the sun is shining and its time to pot up some basil

basil plants are easily germinated but if you can't wait you can buy ready to use plants in the supermarkets. these however never last too long as they are crammed into a tiny pot and soon run out of nutrients. to get the most out of my basil i tend to split it and replant it into several larger pots with good amounts of compost/manure/topsoil mix, it soon thrives and fills them out and will provide you with lots of lovely basil for the rest of the summer.

Oil on floppy disk paintings

this is a couple of experimental paintings onto old floppy disks, turns out its a really nice medium to paint on. the first shows an oversized Cuckoo chick and its foster parent. and the second a ladybird on my hand.

still some frost in the air!

March Flowers

Crocuses

Leap year

Every morning for the past week i have a brief sojourn at the Botanical Gardens here in Durham. i am predominantly observing the 23 strong flock of Manx and Hebridean sheep for a behavioural project as part of my degree (mentioned in a previous post). after each visit the biting cold, wind and rain has caused me to hurry back to the warmth of the labs back on campus. sadly disregarding all the interesting things going on in the gardens on route. However today was a little different.

This difference came in the wondrous exuberance of the sun, who was out in full force. As i meandered back towards uni this unexpected change to my usual cold and miserable morning brought me to a standstill along one of the paths through the gardens to bask blissfully in the sunshine. as i stood there i heard some very distinct rasping, croaking noises coming from the small pond to my left. on peering into the murk it suddenly became clear that these were created by a host of frogs and toads all clambering over one another, the males clasping the females tightly where one imagines their waist would be if they could ever be described as having one.

It was a true orgy of procreation and a wildlife spectacle that has sadly been lost in many ponds throughout the UK. i watched for a short while and then crawling to the edge i managed to get a few photos on my phone and these i now share with you.

spawning!

peeping toad (actually a frog)

Bit of Hockney..

I recently got a postcard with a new David Hockney sketch, this is always nice but this particular one caught my eye as having a slightly unusual air to it. On reading the back it turns out this is one of a series he has recently created on the i-pad. Once you realise you can see the vivid colours do not mix, as oils or watercolour would, but are layered endlessly on top of one another. Its a fascinating new medium and i hope soon i can borrow my friends i-pad and try it out. There are various programs available, Hockney uses one called brushes. There is also a more classic Hockney below, made up of 6 panels in the traditional oil, this just provides some comparison with his i-pad work. These two works are particularly appropriate for now given their respective titles.

The Arrival of Spring in Woldgate, East Yorkshire (2011) David Hockney
            i-pad

A Closer Winter Tunnel, Feb-March (2006) David Hockney
            oil on canvas

Winter aconite hopefully a prelude to a sunny spring

Allotment meeting this Saturday, quiet one with just Mim and I, planting of some onion sets due to the mild weather. Will have to wait and see how they go. Begun as a lovely day, but soon became rather grey. However a successful planting and excellent to get out in a the fresh air. Also excellent to see the winter aconite (Eranthis) in flower, a relative of the buttercup this is bright and sunny and flowering right now, an excellent hailer to the spring and summer ahead.

Winter aconite in full bloom

Mim in the midst of the onion planting

Ladybird discovered hibernating in the onion patch (it was carefully rehoused)