Smelly blog (I wish), and news from the shed

After all that dull cold clag, some fine weather has induced the Sarcococca by the door to flower produce and scent, it's stunning, maybe it will attract some early moths. If only there was a way to upload the smell, it would knock your socks off. Also worthy of including would have been the lovely smell from the veg. garden after I'd turned it over this afternoon

 

Talk of the garden, and sun and (relative) warmth, the last spell of sunshine on 19th Feb - yes, that long ago - tempted this scruffy individual out for a feed, a very welcome and beautiful sight nevertheless. On the same day I was unsuccessful in getting a photo of a Buff-tailed Bumblebee

 

I suppose I shouldn't poke fun at the Butterfly as I invariably get scruffy when faffing about in the shed, which may be where this one had been hibernating

 

 

On the subject of the shed, coldness notwithstanding, progress on the rocking horse has been steady, it's now ready to be painted a dappled grey, then the tack, and the swing stand! Nice to discover that good old Rustin's knotting is still available

 

 

The primer has lifted the grain nicely ready for smoothing down, then lots of thin coats undercoat before finishing. Please note the face mask used for priming, H & S and all that!

 

 

Also in the shed some progress with the railway, but it's just been too cold for much, and the little computers in the engines don't like the cold, either. We have however built a retaining wall, some embankments, and planted grass. The wall IS vertical, honest, it's the camera

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And I can't resist showing off the electronic track plans for working the points (and remembering which way they are set - after several crashes!)

 

 

 

 

Now some pretty spring flowers including a couple Hellebores, they are having a very good early spring this year

 

 

 

 

 

This is a Primula and not an Auricula, apparently, a gift to Nancy and delightfully attractive

 

The Moth trap has been dug out and tried last night, no catch, but it won't be long we hope if the Sarco does it's stuff. Last year was not a good one, although a total of 174  species for the year was pretty good, of which 22 were new. Biggest "catch" was on the late date of 5 September, 440 moths in the trap. Best night for diversity was 19August with 37 species