The Lemon Fool

kiloran wrote:Depressing times, but at least I have this view from my window to lift my spirits (when it's not raining or snowing)

--kiloran

What lens magnification were you using?

scotia wrote:

kiloran wrote:Depressing times, but at least I have this view from my window to lift my spirits (when it's not raining or snowing)

--kiloran

What lens magnification were you using?

1,000,000x. I live in Cornwall

More seriously, I think I used 20x zoom and it was then digitally cropped

--kiloran

kiloran wrote:Depressing times, but at least I have this view from my window to lift my spirits (when it's not raining or snowing)

scotia wrote:What lens magnification were you using?

kiloran wrote:1,000,000x. I live in Cornwall

In that case, given the distance, shouldn't that be Corneawall?

Snorvey wrote:Social distancing in a lift. Guideline.



..errrr....thanks. But no thanks. I'll take the stairs.

Most English people do that anyway - max distance, stare at wall...
Bit like urinal spacing theory (a branch of pure maths)

kiloran wrote:More seriously, I think I used 20x zoom and it was then digitally cropped
--kiloran

So I don't need to request that you change your name to Hawkeye

Dead & Alive
Dead tree with ivy growing round the base.
(Photo taken with MotoG4 phone & "vogue" filter applied).

Switzerland is lighting up the Matterhorn in a beautiful Alpine display to send a message of 'hope' and warn people to stay at home during the coronavirus pandemic.

The 14,600ft mountain was lit up in the colours of the Swiss flag last night in a projection which shone over the nearby resort of Zermatt.

The display is appearing every evening between sunset and 11pm, displaying messages including the English word 'hope' and the instruction to 'stay home'...





Source - https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/articl ... rland.html

Cheers,

Itsallaguess

Itsallaguess wrote:[i]Switzerland is lighting up the Matterhorn in a beautiful Alpine display to send a message of 'hope' and warn people to stay at home during the coronavirus pandemic.

Clearly not with a torch using AA batteries

With everyone in lockdown, contributions to pic of the day look like drying up. In trying to obey regulations, our walks are now restricted to the immediate countryside around the village - and I suppose that's a lot better than most can manage. So here are a couple of today's photographs (same plant in two colour shades) from my unheated greenhouse. They are named after an American explorer. Guesses?



and

They are named after an American explorer. Guesses?

Lewisia or perhaps Lewisii?

Not that I know many American explorers, but I have heard of Lewis and Clark, and indeed their famous expedition. Also Lewisii vaguely rings a bell.

madhatter wrote:

They are named after an American explorer. Guesses?

Lewisia or perhaps Lewisii?

Not that I know many American explorers, but I have heard of Lewis and Clark, and indeed their famous expedition. Also Lewisii vaguely rings a bell.

Yes - its Lewisia Tweedyi. The genus name Lewisia comes from Captain Lewis who led the Lewis & Clark expedition up the Mississippi-Missouri towards the Rockies, seeking a pass through to the Columbia River. They started off in May 1804, but had to overwinter on the east side of the Rockies before crossing over to the west coast in 1805, and then waited there until crossing back in 1806, arriving back in St Louis in September 1806. They carried out extensive mapping and collecting of samples - including plants. The Lewisias are native to Western North America - in the mountainous land over which the Lewis expedition passed. Currently in my greenhouse Lewisia Tweedyii is in full bloom, and my Lewisia Cotyledon will soon follow - hopefully also followed by Lewisia Rediviva (Bitterroot - the state flower of Montana).

Here's a pre-lockdown pic (just). We were in Spain on the last full day of our holiday, Sunday 15th March. On the Saturday evening the Spanish government had declared a "state of alert", starting at 8am on Monday 16th. However on the Sunday morning we were listening to a phone-in on BBC 5 Live, and a Brit from Spain called in to say it had been brought forward and was in place now.

We couldn't find any independent verification of this, so decided to stick to our plan of heading to the Costa Blanca resort of Calp and walk up Oltà Mountain. This we did, without incident, but noticed on the way that the roads were very quiet

We also wanted to go up the Peñon De Ifach, the iconic lump of rock at the north end of the beach. However when we got there we found its path taped shut, as were all the beaches of the resort.

We beat a retreat back to the apartment, and the following day flew home without incident on one of Jet2's "rescue flights".

In all, we counted ourselves lucky that coronavirus had such a minor effect on our 3 week holiday. I wonder when we'll be back on the continent again though?

Anyway, here's the Peñon De Ifach we didn't manage to climb



Scott.

Snorvey wrote:A blowy, but sunny day the day.

I'm tempted - but its a bit of a long walk to get there.

(Taken while I was out, alone, during my socially responsible exercise period)

Does the Polis up there let you press the button on a camera as part of the responsible exercise?

Snorvey wrote:Not the best pic, but can you spot the Typhoon Quick Reaction Alert launch?

Give us a clue as to where to look. I have already been fooled by several particles of screen dust

Snorvey wrote:

scotia wrote:

Snorvey wrote:Not the best pic, but can you spot the Typhoon Quick Reaction Alert launch?

Give us a clue as to where to look. I have already been fooled by several particles of screen dust

The lump in the middle. Up and to the right a bit. Almost at 3 o'clock.

OK - I got the source jpg file, and displayed it full size on my 19 inch monitor, and I used my times 3.5 fly-tying glasses, and I saw a little black speck that I couldn't rub off the screen - positioned as indicated. I used to be a dab hand at aircraft recognition, but that one defeated me

Is that a tailplane just sticking up?

TJH

In a normal year we would have already paid visits to the West Coast Gardens at Arduaine and Crarae, both now under the case of the National Trust for Scotland, and I could have posted photographs of Camelias and Rhododendrons, with Loch Melford and Loch Fyne as scenic backdrops. Due to Covid-19, no such luck - but here's a rather poorer sample from our garden, with no attractive backdrop.
First the Camelia - they seem to be doing well in our neighbourhood this year, with little or no rain or frost to damage them



and now for an early-to-mid season Rhododendron



So far its been a good year for Rhododendrons - our early ones had a prolonged flowering period undisturbed by frosts, but with our main mid-season varieties just starting to open their buds, I see that the weather has to get colder this coming week. I hope there will be no severe frosts.

PS - I should also add that we would normally also have visited Wisley around this time - and walked up the hill, surrounded by Camelias and Rhododendrons. But in normal years you need to get there early before the huge car park fills up. At Arduaine and Crarae there are usually only a handful of cars in the carparks. I suspect when the lockdown eases we will feel more comfortable at the Scottish Gardens.

Middle of the picture...unless it's a spot of dust?

Out for our allotted exercise walk today, crossed over the M9. Normally one of the quietest motorways in the country, but this is ridiculous.



Scott.

monabri wrote:Middle of the picture...unless it's a spot of dust?

I borrowed Kiloran's telescope - the one that was used to view the Cobbler from Cornwall, and I have managed to improve your spec of dust.
Nice spotting - definitely a typhoon