Wednesday, December 5, 2012

A tale of two discovered gardens…

My favorite way to get around in a strange city is to walk, you see so much more when you’re on foot. I also love to take less than direct routes simply for the chance to discover the unexpected (within the parameters of safety, of course). That’s how I happened upon the Soho Square Gardens in London (or technically the City of Westminster).

It was a very rainy day and most everyone seemed to be using the park as a shortcut to wherever they were headed.

There were a few people lounging about though…

They must have very liberal public nudity laws in the City of Westminster!

There was an interesting mix of plants in this garden/park. Some quite nice.

That's a very tall Eucalyptus!

And there was even a Tree Fern!

I wonder about those voluntary contributions?

The next surprise I ran across on our way to a bookstore (bookstores, museums, gardens and nurseries...that's pretty much how we travel)...

This corner container garden was a bit of a mystery...

All that empty gravel...

Perhaps once this was part of the car park.

At least someones making use of the part of the space.

Must be concrete under all that gravel or else they would have planted in the ground. Or maybe this area is still sometimes used for cars. You can see the shadow of tire prints in the gravel. So why all the gravel?

So many questions, no answers.

14 comments:

  1. What fun finds! Love that blue conifer (pine?) behind the dracenas in the seventh picture. Anyone know what it might be? What are those people thinking going out on a day like that without a sweater? They must be stoned out of their minds! They don't look um, cold, thought.

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    1. I was struck by that tree too, once I was looking at my pictures. I don't even recall noticing it in "real life" just the tall cordylines.

      (stoned out of their minds...that's a good one!)

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  2. Was the Greco-Roman-gathering-in-the-mud scene inspired by Benny Hill, or is it the other way around? Ha!

    Oh, and the interesting plantings!!! That's a huge Euc, and of course, there must be something under that gravel. Seems any spot in the UK becomes a garden...the opposite of NM, where every spot becomes a dog run or even a cock-fighting venue. Except mine:-) I see an Aucuba...not a chance here with more than 2 hours of sun. Great trip and I like the way you both travel!

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    1. I still can't decide if I like that yellow spotted Aucuba sometimes I think it's attractive but most of the time I think it just looks kind if sick.

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  3. Love the soho park! I love how Londoners embrace tree ferns, cordylines, and trachycarpus. It speaks to my heart, of course. And beautiful, albeit risqué, statues. It's my impression that everyone needs to lighten up so I'm all for it.

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  4. Yes, sometimes unplanned journeys make for great discoveries & photo opportunities too. Great capture of the Passiflora! :)

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    1. Thanks Ngeun, the chain seems like the perfect spot to really highlight the flowers!

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  5. There are so many places in London that I've never seen and been to before, big and small, including this park (although I've been to soho many times before, which is such a trendy area now). Must do a detour next time I'm around that area.

    Those plants attests to the milder temperatures in Central London, with a bit a more creativity from their gardeners they could grow a hell lot more in such a sheltered place. And nice to see those sculptures too. Continental Europe in general is much, much more comfortable with nudity but UK is fast catching up...

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    1. Oh gosh...how could you see them all?

      There was a lot of empty space in that garden which could have really been filled with lovely plants. Then again it had kind of a rough edge to it and I wonder if they would be appreciated?

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  6. What a delightful tour. To be sure, walking and wandering make for good adventure. (Getting lost is fun, too.) I love seeing the mix of plants, reflecting richness and flouting "rules of design."

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    1. Oh yes...for sure! Getting lost can produce some wonderful results. I love walking down alleys too...but only in daylight.

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  7. Hi there. Wonderful tour! Do you know what kind of palms it is, the three that are standing together in soho square?

    Thanks!

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    1. I believe they are Trachycarpus fortunei...

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