First thing in the morning I check the garden – just to make sure it is still there! I still can’t believe what has been achieved. The grasses are flowering, and beautiful in the early sunshine.
Grasses in the early morning
Month: June 2015
My garden in London has been growing. I can hardly believe I only started planting in April!
Avery Hill Winter Garden
I was excited about seeing the Winter Garden at Avery Hill, where, I was told, ‘…The well-stocked Winter Garden is open to the public, and to the west are terraced flower gardens… The main domed structure was “flanked by fernery and conservatory, the best survival in London of such Victorian extravaganzas” (Pevsner) and it took 8 years to build. In the eastern conservatory is a fountain with a marble statue of ‘Galatea Reclining on a Dolphin’, 1882, by Leopoldo Ansiglioni, which depicts the figure and dolphin surrounded by 4 bronze birds and a group of sea turtles…’. Wonderful! I could hardly wait!
There were some beautiful geraniums, including a few with scented leaves.
Geraniums? Let’s look closer.
Scatted in the devastation I saw these plants.
Are these the ‘..terraced flower gardens..’?
A parttime gardener was doing what she could with no resources, remembering the lost glory to the consoling sounds of Radio 3.
You may be interested in
London Gardens Online
A Tour of Avery Hill (with photographs)
Hidden London
HLF Funding for Avery Hill
The Diamond Geezer
Sky Garden
Inspired by Nomura International PLC‘s roof garden and the Roof Gardens in Kensington, I wondered if there were any similar gardens in London, and found Sky Garden at 20 Fenchurch Street, aka the ‘Walkie Talkie Building’!
The garden is newly planted and needs time to develop, but there are beautiful ferns and cycads, and something I haven’t seen for a long time, Tradescantia Zebrina, which I remember from my childhood in South Africa.
The top floor of 20 Fenchurch Street is effectively a giant conservatory where people were quietly enjoying the time of day, and the plants are secondary to the amazing views. Visits can be booked here.
The views are amazing! I only had my small camera, and photographs have to be taken through the glass, so I recommend something with greater definition and filters, or heavy editing afterwards.
And there are more roof gardens in the City.
Rothschild, New Court
Rothschild, New Court
No.1 Poultry
You may be interested in
20 Fenchurch Street
Fann Street Wildlife Garden
Fann Street Wildlife Garden puzzled me slightly – perhaps my visit was too brief during the Open Squares Weekend in London. However, it was the one garden which left me thinking.
Open Squares in London, no.2
The 4.5 acres of Belgrave Square were planted by Thomas Cubitt in 1826 – today it is quite simply stunning – parkland in the centre of London for residents of the square.
Eaton Square was started in 1826 for the Duke of Westminster, the landowner.
Chester Square was laid out in 1828-40 by the first Duke of Westminster and his architect, Thomas Cundy.
Eccleston Square dates from 1928 when Thomas Cubitt designed a 3-acre garden to replace the existing swamp. Today the garden is filled with unusual plants and trees and includes the National Ceanothus Collection.
Open Squares in London, no.1
I visited several squares on Sunday 14 June – all amazing! Kensington Square is one of the earliest garden squares in London, with layout beginning in 1692.
Queen’s Gate Gardens was laid out in the 1860s and we were asked to note the mulberry tree and the catalpa, both from the original plantings.
Hereford Square was built between 1845-50 and is actively managed by the residents, with many interesting and beautiful plants and trees.
You may be interested in
Kensington Square
The history of Kensington Square
The Roof Gardens, Kensington
Sunday 14 June, the second day of the Open Squares Weekend, started very early at The Roof Gardens on Kensington High Street – what a fantastic place!
The Roof Gardens covers 1.5 acres on the roof of the former Derry and Toms building on Kensington High Street and is now owned by Sir Richard Branson. In 1853 Joseph Toms started the small department store on Kensington High Street which became Derry and Toms in 1862 and which has changed ownership several times over the years. Trevor Bowen, Vice President of Barkers commissioned the gardens from Ralph Hancock and work started in 1936, with the gardens opening in 1938. Today the gardens remain open to the public.
We entered through the Spanish Garden which is modelled on the Alhambra in Granada.
The Tudor Gardens are planted with white – roses, arum lilies, paeonies, philadelphus – beautiful and peaceful.
The English Garden has lawns, trees, flamingoes, and a stream!
You may be interested in
Historic photographs of The Roof Gardens
The Roof Gardens
Interesting blog post on the Gardens & Ralph Hancock
Greenwich Park Rose Garden
Ranger’s House dates from c.1700 and was built for a sea captain, Vice Admiral Francis Hosier. The house overlooks Blackheath and backs on to Greenwich Park. It is possible to visit the house, but only on a guided tour. The rose garden is in the Park and is filled with wonderful things.
These stunning roses in the rose garden at Greenwich Park are called Michèle Meilland, but after searching on the internet I wonder if they are actually Francis Meilland?
I enthused over this rose last year as well!
You may be interested in
Lyons’ famous roses
Photographs of Alain Meilland & family
Open Gardens in Halesworth
Halesworth is a Market Town in High Suffolk and over the weekend townspeople opened their gardens in support of Air Ambulance. Walking through the town centre gives no hint of the beautiful spaces hidden away throughout the town – it was a wonderful afternoon!
The flowers were abundant everywhere, and the roses were particularly beautiful.
There were large, park-like gardens, wilderness areas, town gardens, courtyards, a gravel garden – all absolutely beautiful.
And there were interesting plants
Halesworth is a very old town and I need to explore further!
You may be interested in
The history of Halesworth