About Me

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SW London
A semi-mature, hardy individual who tries to get away with doing as little as possible in gardening as in life, still expects the best results & wonders why she is frequently disappointed! She likes to keep a photographic record of everything, good & frequently bad!

Sunday 20 February 2011

“Are you admiring my snowdrops?”

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This question was asked in well-modulated tones by a well-preserved well-dressed woman of mature years as I stuck my camera through the railings of the planted area next to some mansion blocks in Victoria.

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I was on my way to the RHS Halls to visit the Spring show last Tuesday. I enjoy these London shows very much & of course it is so easy for me to pop onto a District Line train for a quick visit & then pop home again, hopefully with a bag or 2 of some choice goodies. What I also enjoy when I go is walking from the station through an area full of large mansion blocks, probably home to some rather well heeled residents, & admiring the planting in the communal gardens along the road-side, the pots in court-yard areas & planting boxes on window-sills or on the railings.

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Now the snowdrops through the fence look nothing compared to the treats at the RHS Show. How could they!

DSCN1940This is the first show of the year & I suspect some people get a little hysterical! Someone kept blocking my view with a, admittedly stylish hat.

DSCN1936But I did manage to drool over the little gem like hepaticas which you can’t help but love with their delicate pastel colourings often with contrasting stamens.

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Don’t you wish you had a woodland just to fill with these beauties?

Now I wasn’t alone on this early spring jaunt. There was Arabella Sock of course, (these jaunts are becoming a pleasantly regular habit with us, but there was also VP, Victoria who have all written about the show more speedily & descrptively than me, Helen & partner & an all too brief attendance from Simon. Other than Simon who had ‘done it all’ before we arrived, we all made our way to the Jugged Hare for a little sustenance after we had had our fill of things horticultural. And very enjoyable it was  too. I even met a neighbour who had also been to the show; he claimed to have heard my voice! Most odd really as I say very little.

Jacqui et James

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DSCN1968 Two early spring favourites; Daphne bholua ‘Jacqueline Postill’ & Garrya elliptica ‘James Roof’. Such a shame you can’t smell the Daphne!