Rain Delay

Sunday has been wet, and gloomy.It started raining before I went shopping this lunchtime, and continues even now the rain is bouncing off the concrete.
This bedraggled Dandelion has had a soaking.I love the colours, yellow and gold petals.The only plant in flower is the jewel orchid and even that is fading slowly.
I want to find some bright coloured flowers for the camera to test its capabilities.I like this picture.

Clary Seedling

Clary seedling yesterday when it was sunny outside.The light spilled through the window illuminating the leaves and fine hairs.

Moth Orchid

Rescued from homebase yesterday a Phalaenopsis, Chinese moth orchid. It was half price and I took pity on it. Three of them were sat on the bargains shelf, needing some TLC to make them re flower.
I went shopping again today, and even Salisbury's had phalaenopsis for sale, £8 for ones of similar size, and £14 for bigger plants.I wander where the idea came from to mass sell orchids, nestled amongst the cut flowers,with kalancoe's in pots alongside exotic Bromeliads, and patio rosebushes.
How many of these moth orchids will bloom again after the flowers have withered and dropped off? I always like bargain plants and this one is not in bad health. They left the flower spike on, I think it has one bud that has not developed.
Trying to get pictures of where to cut the flower spike is quite hard. All of the images I looked at were of the flowers only.
I'm trying to remember where this orchid obsession came from. I have three kinds now, five plants.
Three growing Bletilla Striata, one fading Jewel Orchid, and now the Phalaenopsis.
Another addition to the indoor greenhouse.I need somewhere more roomy to live.The plants are taking over the flat slowly :)

Hedera Helix

On the other Flat wall there is some Ivy growing.Along with the tree and the weeds this is my greenery to look at from my ground floor flat.

Lots of plants growing on my side of the window, and a few odd plants growing on the other side.How the Ivy hangs onto the crumbling white washed walls, and dry red bricks is amazing.I know they have vigerous roots that help them cling spider like to the wall.They must catch the rain when it falls downwards.The leaves are very green making the sugary energy that the plant needs.

"The richness I achieve comes from Nature, the source of my inspiration."

So wrote Claude Monet the famous french artist. Looking with fresh eyes we can see natural beauty even within the commonplace, like Ivy growing up a wall. Hanging on with grim determination when nothing should grow on a dry wall. Its like the tree buckling the concrete, the tree roots are stronger than the concrete.

Car park Tree

This is the tree that has broken through the concrete of the car park.I dont know what species it is, but aside from the weeds growing along the red brick walls this is the only greenery that I can see.Behind the grey breeze blocks is Clarks Brewery. My local pub (bar for USA people) is the Swan with two necks.

A fly Alights on a flower head..

Taken outside today,I wanted to test the camera in outdoor conditions (it was raining on me). A dandelion flower head, with a little wee winged beastie sat on the left side.I never even saw him there untill I put the pictures onto the computer.

Ponderosa Pink, and a little yellow flower

The Ponderosa pink (It still sounds like an Italian racing car, rather than a tomato plant), in its new pot with its stick supporting its growth.It is a very graceful tomato plant with leaves gently curved down on its stems. The Gardeners delight are short, stocky, and more compact.
I think the pink part of the name is about the tomato's have a pink tone to their flesh. I can wholly understand people who grow many varieties of tomato's. The leaves are fragrant when rubbed (I do rub the leaf then inhale the delicious scent of tomato plant).


I can dream of cheese n tomato sandwiches, and making traditional Italian pasta with fresh off the plant tomato's, and olive oil, maybe with Tagliatelle.
Every year I'm sure the Gardeners question time panel grow varieties of tomato's. My first grown tomato plants were last year, they were grown from Asda beefsteak tomato. I scooped out a few seeds, and removed the clear jelly stuff surrounding them. The seeds all germinated and brought on tomato madness/passion!
They flower too, above is the gardeners delight with the delicate looking yellow flower.Where the flowers are gorgeous red tomato's grow!
What Varieties do you grow? And do you have some nice recipes for cooking with tomato's like traditional pasta dishes?