I got the opportunity of going with a group of botanists to see Orchids I’ve wanted to see for some time. We were guided around by the grounds keeper to this private golf course. Temperature in this heatwave and nature of being in a group did not allow for much filming. So join me and see what we did find…
Spring had definitely arrived and I took out the camera for a look around the garden. Follow me in this short video to see what I found. The weather was just great with blues skies.
Danish Scurvygrass (Cochlearia danica) is a salt tolerant plant which has benefited from the salt put on out roads in winter. Like many seaside plants it has adapted to living in the harsh environment that salt air creates. Our use of salt and the small light seeds has meant our cars provide both the environment and the means of spreading. Now you know what to look for you will see it often. If you keep your eye out in the spring.
Primroses are unusual they have two morphologies, Pin and Thrum. Pin with the female parts at the top and Thrum with the male parts at the top. So Pin flowers can only fertilise Thrum and visa versa. They are a heterostylous species.
Following on as I was already there with all the tools more Bonsai Root Pruning. Well you know how it goes. Do something for the first time and straight away for a second time. I wonder if there’s a third….
You can find the first here
Converting a small tree to a Bonsai begins here for me. I’ve collected a number of small trees over recent years I now have the task of root pruning. Something I’ve never done before. See me wrangle my Sweet Chestnut and attempt my first pruning.
Went to the David Hall in October to see Rob Heron & the Tea Pad Orchestra. A really tight performance. I’ve not known them to be otherwise of course. This is the first time I’ve seen them performing old style around a single microphone. It was nice chatting to them between sets and after the encores. It helps of course when you’re accompanied by an aunt and cousin of one of the band.
Painting of Lytes Cary Manor, East View
Painted, this time from the East, a great view of Lytes Cary Manor. This one looking back to where I painted the manor first time.
At the right is the Chapel with its gothic mullioned window. Manicured lawns stretch away to the North with large box cut domes lining the pathway. Looking to the North gives a view of the Dovecote set in the middle of the pasture.
The Walled Gardens of Cannington lie within the grounds of a medieval priory. The gardens had undergone extensive redevelopment when officially opened by HRH the Earl of Wessex, Prince Edward. The Gardens, located near Bridgwater, provide a superb facility for students at Bridgwater College. As you walk around look out for the ‘hot’ Herbaceous Border; the Blue Garden; the Sub-Tropical Walk; and a Victorian style fernery.
A still life of beach combings
It was my first visit to shingle ridge of Chesil and while photographically interesting both scenically and for the flora. It seems the driftwood and flotsam was what I took away with me. Some of the species found are Spiny Spider Crab (Maja squinado), Dog whelk (Nucella lapillus), Sea Wash Ball, Egg Case Of Common Whelk (Buccinum undatum) and Blue Mussel (Mytilus edulis). Chesil is one of three major shingle structures in Britain.
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