Chris Jefferies
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scilla.org.uk
Chris Jefferies
@scilla.org.uk
Interested in everything!
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Days are slipping by with no Hippeastrum photos. Here's one for today. The second flowering stalk from one of the bulbs is about to open, and sunshine from the window is backlighting some of the petals. Leaves are developing from the two youngest bulbs.
December 16, 2025 at 8:48 PM
A frosty, misty start to another fine day.
December 13, 2025 at 10:28 AM
Here's another in the Hippeastrum series, taken from above this time. All four of the flowers on the first cluster are open or almost open, and the second cluster is close to opening.
December 13, 2025 at 10:26 AM
Here's today's shot of the Hippeastrum 'Bronze Lion'. Getting more and more impressive by the day!
December 11, 2025 at 3:22 PM
This is Daglingworth Brook running from right to left in the foreground. The channel heading away from the brook was dug to fill the pond in the middle distance, presumably to water cattle in the field. All of this - brook, channel and pond are all dry in the summertime. but look at them now!
December 11, 2025 at 3:14 PM
More action from the Hippeastrum 'Bronze Lion' today.
December 10, 2025 at 5:42 PM
Global warming is causing all sorts of strange things to happen, These cowslips were flowering in my garden yesterday, 9th December. The photo was taken today.

#GlobalWarming #ClimateChange #Cowslip #Primula
December 10, 2025 at 5:27 PM
Here are some festive lights in Black Jack Street, #Cirencester, #Gloucestershire. The town is decorated for Christmas. Everyone loves the lights, of course, from the very youngest to the oldest! Even the sky is getting in on the act at Riverside Walk.
December 9, 2025 at 7:29 PM
Iris unguicularis in flower in our garden yesterday. These are native to North Africa (Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria), are fully hardy in the UK, and keep their leaves all year long. Always a nice surprise to see the flowers in December or January!
December 9, 2025 at 1:14 PM
The Hippeastrum story continues. The first flower is open and other three are beginning to bend down towards horizonal, the second flower cluster will open soon, and the third is starting to extend from the first bulb.
December 9, 2025 at 12:56 PM
Mr #Trump tells us that Ukrainians LOVE his pro-Russian 'peace plan'. One counter example is enough to disprove a claim. This video from an American, Greg Terry, is well worth watching. He puts a few things straight, makes a few things very clear...

www.youtube.com/watch?v=VyTH...
December 8, 2025 at 10:15 PM
Here are the latest photos of the Hippeastrum 'Bronze Lion' flowers opening, yesterday on the left and today on the right. When each flower bud is mature enough, it moves from a vertical position to horizontal.
December 7, 2025 at 5:45 PM
The Hippeastrum flower bud is getting larger and the individual four flowers are starting to separate. A second flower stalk is forming on the same bulb but there are no leaves so far.
December 6, 2025 at 5:12 PM
Gloucester Street, Cirencester, on a sunny winter day. I love this grand old town so much.

#Cotswolds #Cirencester
December 4, 2025 at 10:59 PM
I can ß at least for flower buds now
December 3, 2025 at 11:05 AM
Detail of an orchid in our kitchen area, such beautiful detail and colouring in these long-lasting flowers!

#Orchid
December 2, 2025 at 5:33 PM
The individual flower buds are now becoming visible on the Hippeastrum 'Bronze Lion'. Scroll down for earlier shots.
December 2, 2025 at 9:41 AM
Flower stalks developing on our Hippeastrum 'Bronze Lion' that I bred some years ago now, a hand-pollinated cross of 'Red Lion' and a Pink and white cultivar. I didn't have the space to grow 100 seedlings to flowering age so selected this one because of its bronze foliage when young.
November 29, 2025 at 10:35 PM
Today I made good progress on my next Blast from the Past article for JHM. It's now complete back to December 1975 when my daughter Debbie was just nine months old, seen here with my Mum. And yes, Mum was wearing a real fur coat - entirely acceptable in 1975. It was a hand-me-down family item.
November 28, 2025 at 10:15 PM
Walking back from Small Group tonight I took a few star photos on my phone. I love how easy this is to do and how well a phone manages to do it. Here are the Hyades below and the Pleiades above. Not great astro-photography, but fun and lovely.
November 25, 2025 at 11:11 PM
What a glorious morning! I had a shower and washed my hair and later I plan to walk into town, get my hair cut, and walk back. If I do an extra loop around Stratton that should get me 10 000 steps.
November 25, 2025 at 9:19 AM
Look what we woke up to this morning!
November 19, 2025 at 8:29 AM
We had a remarkably clear sky all day, not a cloud in sight, I think. The sky was blue after sunset, apart from a strong orange glow along the south-western horizon.
November 17, 2025 at 8:52 PM
Wow! One of the most intense rainbows I've ever seen has just appeared! Really awesome. Gone now but brilliant for a couple of minutes.
November 10, 2025 at 4:04 PM
Coffee at Jacks with Donna.
November 8, 2025 at 3:18 PM