Cactus Orchid

This plant is one of the ugliest, that is before it bursts into bloom. The pink one, I've had for a very long time, it never gets any bigger because I keep giving cuttings away to almost anyone that sees it. I does not like the cold and struggles to thrive against the warmth of the brick wall.

Glorious delicate colour, and a different shape than the red one below.

Mini mince pies

Preparing for Christmas, today's effort is 48 mini mince pies. They wiil go into the freezer until Christmas day when they will be dfrosted and refreshed in the oven, then dusted with icing sugar. Some have shortcrust pastry stars and the remainder have frangipan tops sprinkled with slivered almonds.

Unusual activity.......

......right at our front door. A European wasp has decided that it is an ideal spot to build a nest.

Firstly check that all is OK on the outside

Quite unaware that I'm here taking photos of her home making.

then go inside to see if its snug enough. I don't think she will inhabit this spot long........wait till I tell Popeye.

24/11/2010

Well the nest is no longer adorning our front door. Popeye waited until the "mother" wasp was inside the nest, placed a plastic bag around it and with a quick twist of the wrist the whole kit and kaboodle was inside the bag with mother showing extremely aggressive behaviour.
After he killed the poor mother wasp (I can't help feeling a bit sorry for her) we inspected the nest, no eggs inside as yet, but little 'cubicles' which looked almost as if they were made of paper, where they were to be laid. Apparently they chew up wood to construct their nest, hence the resemblance to paper. Very interesting.

Spring beauty

THis is a new iris that I purchased at the Meadows Market last Easter. Very aptly named HYPNOSIS. I asked the stallholder to recommend a pink variety, this is what I got, the pictures do not do it justice.
It is the most delicate shade of apricot with bright orange beards. It almost does hypnotise one, to see it slighty moving in the breeze.
The blue one is DREAM OF YOU. This is one I purchased from the same seller the previous year.
They never fail to amaze me, such strong foliage and extremely delicate blooms.