Black & White photo: Is it real?

Today's black and white photo is from one of our cycle rides towards Tower Bridge on the Thames Path.  At one point in Rotherhithe the path leads you into the car park of the Hilton Docklands Riverside. We cycle through the car park and around the dock and out into Rotherhithe Street before picking up the Thames Path again a little further along.

The hotel is right on the river and has great views over to Canary Wharf and it's not where you expect to spot any wildlife. So when we saw this fella on his pontoon, it took us a while to work out if he was real or not.

After staring at him for a while - yes I know, how rude - he moved his head. So yes, he's real and quite a beauty who looks proud of where he lives!  

And it'd be great if this was Heron Quay, but sadly it wasn't.

The agapanthus awakening...

I know the title of this post sounds a bit horror movie-ish but this is a garden post I promise. You'll remember I was very excited to return from holiday mid-June to discover a flower stem on our two year old agapanthus. 

18 JUNE

It was just one, but exciting all the same. 

And I looked forward to seeing it flower.  The stem grew and the flower was encased tightly, protecting its buds.

Two weeks later there was a development...

6 JULY

The flowers were breaking free.

10 JULY

14 JULY

One by one they sprung out.

Slowly.

Until in mid-July the structure was unveiled.

17 JULY

Next it was time for each flower to swell.

20 JULY

And then into flower.

29 JULY

And so some six weeks later, I'm still waiting for it to flower completely.  

Although on its performance so far I'm sure it'll be worth the wait, but boy does this plant know how to draw it out!

A Summer bucket list

I've seen a few summer bucket lists on Pinterest and liked the idea but like so many things on Pinterest I filed it away in the "one day" category. But since then I’ve decided now is the time, so I set to work compiling my very own and first summer bucket list. 

There's some obvious choices on there - picnics, flip-flops, barbecues, ice cream and beaches - and perhaps some you wouldn't expect like the Jury Service which I'm currently doing. If I manage to do these, or even most of them I'll know I've had a good summer!

What's on your summer bucket list?