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| Still Life City: Sycamore Leaf |
.JPG "Sycamore seeds") |
| Still Life City: Sycamore Seeds |
Monday 11 August 2014
Still Life City: After the Rain
Bunhill Fields yesterday. I think part of the beauty of urban nature is how it interacts with concrete, tarmac, brick - I could not stop looking at all these beautiful puddle frames.
Monday 4 August 2014
Chelsea Physic Garden (Part 2)
The indoor growing areas at Chelsea Physic Garden may just be my favourite part. I have a particular fondness for ferns, succulents and tropical plants, all of which are heavily represented in the lovely old hot and cool greenhouses in the garden.
The Tropical Corridor covers the north area of the garden. A series of hothouses are filled with exotic and more familiar species - one is rammed to the rafters with Pelargoniums. Unfortunately a large portion of this area was closed to the public during my visit - they had been recently sprayed (happily, with Pyrethrum - an organic insecticide). I had a few tantalising glimpses through the glass at some of the wonders within, and plan to return soon to explore more properly. An all time favourite of mine is Agapanthus, whose sky blue blooms appear throughout this area. Gorgeous.
Not strictly an indoor zone, but on the same general theme is this theatre of Chillies. Traditionally used to display Auriculas at the height of their Spring glory, these garden 'theatres' work well with other small potted plants, and Chillies look wonderful in this one. It's fascinating to see so many together and compare not just the multicoloured fruits but the varied structures and leaves.
The Fernery at Chelsea is the first I've ever seen. The white walls and black floor provide a perfect foil to the deep pure greens of the ferns. It's a tranquil spot tucked away against the western wall of the garden. The greenhouse is simply planted with ferns of many types and sizes, with sunken rocks jutting and patches of moss sprawling through the beds. Shady and cool, it is protected to one side by an adjoining building, with window nets blocking the glare of the sun.
There's something a bit special about the shape of ferns. The elegant bend of the lilting fronds, the violin scrolls as they unfurl, the airy lightness of the small, perfectly arranged leaves diminishing to a fishbone point. Apparently there is a word for the fern-obsessed: 'Pteridomaniac'. Good to know.
Much as I love colour, and colourful plants, the total and utter greenness of the Fernery is just beautiful. From the dark foresty greens of the mosses, to the pale spring hues of the delicate Maidenhair ferns. Chunks of wood hung on the wall host more specimens, and lend a slightly surreal sense to the space. Botanical hunting trophies of days gone by.
The snaky stripes of Horsetail rear high in a far corner of the greenhouse. They encompass a range of shades - from near black, to bright lime and a practically fluorescent yellow. These strong smooth stems, with their bamboo style joints, do not actually belong to the Fern family, but are the last remaining genus of the vascular family Equisetaceae, which were prolific in the forests of the Paleozoic era, over 500 million years ago. Living fossils!
The Wardian case, nestled at one end of the Fernery, creates an enclosed atmosphere to provide a constant high humidity. The filmy ferns within have fronds just one cell thick, and are naturally found near waterfalls. The case was designed to aid transportation of delicate plants, previously at risk from exposure on long journeys across the seas. It was designed by the fern-loving Dr. Ward, who wrote the imaginatively titled book 'On the Growth of Plants in Closely Glazed Cases.' The mist and blurriness of the case did not lend itself to photographing, but you get the general idea.
The final indoor area at Chelsea is a small glasshouse attached to the main building, housing an incredible collection of Cacti and Succulents, and a tabletop display of carnivorous plants that is like a little prehistoric world all of its own.
The glasshouse really is a tiny space, but might just have be the highest plant to space ratio of the whole garden - look at them crammed in there!
I find the graphic shapes of cacti and succulents very appealing. The geometric precision of forms and Fibonacci-esque patterns are just mindblowing. There's also something very humble and friendly about them - they're stunning but they don't shout about it. If I could pick up that little greenhouse and take it home, I would.
Chelsea Physic Garden is situated on the northern bank of the Thames at Chelsea, and can be accessed from Swan Walk, to the East. The nearest tube is Sloane Square. At the time of my visit, the entrance fee was £9.90. The Garden is run as an independent charity.
The Tropical Corridor covers the north area of the garden. A series of hothouses are filled with exotic and more familiar species - one is rammed to the rafters with Pelargoniums. Unfortunately a large portion of this area was closed to the public during my visit - they had been recently sprayed (happily, with Pyrethrum - an organic insecticide). I had a few tantalising glimpses through the glass at some of the wonders within, and plan to return soon to explore more properly. An all time favourite of mine is Agapanthus, whose sky blue blooms appear throughout this area. Gorgeous.
Not strictly an indoor zone, but on the same general theme is this theatre of Chillies. Traditionally used to display Auriculas at the height of their Spring glory, these garden 'theatres' work well with other small potted plants, and Chillies look wonderful in this one. It's fascinating to see so many together and compare not just the multicoloured fruits but the varied structures and leaves.
The Fernery at Chelsea is the first I've ever seen. The white walls and black floor provide a perfect foil to the deep pure greens of the ferns. It's a tranquil spot tucked away against the western wall of the garden. The greenhouse is simply planted with ferns of many types and sizes, with sunken rocks jutting and patches of moss sprawling through the beds. Shady and cool, it is protected to one side by an adjoining building, with window nets blocking the glare of the sun.
There's something a bit special about the shape of ferns. The elegant bend of the lilting fronds, the violin scrolls as they unfurl, the airy lightness of the small, perfectly arranged leaves diminishing to a fishbone point. Apparently there is a word for the fern-obsessed: 'Pteridomaniac'. Good to know.
Much as I love colour, and colourful plants, the total and utter greenness of the Fernery is just beautiful. From the dark foresty greens of the mosses, to the pale spring hues of the delicate Maidenhair ferns. Chunks of wood hung on the wall host more specimens, and lend a slightly surreal sense to the space. Botanical hunting trophies of days gone by.
The snaky stripes of Horsetail rear high in a far corner of the greenhouse. They encompass a range of shades - from near black, to bright lime and a practically fluorescent yellow. These strong smooth stems, with their bamboo style joints, do not actually belong to the Fern family, but are the last remaining genus of the vascular family Equisetaceae, which were prolific in the forests of the Paleozoic era, over 500 million years ago. Living fossils!
The Wardian case, nestled at one end of the Fernery, creates an enclosed atmosphere to provide a constant high humidity. The filmy ferns within have fronds just one cell thick, and are naturally found near waterfalls. The case was designed to aid transportation of delicate plants, previously at risk from exposure on long journeys across the seas. It was designed by the fern-loving Dr. Ward, who wrote the imaginatively titled book 'On the Growth of Plants in Closely Glazed Cases.' The mist and blurriness of the case did not lend itself to photographing, but you get the general idea.
The final indoor area at Chelsea is a small glasshouse attached to the main building, housing an incredible collection of Cacti and Succulents, and a tabletop display of carnivorous plants that is like a little prehistoric world all of its own.
The glasshouse really is a tiny space, but might just have be the highest plant to space ratio of the whole garden - look at them crammed in there!
I find the graphic shapes of cacti and succulents very appealing. The geometric precision of forms and Fibonacci-esque patterns are just mindblowing. There's also something very humble and friendly about them - they're stunning but they don't shout about it. If I could pick up that little greenhouse and take it home, I would.
Chelsea Physic Garden is situated on the northern bank of the Thames at Chelsea, and can be accessed from Swan Walk, to the East. The nearest tube is Sloane Square. At the time of my visit, the entrance fee was £9.90. The Garden is run as an independent charity.
Thursday 31 July 2014
Chelsea Physic Garden (Part 1)
I finally visited Chelsea Physic Garden last week, on an absolute scorcher of a day. An incredible variety of plants thrive in its 3.8 acres, a secret walled garden in the heart of the city. Themed areas, utterly different in mood and aesthetic, are cleverly arranged - you can lose yourself for hours wandering, looking, smelling and dreaming.
I ended up with a lot of photographs from my visit. Literally hundreds. Everywhere I looked there was something beautiful or interesting. It has been hard to edit these down into a manageable number for just one post so I have decided to split my visit across two posts, the second of which will cover the indoor growing spaces - the tropical Hothouses, cool Fernery, and a small greenhouse filled with cacti, succulents and carnivorous plants. For now, I will focus on the abounding wonders of the outdoor spaces of the garden...
Chelsea Physic Garden was founded in 1673 by the Society of Apothecaries, as a space for apprentices to grow and study medicinal plants in. The site already contained established orchards and market gardens, with a free draining soil and southerly aspect ideal for the many specimens that would arrive from warmer climates to be planted into the collection.
Hundreds of years of considered planting and botanical experimentation have created a unique and fascinating space, with support and contributions from a series of explorers, botanists and gardeners. A statue of Sir Hans Sloane stands at the centre of the garden. Hans bought the 'Manor of Chelsea' (land that included the garden) in 1712. He proceeded to grant a perpetual lease of the garden to the apothecaries, at a rate of £5 per year. This fee is apparently paid to his descendants to this day!
Paths radiating from Hans's statue lead to areas of specific focus, ordered with a view to education, research and conservation. Which all sounds fairly clinical, but in the height of summer feels quite the opposite, with plants blooming, arching and spilling across the neatly edged beds, a complex symphony of colour and form.
The Dicotyledon Order beds are laid out to indicate the relationship between species, with an evolutionary sequencing. A particular favourite here was a dense mass of white poppies, with a more than a little of the poached-egg about them (I may have just been hungry...)
The Monocotyledon Order beds are currently a little sparse, due to a recent fallow period imposed to combat a serious weed problem. The planting here is designed to reflect the 'natural' style of classification preferred by John Lindley - an eminent botanist and Head Gardener at Chelsea 1836-53.
The Garden of Medicinal Plants is lush, filled with the familiar and the unusual, in a series of interlinked courtyards. Subtle signage describes the ways in which the plants can be used. Though all the plants have been carefully chosen, some parts feel almost wild, with naturalistic planting and a casual abundance.
The Garden of Edible Plants is a small but lovely section, encompassing herbs, fruits and vegetables. As you'd expect, there is a lot of crossover here with other areas. I wonder if (and hope that) the produce here is used in the onsite cafe.
Fortune's Tank Pond is crammed with reeds and waterlilies, and alive with frogs, dragonflies and more. A planted bank to one side separates it from the formal beds, and cast some shade across the edge of the pond. A body of water makes such a difference to a garden.
The History Beds showcase the many specimens brought to the Garden by botanists through the ages, many of them introduced to England for the first time. William Hudson, Robert Fortune and Sir Joseph Banks are among the luminaries represented here. The men and women who helped to make the garden such an extraordinary place are noted and honoured throughout. One sign describes how Carl von Linne, a Swedish botanist and taxonomist, delighted in the task of naming new specimens. He dubbed the common toad 'Buffo Buffo' after a French rival - Comte de Buffon. Ha!
The Garden of Useful Plants displays numerous functional species - used for textiles, dyes, hygiene, craft, perfume, fuel... It's important to be reminded just how many elements of our lives depend on plants. The area includes a small but perfectly formed vineyard, a bed displaying plants which have religious symbolism, and even a specimen of Cannabis Sativa. There is something heavily metaphorical and actually a bit moving about the various plants sacred to different religions thriving in a bed together.
We ate lunch in the cafe, in view of a huge Magnolia tree. Its flowers were vast and perfect, with a form, solidity and snowy whiteness reminiscent of nothing so much as a starched shirt collar. Unreal.
Many beautiful trees, some extremely old, tower amongst the formal beds and cast a deep shade over the woodland areas edging the south side of the garden. These include an ancient yew, the largest outdoor olive tree in the UK, and a stunning weeping beech. The day of my visit was so hot that even with a fair few visitors in the garden, the exposed areas were practically empty of people. Instead respite was sought in the shady woodland, cool and green and alive with birds.
Chelsea Physic Garden is situated on the northern bank of the Thames at Chelsea, and can be accessed from Swan Walk, to the East. The nearest tube is Sloane Square. At the time of my visit, the entrance fee was £9.90. The Garden is run as an independent charity.
I ended up with a lot of photographs from my visit. Literally hundreds. Everywhere I looked there was something beautiful or interesting. It has been hard to edit these down into a manageable number for just one post so I have decided to split my visit across two posts, the second of which will cover the indoor growing spaces - the tropical Hothouses, cool Fernery, and a small greenhouse filled with cacti, succulents and carnivorous plants. For now, I will focus on the abounding wonders of the outdoor spaces of the garden...
Chelsea Physic Garden was founded in 1673 by the Society of Apothecaries, as a space for apprentices to grow and study medicinal plants in. The site already contained established orchards and market gardens, with a free draining soil and southerly aspect ideal for the many specimens that would arrive from warmer climates to be planted into the collection.
Hundreds of years of considered planting and botanical experimentation have created a unique and fascinating space, with support and contributions from a series of explorers, botanists and gardeners. A statue of Sir Hans Sloane stands at the centre of the garden. Hans bought the 'Manor of Chelsea' (land that included the garden) in 1712. He proceeded to grant a perpetual lease of the garden to the apothecaries, at a rate of £5 per year. This fee is apparently paid to his descendants to this day!
Paths radiating from Hans's statue lead to areas of specific focus, ordered with a view to education, research and conservation. Which all sounds fairly clinical, but in the height of summer feels quite the opposite, with plants blooming, arching and spilling across the neatly edged beds, a complex symphony of colour and form.
The Dicotyledon Order beds are laid out to indicate the relationship between species, with an evolutionary sequencing. A particular favourite here was a dense mass of white poppies, with a more than a little of the poached-egg about them (I may have just been hungry...)
The Garden of Medicinal Plants is lush, filled with the familiar and the unusual, in a series of interlinked courtyards. Subtle signage describes the ways in which the plants can be used. Though all the plants have been carefully chosen, some parts feel almost wild, with naturalistic planting and a casual abundance.
The Garden of Edible Plants is a small but lovely section, encompassing herbs, fruits and vegetables. As you'd expect, there is a lot of crossover here with other areas. I wonder if (and hope that) the produce here is used in the onsite cafe.
Fortune's Tank Pond is crammed with reeds and waterlilies, and alive with frogs, dragonflies and more. A planted bank to one side separates it from the formal beds, and cast some shade across the edge of the pond. A body of water makes such a difference to a garden.
The History Beds showcase the many specimens brought to the Garden by botanists through the ages, many of them introduced to England for the first time. William Hudson, Robert Fortune and Sir Joseph Banks are among the luminaries represented here. The men and women who helped to make the garden such an extraordinary place are noted and honoured throughout. One sign describes how Carl von Linne, a Swedish botanist and taxonomist, delighted in the task of naming new specimens. He dubbed the common toad 'Buffo Buffo' after a French rival - Comte de Buffon. Ha!
The Garden of Useful Plants displays numerous functional species - used for textiles, dyes, hygiene, craft, perfume, fuel... It's important to be reminded just how many elements of our lives depend on plants. The area includes a small but perfectly formed vineyard, a bed displaying plants which have religious symbolism, and even a specimen of Cannabis Sativa. There is something heavily metaphorical and actually a bit moving about the various plants sacred to different religions thriving in a bed together.
We ate lunch in the cafe, in view of a huge Magnolia tree. Its flowers were vast and perfect, with a form, solidity and snowy whiteness reminiscent of nothing so much as a starched shirt collar. Unreal.
Many beautiful trees, some extremely old, tower amongst the formal beds and cast a deep shade over the woodland areas edging the south side of the garden. These include an ancient yew, the largest outdoor olive tree in the UK, and a stunning weeping beech. The day of my visit was so hot that even with a fair few visitors in the garden, the exposed areas were practically empty of people. Instead respite was sought in the shady woodland, cool and green and alive with birds.
The woodland area feels semi wild, with naturalistic shrubs and groundcover. There is a wonderful Lacecap Hydrangea, with cucumber colouring and those perfectly 'unfinished' blooms. Anenomes bring a gentle splash of colour, Hostas try and fail to defy hungry slugs, and a slightly anomalous and inexplicably amusing cluster of globe pruned box borders the woodland to the east.
Many of the trees are hung with bee houses, and there are log piles and stumps left to encourage insects. What a wonderful place for them to live!
Chelsea Physic Garden is situated on the northern bank of the Thames at Chelsea, and can be accessed from Swan Walk, to the East. The nearest tube is Sloane Square. At the time of my visit, the entrance fee was £9.90. The Garden is run as an independent charity.
Thursday 24 July 2014
Still Life City: Building Site
There's a building site to the east of Bishopsgate. Some towering, glittering monstrosity will appear eventually, but in the meantime there were some monochrome gems.
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| Still Life City: Black & White 1 |
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| Still Life City: Black & White 2 |
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| Still Life City: Black & White 3 |
Tuesday 22 July 2014
Back in the Game
After an 18 month hiatus, I've decided to restart my blog, so - hello!
I'd actually planned to create a new blog, but as the subject matter is not a world apart, and I plan to also update on my own gardening adventures, it made sense to pick up on this one instead, with a new name and adjusted focus.
For those of you who didn't visit beforehand, this blog (the old posts remain below) used to be called the Amateur Balcony (note - I do not recommend googling this phrase - you get some pretty fruity results! Something I had not thought to check out before naming it...). The blog focused on my small London balcony, and my gardening experiments, triumphs, disasters and learning.
This 2.0 version - Still Life City, will be more a record of the green and growing spaces I visit, the urban beauty I stumble across, and general swashbuckling excitements in the world of plants, growing, urban agriculture, sustainability and regeneration. So - a fairly broad sweep! But within a definite lens. Basically, I'm going to write about the things I love.
Also, I am in the habit of taking close up photos around the city - of colours, textures, random markings, manmade and natural details, often strange and always beautiful. To my eyes at least. They're like accidental abstract paintings. Still Lifes of the city. In all the glorious, huge and majestic wonder of London, I think there are tiny moments of beauty to be noticed - in even the grubbiest or most banal of places. So, I'm going to post my Still Life City pictures here too.
Onwards! Until next time.
I'd actually planned to create a new blog, but as the subject matter is not a world apart, and I plan to also update on my own gardening adventures, it made sense to pick up on this one instead, with a new name and adjusted focus.
For those of you who didn't visit beforehand, this blog (the old posts remain below) used to be called the Amateur Balcony (note - I do not recommend googling this phrase - you get some pretty fruity results! Something I had not thought to check out before naming it...). The blog focused on my small London balcony, and my gardening experiments, triumphs, disasters and learning.
This 2.0 version - Still Life City, will be more a record of the green and growing spaces I visit, the urban beauty I stumble across, and general swashbuckling excitements in the world of plants, growing, urban agriculture, sustainability and regeneration. So - a fairly broad sweep! But within a definite lens. Basically, I'm going to write about the things I love.
Also, I am in the habit of taking close up photos around the city - of colours, textures, random markings, manmade and natural details, often strange and always beautiful. To my eyes at least. They're like accidental abstract paintings. Still Lifes of the city. In all the glorious, huge and majestic wonder of London, I think there are tiny moments of beauty to be noticed - in even the grubbiest or most banal of places. So, I'm going to post my Still Life City pictures here too.
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| Still Life City: Red & Blue (Shoreditch) |
Onwards! Until next time.
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