First flower

I've felt a bit under par today due to yesterday's vaccination  duo, BUT that is a small price to pay to avoid having shingles or a nasty  pneumonia. 
I did manage to attend Pilates class, which always  makes me feel better. 

This evening we went to the local RSPB meeting where one of the members gave a really interesting presentation about the Galapagos  islands. She  talked first about their geology (volcanic) and how the islands' position in the ocean makes them subject to the effects of  different  currents and winds during the year, and how all this has facilitated the  arrival and survival of different species of animals and plants. For instance, the reptiles like tortoises and iguanas must have arrived accidentally on floating debris, and,  once there, couldn't leave. The islands differ  from one another because they have formed at different times, with the newer ones still mostly lava field, while the  older ones are are more vegetated but are being eroded away, and will disappear under the sea eventually. The wildlife has adapted to the presenting  conditions. For instance, some  tortoises have  gradually evolved  saddle -shaped shells with a big notch above the neck so they can stretch theirs necks higher to reach vegetation growing well above the ground. It means the tortoises can no longer  protect their  heads by drawing them inside  their shells, but as they don't have any predators there (except  human) this isn't a problem. Then  there is a flightless cormorant which has sacrificed proper wings for  a heavier streamlined body better suited for swimming and  surface diving for food. Dianne, of course, talked about Charles Darwin's explorations of  the islands and his subsequent papers on his theory  of evolution, and the origin of species. After the half time break, Dianne showed her photos of the islands and the endemic wildlife she  encountered on a visit there a few years ago. She posed the question whether we thought he islands  were "enchanted" or "cursed" , which prompted some discussion. Like many others, I have always dreamed of visiting the  Galapagos islands but when  we do, we run the risk of helping to destroy their delicate, unique, ecology. I know Dianne feels that, too, and in some ways feels "guilty" for visiting.         
 
The blip is of the first Streptocarpus flower of the year. I notice  there are several more plants with flowerbuds  on my window sill, but the first flower is always special!