Araucaria araucana

At lunchtime I went up to the West End office, but having successfully remembered the magic key was able to include a visit to the Dean Gardens on the way. There weren't many spring flowers showing yet; the daffodils were only just starting to open.

When I spotted this fine young Araucaria araucana  a vague memory surfaced about its great mother forest in southern Chile being ravaged by wild fires.....yes, here it is, must have heard it on the WS in the night. Since then it seems they also have flooding in the Atacama desert; good grief.

Heard this evening that fine guitarist John Renbourn died this morning - he was due to do a gig in Menai Bridge tonight with Wizz Jones. How sad. Last time we saw him was during the festival last August. RIP, John.