Ivy-leaved Cyclamen

I wondered how these would cope after the prolonged drought - they were quite slow to get going but after a few days with rain (another thunderstorm last night) the number of buds has increased exponentially. The delicacy of the flowers appears at odds with the toughness of this species, which is well adapted to survive dry conditions in its Mediterranean homeland - it's as tough as old boots! With climate change this species is increasingly becoming established outside gardens.

I spent most of the day working at the computer, making good progress on a couple of reports. I refrained from watching Liz Truss's first speech as Prime Minister but kept a despairing eye on her appointments to the cabinet - I feel that we are in for a very rough time ahead, and that progress towards Net Zero and Nature Recovery in the UK will be a very low priority. We'll almost certainly see a reversal of the small amount of progress that's been made in recent years.