Massonia Season

Just beginning.

Massonia pustulata in this case, with it's leaves covered in little raised spots, pustules, although in this case a natural feature and not a sign of infection.  Massonia is a genus of winter growing bulbous plants from South Africa, typically with two leaves flat to the ground and a central boss of flowers made to look quite showy by their anthers extending skywards.   I have raised this and two other species to flowering size in the years since I moved to Wales and have several others at juvenile stages.  They don't enjoy frost, but here, only 400 yards from the west coast, hard frost is rare.  If it comes, the South Africans will all come into the porch.

A gentle start to the day before heading to Machynlleth to collect Jamie whose train terminated there.  It was an hour late which meant the we arrived rather late at the grand rehearsal for next Sunday's Musical Showcase event.  Jamie is playing his violin in the orchestra and the Wednesday Choir is singing.   There are also wind, brass, ukelele and samba bands, all joining together for the concert finale, Dymunwn Nadolig Llawen which we will sing first in Welsh and then in English.  Nadolig is Welsh for Christmas .... I think you can work the rest out :-)

We did at least arrive in time for that finale and then retired to Jamie's where he unpacked some and opened other birthday presents which did not make it to Ruth's.   I retired home for tea and to sort some packages that need posting but returned for fudge cake and ice-cream before bedtime.   Nice day but I'll be a lot happier and less tired if the GP can help me get rid of my painful sinus problem.