Behind the ornate gate in Greenwich Park

It was back in January that I first spotted the ornate gate of the Queen's Orchard, and it's taken me a while to step inside. But finally, some several months later I've managed it, and I wasn't disappointed. We were out in Greenwich this Saturday for a lazy brunch, treating ourselves after the events of last week, and generally having a mooch around. 

The main entrance to Greenwich Park was shut and so as we headed home we aimed for the Park Row gate, and then I remembered that the Queen's Orchard might be open. So off we went to check. And it was. 

And I wasn't disappointed.  The first section of the long thin space is the most bountiful vegetable growing space.

Much more plentiful than my allotment. And don't even mention the onions.

Yes indeed.

After the raised beds we reached a pond, with this stripey pond grass screening it off nicely. 

It wasn't until we were at its side that we were able to appreciate it fully. And it really was as tranquil as it looked, despite the children's playground being just behind us. What a view those houses must get though...

I suspect there's also a micro-climate within those walls, as not only is the veg better than my allotment, their agapanthus are already in flower too. Mine are just starting to flower.  My sunflowers are a long way behind these, 

AGAPANTHUS

SUNFLOWERS TOO

 My sunflowers are a long way behind these, but even so they're still a plant which make me smile.  I picked up some tips for securing my hoops - cable ties - I think that might just work, and make our tunnels sturdier than we've managed before. 

CABBAGES

A LADDER FIT FOR AN ORCHARD

The ladders along the walls intrigued me to start with, mainly for their shape. Until I remembered that this was an orchard and so a ladder shaped this way would be much easier to use, and less likely to damage any fruit. Clever hey? 

After the pond the area was much different - it actually looks more like my allotment that the vegetable growing section did - and the path gently encouraged us around the orchard. Just by the entrance there was a plan detailing all of the trees, something we checked on our way out and were pleased to learn that we'd correctly spotted a mulberry tree. 

LED AROUND THE GARDEN BY THE WINDING PATH

A MULBERRY TREE

I was quite taken with the wild flowers finding them particularly photogenic. 

And then in a fenced area we saw three bee hives, and its residents were evident throughout the garden, especially as we discovered in the lavender.

And if you were a bee, wouldn't this just be heaven?

I've photos with bees throughout the lavender, and with the sweet peas flanking the other side of the path I bet the honey from these bees is great.  We have the everlasting kind of sweet peas in our garden and they are great - easy too - but always pink. Seeing the jewel like colours always makes me stop and wonder.

Just one last photo, because I couldn't resist. Lavender, gravel and allium heads - gorgeous isn't it?  And a very special place, and one that now I've discovered is likely to become a favourite.  

Post Comment Love and Blogger Showcase 14 - 16 July 2017

Hello there and welcome to another PoCoLo - if you were here last week it was great to see you. If you're new here this week, welcome and thanks for joining Morgan and I and our friendly linky. You're welcome to link up any post you've written in the past week, and as with any linky, please do take time to explore some of the other posts, because, everyone likes some blog love don't they?

This week has been a strange one and one of those were I've lost a day or two and gained them at points too. It's meant I've rarely known what day it is, more than usual I mean. But in big news I've started cycling to work, and have clocked up two and a half days of a cycling commute. I was resigned to getting wet on Tuesday and I wasn't wrong, but not quite for the reasons I expected, but more on that another time.

So it seems fitting that my photo this week is of raindrops on the agapanthus in our garden.

It was nice to have the cooler night, but I think on balance I'm pleased to have the warmer and drier weather back, aren't you?

Blogger Showcase: RawMum

1. Who are you? 

This is the hardest question of them all... honestly... I don't know!

I'm a wife, daughter and sister. I've done many jobs - Teacher, Education Consultant, Bushcraft Instructor, Etsy shop owner, Teaching Assistant, GIS database manager, Researcher, Education Officer, Garden Centre assistant... How do you define a person?

I'm generally a very organised, logical and dependable person... but I'm also very sensitive and have my struggles with not feeling that I'm good enough. I've had some hard knocks in the last few years and writing is something that helps stop me falling down the dark rabbit hole. When I'm most relaxed I even get poetic!

2. How did you discover blogging?

I knew about easy Wordpress websites through work related tasks so when we started our "trying to conceive" journey I had a little play with setting up my own... I was pretty much hooked at the first post!

3. Why did you start blogging?

January 2017. I'm a newbie on the blogging block. I do have a Facebook page that I've run for three years, all about wild things, so I have a few insights but I do feel I have a lot to learn yet. 

4. What do you find most challenging?

I like to take all of my photos and I often delay a post because I don't have the right photo. I also worry about reaching people that might find my posts useful. I guess my confidence is still quite low after a few life knock backs. I have to work to keep my mojo. 

5. What is your favourite topic to write about?

At the moment my focus is on my journey to becoming a mother. I write honestly about whatever is happening in my life at the particular point. I have some quirky hobbies and interest so they will crop up randomly now and then...

6. Are you blogging for fun or do you have goals?

I blog because I have to let the words out of my head. I would love to be able to support myself on my blog alone but I worry that this would destroy it. Hopefully I can find a nice balance as my blog grows and I'd like to keep it natural. 

7. What is your favourite thing about blogging?

I find it very therapeutic to allow words to flow out of my head... it helps with maintaining good mental health. I love the way that people rally around and provide love and support even though they don't know me. I feel like I've got an online family. 

8. Have you ever attended a blogging conference and if so, what did you think?

Nope but I would like to...

Suggestions welcome...

9. What are your 3 best posts?

Is this really it - for its innocence and the unexpected surprise of being nominated as a featured blogger on the #dreamteam linky

What to expect when expecting: miscarriage - for the sheer weight that lifted after writing it, I hope that it also helps others in a similar situation. 

Miscarriage: silence is painful - for the tips to friends and family who want to help those suffering a miscarriage 

10. Describe yourself in three words!

Organised. Raw. Honest. 

11. Are you a tea and biscuits or coffee and cake person?

Sadly none. I'm dairy intolerant so I am often forced to avoid these things. I do like a jasmine tea and there is a great Greek cafe nearby that does delicious vegan baklava. Those are very naughty and perk me up on a bad day. Homemade cake is another thing... my friends call me "Kipling"

12. What's your idea of a perfect night out?

Cinema. Total film buff... I just love the stories. Strangely I don't really know the actors as I prefer to think of them in their roles. Action films are a go to when I need cheering up, sneaky chick flicks with friends, and all animated films even if I'm in the cinema with just kids. 

I also like looking at the stars as we get home. It's almost like a ritual to look up and spot the constellations. 

13. Your perfect night in?

Roaring fire and tasty food. Candles and massage... mmmmm...

14. What would your best friend/OH/mum or kids say is your best quality?

My friends always say that if there is a zombie apocalypse they are coming around to mine as I'm always prepared, can make fire and own bows. 

My Hubby would probably say I make an amazing chocolate cake and I have a nice bum! (and I care deeply about things).

Mum would say I'm always willing to give it a go... entrepreneur streak!

Thank you RawMum, I've enjoyed reading your responses and can't help but feel there's something raw and honest about your answers sot think your blog is well named. Bizarrely while typing this post I've also been enjoying some baklava, probably not anywhere near as tasty as your vegan cafe sort, but spooky nonetheless.  

Connect with RawMum here:

Blog  -  Twitter   -  Instagram

An InLinkz Link-up

Peonies, borrowed flowers and a blooming yucca

Along with an influx of bird houses that sums up June in our garden. I think it's probably one of the best months in our garden, it's full of colour and everything seems in harmony. It's no coincidence that we got married at this time of year, and our garden made a great backdrop for our celebrations. Just as it did a couple of weeks ago for our 110th party.

Our peonies though, while fantastic, didn't hang around long enough for the party, one of those heavy downpours put paid to that. Peonies always look as if they're struggling to stay upright at the best of times, and while they're pretty with raindrops on them it can't help the weight. I think this year has been our best peony year so far though, and of course I've big hopes for next year now.

OUR BEST PEONY YEAR SO FAR

It was also the year of the yucca, it needed some love earlier on, but repaid the TLC with two sets of flowers. It was interesting to see them develop as the month went on. They're all done now, but notice how upright they started off.

STARTING TO FLOWER

CHERRIES!

It's been a great year for cherries too, must be something to do with the weather I reckon. The pigeons too have behaved leaving plenty of the cherries on the lower branches for us. The squirrels were slightly less well behaved, but there were so many cherries this year there was still enough for us both, and for the children at our 110th party who were fascinated by the cherries on the tree, and made short work of an impromptu pudding. And who can blame them?

We've a couple of plants that have popped over from next door, which is always nice as quite often ours go the other way. Elderflower I'm looking at you. In return though we've enjoyed this pink rambling rose with its densely packed flower heads. It's arrived in a part of our garden that doesn't have much colour, so it's arrival has been doubly welcome.

ONE OF OUR BORROWED PLANTS: ROSES FROM NEXT DOOR

A VISITING CLEMATIS AGAINST THE SUN

At the rear of our garden another neighbour's clematis is making use of our trellis and climbing over our jasmine. And looking as good as this, then it'd be hard not to welcome it, wouldn't it?

RIPENING CHERRIES

Our mock orange hasn't really had a good year though, it's the one plant (it's actually more tree-like) that makes MOH sneeze so he's not missed it so much. This was about as good as the flowers got and given that it's almost 8-9 ft tall, you can see why I'm saying it's not been a good year.

OUR MOCK ORANGE WASN'T SO HAPPY THIS YEAR THOUGH

By now the yucca was flowering, and it really is gorgeous. It developed quite a bit of a lean (as you can see with the stem in the background) but it was no less pretty for it.

AND SUDDENLY THE YUCCA WAS IN FULL FLOWER

I told you those roses were happy didn't I? Along with the jasmine it became one of the most scented areas of our garden. Placing our gazebo in this spot was a stroke of genius, and clearly all planned... ahem.

THE ROSES FROM NEXT DOOR WERE THRIVING

Now just look at those cherries. These were I think out of the reach of the visiting six year olds, but I suspect they may have had help. I've never seen as many cherries in a single bunch like this on our tree.

CHERRIES ON OUR TREE LIKE I'VE NEVER SEEN BEFORE

Yes, look it's all getting too much for the yucca, it's now almost horizontal and when the flowers die back completely it's going to leave me with a dilemma. Do I try and crank it back upright, slowly, bit by bit - or do I go for some severe pruning. I think I need to read up on this - if you've experience of righting yuccas, please let me know what you'd do. 

OUR YUCCA ON THE LEAN

These bird houses are from HomeSense and I loved their colours. I'd planned to put them in a row on a fence but when I looked at the hanging part I realised it was in the middle of the roof, and that didn't really fit in with my plans. And so, the dormant cherry tree seemed the perfect place to host them - it's unbelievable how different our cherry trees are, isn't it?

A BIRDHOUSE ESTATE?

A HIGH-RISE INSECT HOUSE

I carried this insect house around Grand Designs earlier this year, and finally it has been installed amongst the wild strawberries, which have come through the fence from yet another neighbour.  

It's been a month where we've enjoyed our garden, and we've had the weather to do so - for most of the time. I've noticed a trend though which you might spot in the photo below. 

Yes, it seems there's a steady influx of pink in our garden, and highlighted by the two flowering plants that have popped by too. Ah well, I guess there's worse things!