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Apple blossom particularly nice this year, despite the tree being over 40 and the ever encroaching leylandii cypress. The hawthorn trees in the center are about to explode in eye searing scarlet for the next few weeks.
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Desktop pattern. The lemon balm has taken over this previously ugly corner and gives the lavender some serious competition.
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Some pics inside Sizergh Castle. Belonged to the same family since the 12th Century, and still does, but given to the National Trust to look after.
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Japanese vibes at Sizergh Castle gardens. Moss and cherry trees, beautiful maples, even a giant katsura tree.
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The beautifully carved grave of John Ruskin at St Andrew’s, Coniston. Note the swastika, long before its adoption by the National Socialists.
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Up at Coniston’s old copper mine. It was still in use until the 1890s, with shafts up to 550 meters deep. There were failed attempts to reopen it in the early 20th century.
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Picturesque Tarn Hows. Changed a bit since we were last here 20 years ago. Wide buggy-accessible trail going all round. In another 20 years it’ll probably be a moving walkway. The landscape is the quintessence of Lakes beauty but actually quite artificial
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The Trolley Problem - or a variant of it - challenged me at Cathedral Cave yesterday in the form of a lost duckling. It had fallen into the cave from high above, could not get out, and was abandoned. (Visible in the first 2 pics if you know where to look.
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This sheepfold is an artwork by landscape artist Andy Goldsworthy. We saw him working in it when we were here 20 years ago. Also good for emo album covers.
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Brantwood, the home of John Ruskin until 1900. First visit here since 2006, when a friend still worked here as gardener. It usually rained then too.
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Levens Hall claims to have the oldest topiary garden in the world. Many of these old yew trees appear to be hundreds of years old. Their odd shapes make me imagine that in the distant past people had stopped bothering to shape them, and then resumed a gen
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One of my favourite trees in #fulhamcemetery has always been this giant lone crabapple near Fulham Palace Road (first photo is from 2010). But in January high winds split it in half, and last week, the other half broke off as well, knocking off the top of
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The last of the Japanese cherries to blossom in #fulhamcemetery are the double-flowered pink “Kanzan” variety. My enjoyment of them is muted by how few of them are left, outnumbers by the stumps of those now gone. But at last new ones have been planted th
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#allotment today. Kelly planted sweet peas, I weeded and worked on another path. There are 4 frogs in the pond.
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Quick comparison how this corner of the estate looked 3 years ago. This weekend I remove the wire guards from the new birch trees, and planted a hydrangea that another resident gave me.
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Weeding in Fulham Cemetery, last weekend. (The weed in the 2nd picture is green alkanet, usually considered unwanted.)
