Shocking news from The Tree

April 18, 2015

Oh my! I popped over to see the tree today, slightly later than usual but all in all I got quite a shock. But before we get to that take a look at the rhododendrons that have started to flower along the path - fuchsia, white and the palest of pinks...

In the past as I've approached my tree, I've worried that I can't see it but not yesterday. I was expecting to see some shoots of green, as my own garden has burst into life in the past few weeks. But I wasn't prepared for what I saw.

Just look.

Yes. It's now a stump. About a metre high.

I wasn't expecting that. Just a month ago, it looked like a tree, with branches.

Looking back at the photos it had been pollarded before, but at approximately twice the height of what it is now. I wonder why it's been cut so drastically... I guess, I'll never know.

It left me quite stumped (pun not intended) for words. Well it would, wouldn't it? I wonder now, how long it will take for it to sprout new growth. I hope it does and doesn't just give up. I expect it will though - my tree is made of sterner stuff, I'm sure...

Anyway heading off, I was struck by how pretty the view towards Blackheath was:

But it did make me smile at how these daffodils were being kept behind the railings. For their safety or for mine, I wondered...

So that wasn't quite the update I expected to write and I'm already wondering what next month's update will bring...

Spring colour!

April 16, 2015

Remember those bulb lasagnes I planted in the autumn? Well they've only gone and grown. And flowered too. And they're providing lots of spring colour near the house, along with my baby Forsythia you can see in the background of the first photo. I think it's fair to say they worked.

So far the red tulips have won the tulip race - there's also some dark purple and more orangey tulips in each pot, and I'm waiting for those to start flowering. The miniature daffodils are very cute and I'm also pleased with the anemones, which I plan to have in other parts of the garden too.

All around our garden there seems to be colour too. More colour than I remembered last year, but I might just be imagining that. The ornamental quince has burst into life - this one's done really well as it got quite a severe pruning as I dug out lots of holly out that was growing up through it. It seems to be grateful.

And there seems to be colour of almost every shade in the garden - the pink of the Currant Berry, the purple of the Honesty (some of which I moved and it's still flowering - phew!), the yellow of the Forsythia and the bluebells are just starting too. And so are the ferns, I managed to give most of them a tidy, removing last year's leaves and revealing those that are just waiting to unfurl.

The Mint is marching on, it's supposed to be a foot or so further back in the border but wants to be at the front - it looks like I'll be battling that this year to get it growing where it's allowed. The primulas are still flowering, but some are starting to look a little tired - and I'm not surprised as they started flowering in August.

My Hellebore has done well this year too, there's been the beautiful flowers which are now setting seed. There's a couple of smaller plants nearby too and I've noticed many more seedlings already growing so I could be very lucky next year. The Peonies are growing up behind them and the shoots have grown to nearly 30cm high quickly - I'm hoping I may get some flowers on them this year.

The willow pear, pear tree and cherry tree are in blossom, and there's still more to come from these. I've got a while yet before I try and outwit the pigeons in the Battle of the Cherries - they won last year, so I really do think it's my turn...

It's so nice to see things bursting into life again, and for the weather to be so lovely. It's been great to get out into the garden and potter around and into the greenhouse and plant some seeds. There's also a lot of bird activity in our garden; the Blackbirds, Tits and Robins are holding their own against the fat pigeons who waddle through the garden, competing with the squirrels for territory on the grass. You wouldn't think sometimes this is South East London!

And last week remember I said I was getting fed up of waiting for my red camellia to flower, well clearly it was listening and this week that too has burst into life. Don't you just love Spring?

Word of the week: Bruised

March 27, 2015

This week I've got a few bruises, so it seemed right that my word of the week is bruised. I'm fine, but there's a learning in here for me!

We had a cycle Sunday morning and it was another relatively long one. We headed to the north side of the Thames and fairly soon stopped for breakfast, shortly after that we were adopted by a group of cyclists who led the way to the Thames Barrier Park where I discovered some fantastic wavy hedges. We said our thank yous and goodbyes to the cycling group, took a few snaps of the Thames Barrier from the north side and then we set off to hunt down the Woolwich foot tunnel. This took us longer than we thought and a few detours later just as we were giving up we found it next to the Woolwich Ferry. Then it was a cycle along the Thames Path and back home, and I thought nothing more of it and as it was a nice day we headed out into the garden.

Monday morning and I'm on my bike again and heading off to Pilates. I noticed my knee was sore but for whatever reason didn't think to look at it. When the instructor asked if there were any injuries I mentioned my knee and she changed some of the exercises and kept checking I was ok. I was and just put it down to the longish cycle the day before, or the gardening somehow.

As it was a nice day I decided to cycle the much longer way home and stop off at the Chinese supermarket too. In Greenwich I jumped off my bike to cross the road using the pedestrian crossing to avoid cycling around the busy one way system. As I did, in my haste I banged my sore knee on the pedal. Ouch! Again I thought no more of it and went on my way.

When I got home I finally looked at my knee. Imagine my surprise then to discover one fully-developed colourful bruise, and another one on the way...

Whoops! Clearly I need to be more careful when I get off my bike if I want my right knee to survive unscathed! Clearly I've been playing the sympathy card whenever MOH is around, but alas not to much effect. But at least I know why I had a sore knee... 😊

I hope you've had a bruise-free week!