Sorry for the break in service ...

Apologies for the silence of the last few weeks - I have been on my annual pilgrimage to the lovely Vancouver and Vancouver Island, and then horribly busy since then - so much so I haven't been able to set foot in the allotment yet. The situation is unlikely to ease in the next few days as I am off to Manchester for Labour conference soon, and I've got the proofs of my book to look at as soon as I am back.

But in the meantime I can tell you some semi-exciting news: my book is now available on Amazon. It's published on January 1 but you can pre-order it now. Of course it'll also be available in your local independent bookstore - I hope! - if you prefer to support a business a bit closer to home, or you'll be able to buy it via the Guardian website once it's published.Unfortunately you can't see the lovely cover, but with any luck that'll be added soon.

Thanks to everyone who has emailed in the last couple of weeks - I'll be working through my inbox today so if you haven't had a reply to your message, you should hear from me shortly.

So I am sorry to say the posts won't be coming thick and fast ... but here's a poser for you. Can anyone identify this plant for me, spotted on a return visit to the delightful Abkhazi Garden in Victoria? Answers in the comments below, please.

Comments

[Bill Lee]

....and sorry at the lack of rain (or Tofino water) this summer on the (formerly we(s)t coast.

Berry interesting?
Try
http://www.kurtknoll.com/nature02.html

Then to
http://www.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/nh_papers/nativeplants/index.html
to confirm

[Kathy]

It looks to me like a relative of our native mayapple Podophyllum peltatum. I know there are Asian cousins to it.

[Podchef]

Ach! You were in my backyard! Vancouver and Victoria is just a hop, skip, and jump from the island. Next time give us a jingle and I'll cook for you! Hopefully next year won't be as dry as this. Our garden was absolutely scorched and didn't yield nearly what it usually does.