Toured out

Today’s guest picture comes from my Somerset correspondent Venetia’s trip to Cornwall. The picture shows the Burma Bridge in the Lost Gardens of Heligan. I had grand plans for a long cycle ride today as the weather was forecast to be cool with light winds. However, I was very tired when I woke up, and

Mirror, mirror

Today’s guest picture comes from my Manitoba correspondent Mary Jo. It is an orchid cactus. Mary Jo tells me that it over winters in her basement storage room and gets no attention. It does well, all the same. We had another very good summer day here today, with temperatures rising to 25°C (77°F) in the

A distraction

Today’s guest picture comes from our son Tony. He abandoned the delights of East Wemyss to sample the new St James Quarter in Edinburgh. The St James Quarter replaces the old and unloved St James Centre which was recently demolished. He met a curious being while he was there. We had another cool, grey and

Cut and pedal

Today’s guest picture comes from Venetia who met a grebe on her way home from her Highland holiday. Rather surprisingly, we woke up to a brilliant summer day today. It was very welcome, especially as it stayed sunny all day. Mrs Tootlepedal was extremely enthusiastic about the show of the accidental opium poppies in the

Mrs Tootlepedal goes up in the world

Today’s guest picture comes from my sister Mary. She has a very tall wall at the bottom of her little garden and she was quite surprised to look up one day to find a fox sitting on top of it. She is going to try to get a better picture next time it appears there.

A bit of a blow

Today’s guest picture comes from my sister Mary who went with my sister Susan to visit the refurbished temperate glass house at Kew Gardens.  It was worth the trip. The big question, after a night listening to the wind howling round the house and rain battering at the windows, was would there be anything left?