Lenten Rose

We saw this beautiful plant by our garage door today – it is a Lenten Rose (a sort of Hellebore).  Apparently the beautiful markings are there for any Queen bumble bees which are coming out of hibernation at the moment.  The “petals” are in fact modified sepals and are even more vivid to insects (which can see into ultra violet) than they are to us.  So now you know.

We also have some hyacinths just poking through.  I noticed these when I was cleaning the car yesterday – I always thought this was the man’s job but R explained to me that because the task has “clean” in its name, that means it is the woman’s.  I am very grateful to the head of the household for his instruction in this.  So now I know.

Actually the car was a right mess inside and out, so I have given him a wash and a hoover inside; tomorrow I will wax him and clean his inside leather and his alloys.  If you wonder why “he”, all our cars have names and genders based on their number plates.  Our last car was “Crazy” from her number “KRZ” and this one is “Voyager” from his number “VO”.