Resurrection Plants

The best known drought survivors are cacti and succulents.  Bulbs are also an adaptation to survive a dry season.  Less well known are so called Resurrection Plants, those which appear dead but will revive when moisture returns.  Haberlea rhodopensis is one such and I have observed the phenomenon after prolonged summer droughts have dried this plant almost to a crisp.  Within two days from moisture returning, the plant comes back to life.  This was once observed in a dried herbarium specimen which was moistened three years after being dried out.   I grow mine in a trough outside where it's proved hardy so far.  A member of Gesneriaceae, it's relatives include Streptocarpus and African Violets.

A dull damp day.  A day for indoor jobs.  Kitchen and living room are tidier and cleaner and a little admin has been done.  I also did some pottery, working out a less fragile design for my daffodil candleholder.  Think I have the right of it now.  C and friend K came round to share a slow cooked lamb casserole and by the time they left the weather had brightened so Meg and I enjoyed a nice walk at a very peaceful Rhydyronen.

Ruth had some fun at the local Coronation street party yesterday, meeting some of her neighbours for the first time and tonight Jamie is staying over on his way home from a weekend with Clara which has in total involved travelling on 17 different trains!   Wonder if he'll be tired when he gets home tomorrow.