Scarecrow

The role of the is wee scarecrow is to Protect the produce from visitors.

The Church Garden

The pretty and tranquil garden of the Shoreditch church.

The Garden Wall

The entrance to the Redcross community garden.

The Lizard

Black tire reptiles adorn a community garden near Brick Lane.

PMT

Ever had one of those days?

The Artist

Enjoying the garden on many levels.

A Green Face

Tucked away in a corner of Southwark is a small public garden known as Red Cross Gardens.  Created in Victorian times on the site of a burnt down paper factory, designed as a space for local children to play in the sunshine.

There is another more chilling history to the site that dates back hundreds of years and that is as a paupers grave where it is believed most of those buried here were prostitutes.

Today it continues to be small community garden but perhaps with a doomed future as the London Bridge development and new tower blocks spring up all around it.

Garden Trike

Forget garden gnomes, this garden has a much grander centre piece.

Garden Seat

A novel corner in the pop up community garden at Elephant and Castle

The Garden Tribute

A garden tribute to WW1 near the Marble Arch entrance to Hyde Park.

Mr Teapot Head

Mr Teapot head is one of the most creative scarecrows I've seen in awhile.  Although his job might be to keep pigeons at bay rather than crows.

Garden Stroll

Owned by a Sultan and surrounded by 4 acres of stunning gardens, Holme House sits in the middle of Regent's Park.  Grand lawns that lead down to the lake where the house is barely visible from the banks on the other side.

Although the house is strictly out of bounds a stroll through the gardens for us mere mortals is possible twice a year courtesy of the National Gardens Scheme (NGS), to raise money for charity.

After wandering through the sunken garden, through the grotto with its waterfall, past the herbaceous borders, I found myself a comfy seat under a tree and settled down with a book for an hour.

Community Garden

It may be a very small garden but it has brought a community together.  Several houses in this street donated the plants and tend to its upkeep.  It brings a smile to my face when I pass by.

Cadogan Place Gardens

This 350 year old garden is still privately owned, although membership to the gardens and tennis courts is offered to the surrounding residents.  The gardens form part of the estate acquired by Sir Hans Sloane.  Many of the plant species he brought back from his travels can still be found in these gardens, such as the 300 year old Mulberry trees.   By the end of the 18th century it was known as the London Botanic Garden.

It is still a place for rare and endangered species. The small tree (right) "Wollemia nobilis an Australian pine that dates back 65 million years was believed to be extinct and only known of through fossils.  That was until a small stand was discovered in the Blue Mountains in 1994 by a national park field officer.  The three areas where the 100 trees were discovered, is kept a closely guarded secret to maintain the health  of the trees.  They are vulnerable to many plant diseases particularly a virulent water mould that is easily carried by people on their shoes and clothing.

A propagation program available to Botanical gardens in Australia and throughout the world was set up in 2006. Kew gardens propagated this tree and sells plant in their shop.  They make a lovely potted Christmas tree.

Feeling a little weary from all this garden visiting there was just one more thing to do.

Enjoy a wee glass of proseco and sit down for a rest.  Cheers Sharon.  I hope you enjoyed our day.

MaRoCoCo Garden

Today's garden is a wee hidden gem behind Rococo Chocolates.  Designed and executed by the Chantal Coady the shop's founder.  The garden features a Moroccan tile mosaic and scented plants.  The small space is cleverly made to look larger by the use of arched mirrors.  From the garden you also get to peep into the chocolate kitchen to catch a glimpse of behind the scenes.

Roof Top View

Peeking through the flowers at a view of Oxford Street.  The other side of the rooftop garden on John Lewis department store.  How lovely it would be if all the stores along this street had gardens.

Roof Top Garden

Stoically British, do not let a bit of wind and rain prevent you from enjoying a wonderful garden.  This one is very special, it is on the roof of the John Lewis department store in Oxford St to celebrate their 150th anniversary.

Tranquility at the Station

Enter through the lemon arch, take a seat absorb the lovely scents and listen to the birds singing.  Oh and watch the Eurostar pull in.  
Another lovely garden as part of the Chelsea Fringe Festival  running  at the same time as the RHS Chelsea Flower Show.  The fringe festival is accessible to everyone and free.

Pop along to St Pancras Station, take the escalators up to the Eurostar platform level and head over to near the Sir John Betjeman statue and step into this tranquil haven amid the hustle and bustle of commuters.  While you're there enter their competition to win a John Betjeman rose.

The Wall Garden

A giant garden - on a wall. In fact it is the biggest wall garden in the UK (at present).  There are plans for another one that will be be the biggest in Europe, but we'll save that one for another day.  The construction of this garden began just a couple of weeks ago.  Do you remember my post about the walkie scorch building back in September?  As a wee reminder it is one of the new skyscrapers in the city that turns into a giant magnifying glass at high sun, melting what ever it reflects its beams back on to.  The building in the corner of the images with the pale green glass is in fact a wee corner of said building.  

The garden is going to be ok - they are planning on putting giant sunglasses on the walkie scorchie to protect it and anything in its wake.

Sanctuary in the City

The very peaceful grounds of the church of St Mary Abchurch a quiet spot to contemplate away from the bustle of the city workers in London's square mile.
The original church was lost in the great fire but was rebuilt in the 12th century.  It was hit by a bomb during WWII but was restored in the 1950's.