Tropaeolum tricolor

A curious thing this member of the Nasturtium clan, one of a group of tuberous species which grow wild in South America.  From a tuber like a small sweet potato tiny spindly shoots appear in autumn, the thin shoots immediately searching for something to twine around.  Mine, in a pot in the greenhouse, grows up a twiggy shrub pruning.  Given the chance these spindly shoots can grow in excess of six feet but I turn them down and encourage them to tangle together.  There's a great mass of these flowers now and they will continue for weeks.   They remind me of goldfish!   The tubers are not very hardy but planted close to the house, under a small shrub, they survived for many years in the Norfolk garden.   In summer they need a dry rest period.

Another day with unexpected sunshine.  Heavy showers too including sleety hail and there was snow atop Cader Idris this afternoon.   Assorted household and admin jobs seemed to fill much of the day but I did spend a couple of hours at pottery making a couple of pieces this morning.  This evening was our AGM where I joined the committee alongside a couple of the other newer members.   I also collected three vases from a glaze firing which all turned out nicely.  Maybe I will share them here in due course ;-)

Collecting Ruth from Telford tomorrow afternoon as she has a lift that far.  She's here for ten days or so hopefully.