Knit up those ravelled sleeves...

There's a lovely article in this month's "Resurgence" on knitting as an art form. Here's to the reappropriation of neglected feminine crafts!

Here's, too, to lush colour, to orchids and bromeliads and the joy of being in a hothouse on a miserably cold day; take a look at this for a fun film of a bunch of my Kew colleagues speeded up (including my friend Katrina - very briefly - blink and you'll miss her). They're setting up one of the displays for what behind the scenes we call Tropex; the annual Tropical Extravaganza. Yes, I know a real Tropical Extravaganza would include Cuban musicians and dancers, and a lot of mojitos, rum collinses, helado de coco and fresh tropical fruits; nonetheless, I am plugging my place of work, because even without the salseros and rum I think Tropex deserves a plug. Come and feast your eyes.