Not yet Spring but the new seasons early plants are beginning to show signs of life.

[dunnyrail]

Was looking for snowdrops on Xmas day but none even poking their heads above ground. Now just over a week away and not only are they showing but the odd one just about to flower. Perhaps they were present all the time and I just missed them. This one is hiding quite well but obviously the sheltered spot has encouraged it to show it’s face.

Some other plants doing their thing as well.

Whilst I was poking around the Top part of one of my Railcars appeared in the undergrowth. Had made a replacement but there it was and I would have sworn I gave this area a good old mugging trying to find it! Oh well have a spare in case another tries to get lost.

 

[JimmyB]

Jon, very interesting, I still have a patio rose (planted in the garden) in flower!

 

[KentKeith]

Got my first daffodil of the year in flower...

 

[Rhinochugger]

Got my first daffodil of the year in flower...

You're too far south

 

[Paul M]

Slightly different, my Christmas Cactus actually bloomed on Christmas Day this year, first time in the nearly 20 years I've had it. Normally it waits til Easter

 

[KentKeith]

You're too far south

Looked in the garden just before it got dark today and the lone daffodil spotted last week has been joined by more....



… despite being too far south

 

[dunnyrail]

Looked in the garden just before it got dark today and the lone daffodil spotted last week has been joined by more....

View attachment 260440

… despite being too far south

Love the Tachi-gata Keith.

 

[KentKeith]

Love the Tachi-gata Keith.

Thanks Jon,

Japanese Kasuga-style purchased in South Korea and shipped back to the UK when I moved to new pastures.

Other side of the garden is another lantern but this time a real Japanese lantern purchased in Japan as part of an indoor Japanese garden at work:



Not sure of the type but it looks something like an Oribe or Kanjuji.....

 

[PhilP]

Looks more-like a missing rear pony-truck to me?

 

[dunnyrail]

Thanks Jon,

Japanese Kasuga-style purchased in South Korea and shipped back to the UK when I moved to new pastures.

Other side of the garden is another lantern but this time a real Japanese lantern purchased in Japan as part of an indoor Japanese garden at work:

View attachment 260441

Not sure of the type but it looks something like an Oribe or Kanjuji.....

Hm the differences between those two types is a bit of a hm....... looking at this site it is a tricky definition. Those that you have must be reassuringly heavy?

Stone Lantern Stone moon lantern Oribe 125 cm from Maillot-Bonsaï - The store MAILLOT-BONSAI

Stone Lantern Stone moon lantern Oribe 125 cm Height 125 cm. Width of the top section 42*42 cm. Weight 160 kilograms delivered in 5 elements to be easily assembled at home. The moon is a common motif in Japanese arts and crafts owing to its gravitational [...]

www.maillot-bonsai.com

Those types you have sourced from the Far East certainly beat anything that I have seen in UK, only to be expected I guess. I have some Celcon Blocks kicking around in the garden that sometime I will be turning into a Lantern of sorts, nothing like so good as your examples but with a bit of work and add on surface strata I am hopeful of some kind of mediocre masterpiece.

 

[KentKeith]

Looks more-like a missing rear pony-truck to me?

That's not a proper loco, although it is in Furka Steam Railway (DFB) livery it never existed, its an LGB (quite good) relivery of their old 0-6-0T rack loco. Came as a set and bought the set to get the coaches. The proper DFB loco is this one:

 

[KentKeith]

Hm the differences between those two types is a bit of a hm....... looking at this site it is a tricky definition. Those that you have must be reassuringly heavy?

Stone Lantern Stone moon lantern Oribe 125 cm from Maillot-Bonsaï - The store MAILLOT-BONSAI

Stone Lantern Stone moon lantern Oribe 125 cm Height 125 cm. Width of the top section 42*42 cm. Weight 160 kilograms delivered in 5 elements to be easily assembled at home. The moon is a common motif in Japanese arts and crafts owing to its gravitational [...]

www.maillot-bonsai.com

Those types you have sourced from the Far East certainly beat anything that I have seen in UK, only to be expected I guess. I have some Celcon Blocks kicking around in the garden that sometime I will be turning into a Lantern of sorts, nothing like so good as your examples but with a bit of work and add on surface strata I am hopeful of some kind of mediocre masterpiece.

You're right Jon, the lanterns are VERY heavy. Luckily the bank I was working for at the time paid for the shipping of the lanterns back to the UK when I transferred from one country to another!

Like your idea of creating a lantern out of Celcon blocks. Look forward to seeing what you create.

 

[Paul M]

You're right Jon, the lanterns are VERY heavy. Luckily the bank I was working for at the time paid for the shipping of the lanterns back to the UK when I transferred from one country to another!

Like your idea of creating a lantern out of Celcon blocks. Look forward to seeing what you create.

Knowing Jon, he'll make light work of it

 

[KentKeith]

Crocus just started to appear down here in the south east corner.....

 

[Rhinochugger]

Yes, snowdrops are coming out up here in NWN

 

[Paul M]

I too have some snowdrops in North Herts

 

[dunnyrail]

My other snowdrops are starting to poke their heads out if the ground as well. Barney is loosing hair like it is going out of fashion, does his body clock know somethinge we do not as this will be his winter coat.

 

[PhilP]

My other snowdrops are starting to poke their heads out if the ground as well. Barney is loosing hair like it is going out of fashion, does his body clock know somethinge we do not as this will be his winter coat.

The day's getting longer, will (slightly) affect this..
But more likely, is the fact we are having an unseasonally mild winter.. - So far.

 

[dunnyrail]

The day's getting longer, will (slightly) affect this..
But more likely, is the fact we are having an unseasonally mild winter.. - So far.

Yes longer days are now getting noticeable, a few short weeks ago Barnie’s walk had to be started by 1545. Now we can go out at 1600 normal for him and still light enough to near 1645.

 

[GNB]

Not sure if this counts, but these beasties certainly scoff their way through the fresh Spring growth!




on the other hand these we beasties turn up, scoff the slugs and snails and we get to keep some of the fresh growth.