Welcome to our blog.  This is the first blog in our journey to opening the exhibition, Britain’s Efforts and Ideas: Prints of the First World War on 2 August 2014 at the National Museum Cardiff.  The countdown has started.   

The exhibition will bring together the works from the portfolio, The Great War: Britain’s Efforts and Ideals. commissioned by Wellington House, the propaganda Bureau that became the Ministry of Information.  The prospectus described the series as …’a first attempt by a number of British artists, working in unison, to put on record some aspects of the activities called forth by the Great war, and ideals by which those activities were inspired.’  Artists of the day including Frank Brangwyn, Augustus John, William Rothenstein, Eric Kennington and C.R.W. Nevinson all contributed prints to the series.  In 1919 the National Museum of Wales was donated a set by the government.  We will be exhibiting these works as a group for the first time. 

Over the next few months we plan to give you an insight into preparations for this show.  Working together, conservators and curators will research and prepare all 66 prints for display.  We will give you an insight into what happens to works when they go ‘to be conserved’, how we can investigate the fibres to identify the paper, what new research will reveal about the series and the public reaction when they went on display.

Mar Mateo, Beth McIntyre and Emily O’Reilly

The team are now back from the West Coast of Ireland and the trip has proven to be really successful. The team continued to sample around Corraun, near Achill Island, north Clew Bay for several days, although the weather did turn. They are now processing the samples collected back at National Museum Cardiff. The seaweed samples are carefully dried and pressed, bristleworm and shell specimens are removed from the formaldehyde fixative and then placed into alcohol, and the DNA samples are placed into the freezer. Once processed the specimens will become part of the Museum Collections, and will contribute greatly to the research of the Natural Sciences department.

Shwmae gyfeillion y gwanwyn!

Canlyniadau Big Garden Birdwatch

Beth yw’r 10 aderyn mwyaf cyffredin yn eich gardd chi? Cyfrannodd bron i hanner miliwn o bobl at Big Garden Birdwatch 2014 yr RSPB (y Gymdeithas Frenhinol er Gwarchod Adar). Dyma nhw’n cyfri dros 7 miliwn o adar! Wnaethoch chi helpu? Os na, beth am ddechrau eleni er mwyn gallu helpu y flwyddyn nesaf? I weld y 10 aderyn mwyaf cyffredin, dilynwch y ddolen hon. 

Pa ysgolion sydd wedi gweld eu blodau cyntaf?

Mae Trellech Primary School yng Nghymru, ac Britannia Community Primary School yn Lloegr i gyd wedi anfon eu cofnodion blodau cyntaf. Da iawn a diolch yn fawr i’r ysgolion yma!

Dyma un o fy nghydweithwyr yng Nghaerdydd yn dangos y ffotograff yma i fi o gennin Pedr yn ei gardd. Allwch chi weld rhywbeth rhyfedd am y blodau? Mae’r llun ychydig yn aneglur ond wrth edrych yn ofalus gallwch chi weld bod gan rai o’r coesynnau ddau neu dri o flodau! Rhyfedd iawn. Ydych chi wedi gweld unrhyw blanhigion anarferol?

Diolch i Ysgol Gynradd SS Philip a James yr Eglwys yn Lloegr am anfon y ffotograff hwn o’u holl flodau hyfryd. Yn y trydydd ffotograff gallwch chi weld eu bod nhw hefyd wedi gweld blodau anarferol – wnaeth rhai o’r cennin Pedr ddim agor yn llawn. Mae hyn yn ddiddorol iawn, alwch chi feddwl am unrhyw reswm pam na fyddai’r blodau yn agor? Wnaeth hyn ddigwydd i’ch blodau chi?

Cot Cennin Pedr!

Ydych chi am weld llun doniol o ddyn yn gwisgo cennin Pedr? Dyma chi! James yw ei enw ac mae’n gwisgo siwt wedi’i gwneud o gennin Pedr i godi arian at elusen. Da iawn James!

Your comments, my answers:

Prof P: I had lots and lots of comments from Dallas Road Community Primary School so I thought I would put them all on the blog this week, thank-you all for sending me your messages! Congratulations to all of you, even if your flower did not grow, was stepped on, got broken or died, you are ALL Super Scientists! Prof P.

Dallas Road Community Primary School: 

I think it didn't open because the daffodil was hovering over it and so it didn't get enough sun and rain. :(

I think my daffodil was in the shade so it did not open.

Someone cut its head off

It didn't open because somebody stepped on it

It died

Someone broke the bud off

Mine did not open!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My Bulb disappeared

It was a bit floppy so we did not get chance to tie it up. But it is still open.

I am quiet sad my daffodils have not opened but they are growing so I will believe that soon they will and they are really tall.

My daffodil is growing very tall but it is a bit floppy.

My crocus is beautiful some of them are starting to die but still i'm happy because some are still growing and some have opened and some of them are fully beautiful i'm really happy about every crocus. My crocus's are quiet tall some are small as well

my crocus is really beautiful i have got another 3-4 crocuses opening i really enjoy seeing my plant grow.

My crocus has flowered well and is growing quite tall which is good and happy about it all.

I did not get a daffodil so it did not grow.

Daffodil has broke and I had to tie it up.

My plant head fell off. I haven't seen it since so I don't know if it has grown back.

My daffodil didnt open. I dont think mine had enough sunlight

Prof P: Culross Primary School sent me messages to tell me they had named their flowers, thanks Culross! Here are some of the names they gave their Daffodils and Crocuses: Danny, Dafty, Crocy, Abby, Croaky, Dave, Chris, Cassy, Ceeper, Bob, Jim.

Diolch yn fawr

Athro'r Ardd

Six members of Natural Sciences staff are currently on fieldwork in Co. Mayo, Ireland. After attending the 2 day Porcupine Marine Natural History Conference at the Ryan Institute, National University of Ireland Galway they set off for Co. Mayo for 5 days of intertidal fieldwork. Their primary interests are in marine bristle worms (polychaetes), bivalve shells (molluscs) and seaweed.

After setting up a temporary laboratory the scientific team have spent the last two days visiting several shores in Clew Bay and Blacksod Bay — following in the footsteps of those who carried out the historic 'Clare Island Survey' in the early 1900s. Samples are being processed for both morphological and DNA work contributing to the Museum's collections and research programme. Many live animals and algae are being photographed. Today the team is setting off to Corraun, near Achill Island, north Clew Bay. They will be joined by Fiona Crouch of the Marine Biological Association UK, who has been extending her 'Shore Thing' community science programme to Ireland (as ShorTIE).

Further updates to come, but for up-to-date news follow us at https://twitter.com/CardiffCurator

Mae dyddiad cau Bylbiau’r Gwanwyn wedi cyrraedd! Diolch yn fawr IAWN i chi gyd am gasglu eich cofnodion tywydd a blodau a’u hanfon ata i mewn pryd.

Pa ysgolion sydd wedi gweld eu blodau cyntaf?

Mae Balcurvie Primary School, Chatelherault Primary School, Glencairn PrimarySchool, St. Blanes Primary School, St. Patrick's Primary School, Tynewater Primary School ac Wormit Primary School yn yr Alban, ac Brynhyfryd Junior School, Cleddau Reach VC Primary School,Coed-y-Lan Primary, St Athan Primary,St Mellons Church in Wales Primary School, Ysgol Bro Eirwg, Ysgol Iau Hen Golwyn ac Ysgol Y Plas yng Nghymru i gyd wedi gweld eu blodau cyntaf. Yn Lloegr, mae ysgolion Bleasdale CE Primary School, Combe Primary School, Cutteslowe Primary School ac Flakefleet Primary School i gyd wedi anfon eu cofnodion blodau cyntaf. Da iawn a diolch yn fawr i’r ysgolion yma!

Daliwch ati i anfon eich cofnodion blodau!

Fel y dwedais i yn y blog diwethaf, os oes blodau ar eich planhigion ond eu bod nhw heb agor eto, daliwch ati i wylio ac anfonwch eich cofnodion pan fyddan nhw’n agor. Fyddan nhw ddim mewn pryd i gael eu cynnwys yn Adroddiad Bylbiau’r Gwanwyn eleni, ond byddan nhw’n gwneud adroddiad y flwyddyn nesaf yn fwy cywir.

Planhigion heb flodeuo?

Diolch i bob disgybl anfonodd gofnodion yn dweud fod eu planhigion heb flodeuo, neu’r blodau heb agor (gwnewch hyn drwy glicio ‘Heb agor’ yn y Cofnod Blodau). Mae’n gallu bod yn deimlad siomedig os nad yw’r planhigion y blodeuo, ond peidiwch â phoeni! Un o’r gwersi pwysig fyddwn ni’n dysgu fel Gwyddonwyr Gwych yw na fydd pob arbrawf yn rhoi’r canlyniad oedden ni’n ei ddisgwyl. Ond nid yw’r arbrawf yn fethiant. Mae cofnodi pan fydd rhywbeth ddim yn digwydd YR UN MOR BWYSIG i wyddonydd â chofnodi pan fydd rhywbeth yn digwydd.

Does dim ots os agorodd eich blodyn neu beidio, os weithioch chi’n galed a helpu gydag Ymchwiliad Bylbiau’r Gwanwyn, byddwch chi’n derbyn tystysgrif a phensel Gwyddonydd Gwych!

Gweirglodd blodau gwyllt Amgueddfa Genedlaethol Caerdydd

Yma yn Amgueddfa Genedlaethol Caerdydd rydyn ni’n arbrofi wrth dyfu gweirglodd blodau gwyllt. Oes gweirglodd blodau gwyllt yn eich ysgol chi? Rydyn ni wedi plannu rhai hadau a bylbiau a’r blodau cyntaf i ymddangos yw’r crocysau a’r cennin Pedr! Dyma ffotograff ohonyn nhw. Dyw e ddim yn edrych yn debyg iawn i weirglodd eto, ond gobeithio y bydd e’n llawn blodau erbyn yr haf. Yn y cylch mwdlyd, rydyn ni wedi plannu llawer o babïau coch i gofio’r Rhyfel Byd Cyntaf. Eleni rydyn ni’n cofio 100 mlynedd ers dechrau’r Rhyfel a byddwn ni’n cynnal digwyddiadau ac arddangosfeydd yn Amgueddfa Cymru i adrodd hanes pobl Cymru yn ystod y Rhyfel. Cliciwch yma i ddysgu mwy.

Eich cwestiynau, fy atebion:

Dallas Road Community Primary School: Hi Proffeser Plant!! Prof P: Hi everyone at Dallas Road!

Pinfold Primary School: nearly all the bulbs have opened. The mystery bulbs are blooming very well. The crocus is growing purple flowers. Prof P: What were your mystery bulbs Pinfold?

Glyncollen Primary School: Hello Professor Plant, We're excited because our bulbs have now sprung and we can't wait to get our certificates. From, Year 4. Prof P: Congratulations Year 4! I look forward to sending them to you, you are Super Scientists!
Ysgol Terrig: Our Bulbs have opened and they are 15cm tall :). Prof P: Great measuring Ysgol Terrig.

Rougemont Junior School: What a warm a dry week Professor Plant, our crocuses are all blooming as are our daffodils. Prof P: All the colours look so lovely don’t they?

St. Ignatius Primary School: We have uploaded our weather records for this week but unfortunately our bulbs have not flowered just yet. We are disappointed as this is the last week and we can see them coming along but not as quick as we would have hoped. We will continue to keep an eye on them and let you know when they have flowered. Our teacher will need to do this next week as P7 are off to Kilbowie in Oban for an outward bound trip. Prof P: Please don’t be disappointed P7, your results are still really important, even if your flowers didn’t open by the deadline. Enjoy your trip it sounds like fun!

Kilmaron Special School: We are using the findings of our daily temperature readings and rainfall as evidence in our SQA National 1 Measurement unit. Prof P: That is fantastic Kilmaron, I am so glad it is helping you with your qualification.

Stanford in the Vale Primary School: Thank you very much we really enjoyed it and are datherdils are blooming and are very healthy and strong through all of these conditions. Stanford in the vale gardening club. Prof P: I am so glad you enjoyed it Stanford, that makes me very happy!

St. Blanes Primary School: Hi Professor Plant, the start of the week felt much warmer. It's the first time we saw the temperature in double figures! Prof P: I hope you enjoyed the warm weather.

Gladestry C.I.W. School: it has grown well i'm a mum. Prof P: Congratulations! You must have looked after your baby bulb very well.

Chatelherault Primary School: Some of our plants are starting to bloom the daffodils are showing the most. The crocuses are still growing but not as much as the daffodils. Prof P: That is very interesting as crocuses usually flower before daffodils.

Ysgol Gynradd Cross Hands: Dyma ein blodyn cyntaf gan LM o Ysgol Gynradd Cross Hands. Mwy o haul plis!Prof P: Llongyfarchiadau LM o Ysgol Gynradd Cross Hands!

The Blessed Sacrament Catholic Primary School: my plant is just the same as the plant I got at my home it has grown twenty cm. Prof P: It’s wonderful to hear that you are growing flowers at home too, well done!

Diolch yn fawr

Athro'r Ardd