Songs from the heart

 10 - 15 May 2021

Tragically, one of our friends, and a leading member of the Shanty singers, died suddenly during the winter.  The plan is to sing a few songs in his honour at a memorial gathering in June, so rehearsals were started and everyone had to try to remember the lines.

Outdoor practice session

The weather is hotting up, so we made time to tidy up in the Solarium, lower the plantling shelf and take the windows out.  We left this a little late, and found it a rather hot job, but that made us grateful to be getting it done.

Dave stacks the windows at one end, while I cover them with the floor rugs for protection.  It was quite a slick operation this time, now we know what we're doing.

All done, phew

This monstrous-looking thing is a vacated dragonfly nymph case.  We had wondered if any of the dragonfly eggs had survived the hungry fish, so we were very pleased to see this one, and a few more after it.

And even more pleased to see this little treasure.  We have often wondered where the ladybugs are, especially when aphids are rampant.  So this is our first ladybird, I hope we find more and they stick around.

I finished another painting - this one is for my Mum's 90th birthday in June, and she specifically wanted all the flowers that open in Spring and early Summer in the UK.  So here it is, now I just need to find a way to send it.  [Spring Magic, Acrylic on Canvas, May 2021 30x60cm]  After finding the ladybird, I added one in, but it isn't in this photo.

In the rain, but so pleased to see it, that we sat outside under the barbeque roof and watched it fall.

 Swallowtail caterpillar.  They love the fennel.  Every year I am astonished anew by how incredible this creature is.