Blood Root

Blood root is named for the colour that your fingers will turn if you touch the exposed flesh of this plant's rhizome. It appears and blooms before any of the deciduous trees that this plant lives under can leaf out and block the sun. I love this little plant; its tiny, delicate bloom and heavily veined, curled leaves that curve around each stem like a shawl. A group of blood root is called a colony.

Bees, hornets and ants seem strongly attracted to the scent of the blooms.

The colony:

New Tenants!

After two years of waiting, someone has finally decided to move in to our posh Lee Valley bird house. There was a flurry of activity yesterday as nest building took place. Aren't they adorable! Now, I am NO bird photographer. That's for sure. Those little critters move too fast for me but at least these give you an idea.

We actually don't know if this is the Mrs. or the Mr. Regardless, one of them keeps hauling moss into the nest and the other one hauls it out just as fast! They clearly have different tastes in decorating.

I guess he/she didn't care for this particular piece of moss.

Here they are checking out their new digs:

Maybe this piece of moss will be better:

Spring

Three quick photos from the rock garden behind the garage.

Cardiff Bay Area

Being in the Cardiff Bay area was so exciting. Yes, its the location where so much Doctor Who and Torchwood have been filmed but it has so much history, beautiful views of the sea, great restaurants, shopping, theatre. Everything one could want in a vacation destination.

The bay area:

The Millennium Center, a world-class venue for theatre, musicals and concerts, and the water feature most commonly known as "Torchwood Tower"

The Millennium Center at night:

One more shot of Torchwood Tower with the moon:

Doctor Who

The whole reason I dragged P out of London and all the way to Cardiff was entirely due to my life long love affair with Doctor Who. When we got there however, we found that Cardiff was a wonderfull destination in itself with beautiful scenery, friendly people and great shopping.

Today's post however is about our prime destination: The Doctor Who Exhibition. It did not disappoint with tons of set pieces and costumes and enemies from the new series. We went through twice and visited the shop three times.

Here's P on the planet of the Ood:



Here I am taking pictures of New New New New New New New New New New New New New New York. Smell the Apple Grass!

ENEMIES!








Our girl: Donna Noble!

"Why do you keep looking at my back?"

River Song's Diary. "Spoilers!"