Bright Spots

I seem to be filled with a certain inertia when it comes to blogpost writing these days. I can't decide whether to keep plodding along with this, talking to just the few of you who stop by, or whether to try something new. The dying days of my PhD studies are taking up plenty of brain-space at the moment too. When I started blogging I certainly never had any aspirations to be A Famous Blogger, but I'm not sure what my motivation is any more. Anyone else out there blogging to no one for no particular reason?! Perhaps I just need some more fun in my life so I feel like I actually have something to talk about...

Well, for now, I shall leave you with some pretty pictures from my recent visit to the beautiful Kew Gardens in London. If you're in the big smoke between Feb 7th and March 6th get yourself there for the Orchid festival, which will be full of gorgeous colour to distract from the dreary grey winter outside (and look out for the resident iguanas too!).

And we'll see if I manage to post more than once in February!

Bright Colours Wild Textures

Well hello there, things are still pretty hectic around here! I have just got back from a conference in Portugal (pics to follow!), and am still in between moving, although I hope to finally be settled and reunited with my sewing machine some time next week. In the meantime, here are some pretty close-ups from Northumberland; I have tried to identify the species, the geek in me insisted ;)

Monkey flower of some kind I think

Grasses

Heath Bedstraw

Yellow flag iris

Possibly wild Thyme

Bird's-foot-trefoil

Common spotted orchid

Lichens are difficult to identify!

Green seaweed? Looks like the Grinch's back to me...

Domestic Jungle

I'm afraid the dreaded Pinterest has been influencing my life; the continual scroll of beautiful interiors induced a longing for some greenery, and I succumbed. So I'd like to introduce my new green pets, let us see how long I can keep them alive! The boyfriend obtained a macro lens for me, so enjoy some close-ups of my baby succulents. Look at the cells :)

On the journey home I managed to knock off a couple of leaves from the succulents, which have now sprouted roots, so hopefully some new plants will be on their way. I think it is a true wonder of nature that plants can regrow a whole new body from pretty much any part, or maybe it is just the science geek in me? I also have some jade plant cuttings on the go, free plants are a winner. So, plants! Oxygen!

Calathea, cuttings

Cute succulents soaking up the morning rays

Roots from a leaf

Maidenhair fern

Seafoam and Mermaids

We took a walk down to the sea at the weekend to see what was left after all the storms, Durdledoor is still standing at least! I do love this part of the coast, and possibly have enough versions of some of these views to make up an entire calendar of pictures. Hey ho, here are some more for you :) And as I am in a poetic mood, a haiku too...

Heart shines in the 'door
Fierce winds, white horses jump free
Treasure from mermaids

I didn't say it was good ;)

And because I am a biologist and can't help myself, here are some mermaid's purses, which I think may be from a Blonde Ray (Raja brachyura), thanks for an excellent ID guide Shark Trust!