be sure. All I could see was a silhouette of a flapping small thing. Continue reading “Nesting?”
Parents’ evening
Tonight’s early evening sky had a wash of palest blue, with a flush in places of rose pink, all overlaid with smudges of windswept charcoal. I watched it change, and as we travelled the blue deepened until it was truly dark.
I noticed this on the way to Scout’s parents ‘student review evening’ just after we had squeezed around the roundabout, avoiding the turning where the ambulance and police cars were acting as an effective road block. By the time we reached school is was completely dark. We commented on how the evenings are really drawing out now.
A brisk walk
A walk this afternoon: briskly striding around the village with Cycloman. I want to be with him. On Monday I had news of a friend who died, leaving his wife and family and the sadness of it all is with me.
I see a red rose: in January, is this the last rose of 2011 or the first of 2012? The sun is already going down at about half past three and alters the colour of the photograph. There were three roses on this briar.
January 14th – a brief nature report, for near Oxford, UK
Today when I opened the curtains at about 8:45, I was greeted with white scenery. A hoar frost had covered everything and as the sun came up it made a wonderful sight. Soft yellowed light, long shadows. But no photos. I hadn’t had my first cup of tea.
Later, after Scout’s Judo run and a little light shopping we came back at about mid-day to find the little garden in our communal driveway still in shade and therefore still frosted.
Continue reading “January 14th – a brief nature report, for near Oxford, UK”
My Ponytail
Imagine my surprise when my Ponytail plant suddenly sprouted what appears to be a flower more than half of its existing height.
I bought the plant probably 6 or 7 years ago, the various websites that I’ve visited to find out a bit more info on it tell me that it’s a very slow grower, they are dead right, if my plant has grown more than 10 cm in all the time that I’ve had it I’d be surprised.
For the record, the plant now stands approx. 70cm high, (excluding the new ‘growth’) the flowery stalky bit which has suddenly shot up overnight is more than half of that, I measure it at 37cm from the ‘crown.’
The plant (Beaucarnea recurvata) is apparently native to Mexico, stores water in its stem and can go for years without or with very little water. Perhaps our recent 3 year drought and my positioning of it in full sun for all of its life have encouraged it to do what comes naturally to most other plants in my garden (that is flower.)
I’ve included a picture of the complete plant on the next page…
Water drop jewels
Just outside the window a neglected planter stands with euphorbia weed, thin leaflets of crocosmia and a small self seeded Aquilegia – all fresh growth as if it is Spring, not Autumn. It has been raining, then there was a brief splash of sunshine and each water droplet became a mirrored bead on the Aquilegia. Underneath the leaf a tiny tear drop.
Time changes everything
I’m writing in a different place now I have a lap top, and Cyclo is working in the office this week. I’m in the dining room with a view of the back garden, rather than upstairs with a view of the front.
So I’m getting a different view of the world when I look up from tapping.
It’s another dull day here most of the day – when it wasn’t raining – but the afternoon of 1st November was a stunner. I ran out into the garden I took a few shots.
Do you remember this?
Boadicea's Chariot 
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