New implement arrived today, what a great compost sieve👍, & after a bit of a workout, one of the four 6ft x4ft raised beds that were weeded & topped up ready for sowing 🥬 🧅 🥕🌽🧄

After a few days away, a bit of a spruce up in the greenhouse. Making space on the other side of the house for MrsG’s tomatoes

Oooh! This looks promising😃 Strelitzia reginae in the greenhouse.

Three figs on the fig tree😃 Matthew Terry 💙

Fabulous staircase The Linnean Society of London, great to meet fritillariaicones in person at the event yesterday.

One of the most incredible paintings I have ever seen. The Ambassadors by Hans Holbein, from 1533 in National Gallery. The white streak in the foreground resolves into a clear skull when viewed obliquely from the right. Mind blowing perspective.

Professor Irene Manton’s portrait The Linnean Society of London where she was President from 1973-1976. My research lab was for many years based in, & subsequently returned to, the Manton building University of Leeds

Yesterday National Gallery, some
Stunning art. Here is Leonardo da Vinci’s Virgin of the rocks from the end of the 15th C. I can’t visit an art gallery now without trying to name the plants in the painting after a masterclass from Eduardo Barba at the Prado in Madrid.

Two highlights from my visit to London Zoo today: Neurergus kaisersi (the Luristan newt) & Ambystoma dumerili (the Lake Pátzcuaro salamander)😍

Remembering Charles Darwin #OnThisDay , as he died today in 1882. 'There is grandeur in this view of life...from so simple a beginning endless forms most beautiful and most wonderful have been, and are being, evolved.'

How it started. How it’s going.
Photo with 2.5m Komodo Dragons on Komodo Island in 1987, & a selfie today with a 1.5m dragon London Zoo

Having a fun day London Zoo, spotted this golden-headed lion tamarin in the rain forest exhibit posing next to its name sign - I’d expected to see it on the other side of the glass!

Fabulous dinner last night Cafe Murano with long-standing science friends. Very surprised to
see another old friend from Durham also dining there! What a small world 🌎

Great evening The Linnean Society of London celebrating progress towards their new lease on Burlington House. Earlier I found this in 2nd hand bookshop, Wallace’s reflections on Darwinism 30y after Origin of Species! Then sat beneath portraits of the 2 great men. What an alignment of chance 😊

A glorious afternoon in London. I’ve just got time for a couple of hours in the National Gallery before meeting friends for a G&T before heading to the Linnaean Society.

Off to London for the The Linnean Society of London Unlocking our Future event this evening.

A toilet roll holder hand-carved out of an oak beam off-cut can really make a room.

Just met a young man who took us up on the offer of free dry cleaning for his interview clothes…and got the job!