Tattoodave

A plant that I was introduced to in school, Bryophyllum daigremontianum, usually grown as a very easy houseplant, I'm trying to naturalise it in the community garden here in Spain, so far so good. This is what the plant looks like normally. This is a close up, showing the baby plants growing on the leaves. These are the flowers they produce when happy. This is a pale flowered form that cropped up amongst them.

This beast munched on my portulaca flowers then made a quick getaway, I have no idea what he would have turned into, apart from the obvious answer, so if anyone knows, please inform me.

I'm the same, though I have no compunction about killing mosquitoes and clothes and food moths, they all make living in Spain a little less than idyllic.

That's the first Scooby I've heard of, it's amazing how animation can control someone's brain when naming a pet, I know someone with two dogs called Bart and Jessica. Max was a handsome beast. I have two of my old dogs tattooed on my side, both were fox terriers, totally different characters. I hope you don't go coursing for hare on the fens as my father is likely to shoot the dogs and possibly you too.

That's one very content lurcher.

If you have any keen gardeners locally that propagate a lot of plants it might be worth checking to see if they have the Buddleia davidii x globosa hybrids as I'm sure the butterflies would enjoy them and it would give you extra colour in the garden, without you having to buy from a garden centre at an over inflated price. I don't know what happens to the butterflies in Spain you don't see many from July onwards, probably too hot. If I wake up early I take the dog for a long walk, then he'll sleep while I'm getting ready for work. I don't think Commas are plentiful anywhere these days, and we don't help much.

Suz, do you grow a lot of buddleias? I was wondering if you'd tried any of the newish davidii x globosa hybrids? Their colours are stunning, peachy/ orange shades, but I don't know whether the butterflies like them as much. p.s. Don't you sleep well?

Yum Yum Tree, Bobby Bland, and maybe even Pleasure Girl, Bobby Coleman

There have been 11 drownings this summer on the costa del sol alone, they employ lifeguards too, though I've not witnessed or heard of any of them getting more than their feet wet. Such a shame. My condolences to all his family and those that loved him. Dave

That is a shock, any news on what happened Sean? Through the summer the papers here are full of Brits that either fall from balconies or drown, but they are never usually identified, unless it's a celeb that has been stabbed. I didn't know Ben that well, but losing anyone on the scene is like losing a relative, albeit a distant one in most cases. RIP Ben

Not what any dog owner needs, but it happens all too often, poor Jessie, she'll probably have a drooling problem now with that piece of her top lip missing. I hope she recovers quickly and it doesn't stop her wanting to watch the world go by.

I used to love ice-skating too, but not the falling over and getting wet when you're a fair distance from home. I wore socks three days last winter, and that was only during forays into the mountains. I'll just look at wintery pictures from now on.

I found myself willing the trees to get their leaves back on as I felt cold seeing them leafless, the pleasures of living in a frost-free environment. Nice job Russell!!!

what and spoil my all over tan?

He doesn't look a bit like me

Beautiful Steve, it's a long time since I was in Italy, maybe 20 years, I like Florence in the winter months, not so many people about.

Just reading John Grisham's "The Broker", partly set in Bologna and mentions them both, I'd be like Peter and look up from the streets rather than climb.

I found this last year, only the one plant and it's supposed to be a native to Spain. It's often grown as an annual in the UK, but never gets as big as this plant that was nearly 5 feet tall. Needless to say I collected seed and now have a few plants that are being reared in pots. Bizarrely the variegation doesn't start until the plant is ready to flower, whenever I'd grown it before the variegation was there as soon as the true leaves appeared. It had me a little concerned, but I'm very pleased now.

Zephyranthes grandiflora on the balcony

Gibraltar, earlier today

That's good, my Happy chases lizards, but knows to stay away from the cacti.

I hope the little chap didn't get any spines in him, cacti can be vindictive.

Same guy had a Magnetics and others from the Ian Levine types, and claimed he'd found them at a car boot, in Cornwall? The plot thickens.

Well done, he should be OK in an older tree. As for the fungi, I doubt whether Clyde would be interested in it, just pull it up, it's growing on the rotting vegetation from the hibiscus soil, and they thrive in the shade. Identifying them is a minefield and I don't have a book that covers anywhere but the UK

Yes, that's what it is, quite a variable species as a caterpillar and a butterfly, and not that common. It's one I would have tried my best to help along by leaving him where he was feeding and hope he would pupate where I could watch.