A year in Greenwich Park: January

Well January was a funny old month weather wise wasn't it? And I think I captured most of it on various days. It started with heavy frosts and blue skies, and gorgeous light. Over the month I've settled on a more regular route, discovered new parts of the park and bumped into people I know at times and so had company on my journeys. So six months into this series and I'm still making new discoveries, that's something I never expected, but it shows how things can be the same and yet change.

My most regular route takes me parallel to Maze Hill and I've been intrigued by these properties whose back gate opens onto the park. How special is that?

And as well as the view, I'm also rather taken by the brick wall.  Imagine having this view though.

Onto the new discovery. In the bottom right hand corner one day I stumbled across this rather fancy gate, which I later discovered leads to the Queen's Orchard. It's shut for the winter - I know, boo! - but given the date in the ironwork, and it's name I'm taking it as a Golden Jubilee tribute. Which means that the last time I was in the section of the park, it wasn't there. 

I can't wait for it to open in the Spring and have a nose around, and learn more about it.

I mentioned before about the light this month, it's been amazing that I've made it to work on time as I keep finding new vistas to snap. The one below is a reminder of just how close to the City you are.

THAT'S THE SHARD IN THE DISTANCE

I also spotted some welcome colour - the yellow of the flowering witch hazel, a funny looking plant and one most of us are more used to seeing in a bottle or a gel.

Another boundary wall of the park has also held my interest this month. It wends and waves its way along Maze Hill. I've taken many pictures of how un-straight it is, and where it's been repaired and this is the best of the lot.

Ah. And then there was the snow. Or the excuse of the snow. For the first time in a long while the threat of snow didn't bother me. With a walk to work, and the chance to take some snowy pictures, I was almost quite looking forward to it. Hurrying home in the flurry of wet snow on the Thursday night, I did the sensible thing and got my sensible boots out of the car in readiness for use the next morning.

The only thing was, it didn't materialise. 

This was the snow.

PEERING OVER THE RAILINGS AT THE FLOWER GARDEN

I couldn't believe this former hater of the white stuff was disappointed. But these frozen puddles almost made up for it.

Like mini ice rinks - untested by me though - they're something I've not seen before, although I did see some unfrozen versions back in November.

And if the weather hadn't already given me enough, then came the fog.

And eery walks through the park when you really couldn't see much in front of you. And when all of a sudden a neon-clad runner would appear out of nowhere. At times I'm not sure who was more shocked.  Later in the month the frosts returned and gave this bush a covering. It made me smile and almost looks like its gone grey overnight.

There's been another new development too, scaffolding on the Royal Observatory, which you can spot in the distance between these trees.

So with all these new routes I've missed seeing some of my regular dog walkers, but I've bumped into people I know and at times have had company on my walk through the park, or stopped for a chat. It really is quite a social place, even for its commuters.  And as I said at the start, quite a month, who'd have thought that for January!

Back home and checking on a frosty garden

Well, it's been quite a few days. I spent the end of last week in Austria and Germany with Viking and Stihl and had the best time. I learnt more than I ever knew there was to know about lawnmowers, saw them assembled, heard about the research that goes into making them the best they can be and saw the future of cutting grass in our smart gardens. Never again, will I think it's "just" a lawnmower!
 

Infact I was only there overnight, but we packed a lot into two very full days and I've lots more to share with you. And after two busy days, the weekend was much quieter, but I did get out into the garden to see what had been going on out there. Getting out into the garden is one of my coming home rituals, which may seem odd after just a short time away, but with the chance to take some frosty pictures too I couldn't resist.

It was mid-morning and the agapanthus just outside the back door were still frosty. 

I'm not sure if that's good for them, as they originate from South Africa. And while I may be late in doing this, I've covered them with horticultural fleece now to help them through the rest of this cold snap. I also caught the frost on the fence behind it, and was stunned by the detail.

The box balls were coping better with their frosting.

At this time of year my garden is a garden of two halves. The part closest to the house, and in the shadow of the house cold and this weekend still frosty, and further down the garden where the sun reaches, looking and feeling much brighter. I know that's how it is for our North facing garden but it was so evident standing at the prickly conifer whose greeny-grey was emphasised by the frost.

The grass too had a heavy frost. But as we've no path, I had to walk on it - but I tiptoed and kept where I walked to a minimum, so hopefully it'll be ok. It looked interesting close up. 

Next up I spotted the frosted sedum seedheads which the frost seemed to add an extra dimension. 

And then I realised that if I spent this much time walking up the garden then this would be a very long post. So you know, I'm about two metres off the edge of the patio, so now you see what I mean. 

At the back of the garden the kale, which I've still not planted out despite it being on my December allotment to do list, was also sporting the frosted look. It too had been avoiding the sun, even though you can see it on the trellis at the back of the picture.

In the greenhouse I checked on the plants under the fleece and decided they needed watering. So off I went back towards the house armed with a watering can to find the gun on the hose was frozen. Thankfully the tap wasn't - it's by the chip-basket of the boiler so I was hoping it'd be warmer there - and so I was able to half fill the watering can. 

Checking elsewhere in the greenhouse the box of bulbs I'd dug up and saved when we removed the earth for the circles last summer were starting to sprout. So that's another job for the list, these were destined to go into my flower patch over on the allotment. But I've not dug that either yet. I might have to come up with an interim plan of popping these bulbs into pots so they can grow, and then I can plant them where I want them when I'm ready.

Two of my three chilli plants were still hanging on, I'm hoping the watering will help them, but I suspect I may have picked my last chillies. Considering it's January it's not too bad, is it? I've impressed myself though as for the first time I've grown frozen chillies, so these went straight into the freezer.

My bargain hyacinths from last year have buds on them too, so they're now in the conservatory acclimatising before coming into the living room. And then no doubt when they're at their most perfumed, I'll move them back into the conservatory so I can cope!

Heading back down the garden again, this time armed with fat balls to top up the bird feeders, I spotted the pink flowers of the hosta. Somehow the frost accentuates the edges of the leaves, don't you think?

The black grass which edges the patio was wearing the frost in a striped pattern which was definitely eye catching. On first thoughts I didn't think the grass had grown much from when I planted it, but looking back to last February I can see it's grown more than I thought. And now I can see there's newer plants forming (in this picture to the left of the main clump) but not being the patient type, I wish it'd hurry up and get on with the ground covering job I bought it for.

And finally, my bulbs are growing!  Well the ones, that are in the earth where they're supposed to be and not in the greenhouse. Although I did spot one rebel out there.

So, it's true there are signs of Spring even in our gardens. It may be a little while off yet, but we know it's coming don't we? I've seen daffodils in the shops, but I haven't caved yet as it feels too early, and I want to enjoy the frostiness of winter for just a little bit longer yet, well as long as it comes with blue skies...

Teak thrones and a giant pine cone

One of the attractions at Woodfest last October was the Sculpture trail, where I saw a mix of teak root thrones and sculptures. The size of the teak roots were amazing, and roots aren't something you think about, but clearly big trees need big roots.

These roots come from felled trees in Indonesia. They're dug out of the ground and then dried, sanded and finished so they're ready to be turned on their end and shaped into unique garden thrones. I was in two minds about them, but they clearly make a big statement in any garden.

Whatever you think of them, the wood is beautiful. Teak is a hardwood and its natural oils make them resilient to the weather, although like any other garden furniture they're best treated to keep them in top condition.

There were many variants of the teak root thrones, the one above which seemed more benchlike was the one that persuaded me of their beauty. In the right spot - and probably a wider garden than we have, I think it'd look stunning.  Just as I was looking at the detail more closely something in the distance caught my eye. I thought it was a giant pine cone, and when I did a double take I saw my eyes weren't deceiving me. 

As I moved on I was taken by the beauty of the wood, and wood that as tree roots we don't usually see.

There were more sculptures along the way too. This horse was stunning - and I'm not what I'd call a horse person - but standing so close I almost felt as if I could be riding it. 

But I'd reached the giant pine cone - or rather, a stack of three giant pine cones. It's quite something isn't it?

If tree roots or sculptures aren't your thing, then perhaps this glass topped teak dining set might appeal. Peering into the table top gave a great photo opportunity, with the reflection.

And one more shot before I go. Alongside the giant toadstool was this magical wire fairy. It captured imaginations big and small and I didn't have long to get this shot, so I'm rather pleased with how it turned out.

At almost seven foot tall this cemented the idea that you can't do garden sculptures on the small side, but when they're this beautiful I'm not sure why you'd want to!