The Dickens Inn
Charming is one word that comes to mind upon seeing The Dickens Inn in St Katherine’s Dock, London on a summer day. The hanging baskets and balcony holders overflowing with annuals in rainbow colours have real impact. And harmonize well with the old-fashioned architecture of the place.
The baskets and holders may be high maintenance, but can imagine the pulling power they give the Inn shows up when they count the tills at the end of the day.
Wisteria clinging to a pergola in the Old English rose garden in Battersea Park, London
Pretty much nothing if you ask me. Just like any other garden. No charm, no place to reminisce about other times. Not necessarily better times, but just a place for some old-fashioned escapism.
They are commonly referred to as rose gardens. In this case, however, we are primarily talking a wisteria garden. Because that’s the wonderfully luscious, vibrant plant that dominates the Old English garden in Battersea Park, London.
It was cut back last year as they were rebuilding the pergola. And it took a while for it to rebounce. Surprisingly, only about one season – age shall not weary them! Just keep it coming dear.
Sweet peas
Sweet peas here I come. My grandmother used to grow them in abundance against a south-facing wall and weren’t they so very pretty. I have had my own garden for a number of years by now, but for some reason or another I’ve never really been bothered growing them.
But at the moment I can’t help opening a magazine, newspaper or going online without reading something about sweet peas. So I take that as a sign that this is the year for a first attempt growing a sweet pea feature.
Pity my grandmother is no longer around for some professional growing advice. But from what I understand things don’t have to be that difficult – think I may just go down the route of planting seeds where they are to flower. Exactly where that will be I’m not sure yet, have to consider where those supports fits first …
Lagerhägg (Prunus laurocerasus) 4/4/2009
Lagerhägg som den ser ut 9/3/2010
Denna vintern har gått hårt fram på många fronter. Inte minst vad gäller mina lagerhäggar. Den översta bilden visar hur en av dem såg den 4/4/2009. Den andra hur en ser ut drygt ett år senare …
Det är bara att hoppas att de återhämtar sig, de gjorde det sista gången det var mardrömskallt ända in i slutet av mars. Det här året ser inte ut att bli så mycket bättre, enda skillnaden är att vi i Göteborg nu haft isvinter sedan jul …