Ferns and trees

Although we woke to sunshine this morning it had obviously rained earlier, even though very lightly.  We had another extremely brief and light shower later in the morning, but otherwise it’s been sunny with beautiful clouds.
 
Spent the morning indoors, largely trying to find ways of resurrecting our local Scottish Wildlife Trust group, which has been out of action for a year or two since our Chair had to step down for family reasons. I’m still technically Programme Secretary, but don’t want to take up the position of Chair, as for several years I filled both roles. Nobody seems interested, so I finally wrote to Head Office to see if they could contact the Argyll & Lochaber membership in the hope that we’ll have a rush of volunteers!
 
Went out for a walk around the houses after lunch and met a local fellow fern enthusiast, also out stretching his legs. We must have chatted for twenty minutes or more, bringing suspicious glances from the window of the house outside of which we were talking!
 
Today’s Blip is of the new growth of a young - very young - specimen of Koelreuteria paniculata, a small pinnate-leaved deciduous tree from China.  This tree has had some unwelcome attention from a deer, which appears to like the bark, but it seems to have survived it. Maybe I should protect it before it gets pulled up!
 
Quote of the Day: ‘The true meaning of life is to plant trees, under whose shade you do not expect to sit.’ - Nelson Henderson.