Holland Park, London

[bixaorellana]

Beautiful Holland Park was near where I stayed in Kensington this past summer. It made a place in garden history in the early 1800s, when Elizabeth Fox, Baroness Holland introduced the dahlia to England. The @22 hectare/54 acre park encompasses not only woodland and gardens, but several different recreational spaces.
My goal on this day was to find the Kyoto Garden, donated by the Chamber of Commerce of Kyoto in 1991.
I figured I would recognize the Japanese-style garden when I saw it, but it wasn't signposted so I had plenty of time to wander and enjoy the park.

I'm a big fan of these lacecap hydrangeas ~

There was so much Heuchera used in all the gardens I saw while in England. I love the variety of color & texture it affords ~





My guess for this plant is Olearia macrodonta, aka New Zealand holly. Feel free to correct me ~





An area of formal gardens. The group sitting on the bench were from Colombia, so I got to yack in Spanish ~

[bixaorellana]

This peony is such a perfect, old-fashioned lilac pink ~



I think that's artemisia and bellflower with foxglove ~



Allium cristophii ~



with Echinops ritro, I think ~



Pop pop poppy!



Part of what's left of Holland House, which was mostly destroyed during the Blitz ~



Bzzzzzzzzzz ~





Hmmm. Is the Kyoto Garden down this way?





After peering in I decide it's not. Some people I meet on the path point me in another direction ~

[bixaorellana]

And without too much more bumbling around -- not that walking in Holland Park is a chore -- I find the Kyoto Garden.

There is a charming sign in Japanese characters at the entrance, but I failed to get a picture because I was distracted by this iridescent showoff ~

After all that drama, the serenity of the garden is even more appreciated.

I did not realize it at the time, but it is actually two gardens, seamlessly joined -- the Kyoto from 1992 and the Fukushima, inaugurated in 2012, ... built to commemorate the support of the British people to the Japanese people following the natural disaster occurred on March 11, 2011. It is almost an empty space, covered by a green lawn on which a few rocks and a lantern are carefully placed. The landscape of the garden gives the feeling of emptiness left by the tsunami. source

[bixaorellana]

[bixaorellana]

And now we're back out in the Park ~

A very late camellia ~



More marvelous maples ~



























~ Time to leave ~

[bjd]

More beautiful garden pictures. I'm so impressed that you know the names of everything. I too prefer the lace cap hydrangeas and love peonies too. But am I the only one to find those koi carp ugly?

[mossie]

I note the pigeons were not too impressed by the peacock, and very sharp to capture the grey squirrel.

[mich64]

Bixa the Camellia is so delicate and lovely. I love the waterfall photo as well.

[bixaorellana]

Dec 18, 2016 6:57:51 GMT bjd said:

More beautiful garden pictures. I'm so impressed that you know the names of everything. I too prefer the lace cap hydrangeas and love peonies too. But am I the only one to find those koi carp ugly?

*drives stake directly into Bixa's fish-loving heart*
Other than that , thank you very much! casimira is my witness that I used to be a whiz at identification, but lack of use of that skill is eroding it, to my sorrow. There is google, though, and certainly people on anyport have helped with IDs, so I try to keep my hand in.

I beg to differ, Mossie.
Didn't you see that the pigeon is mimicking the movements of the peacock. (Or perhaps the peacock is mimicking the amorous Mr. Pigeon.)

So kind, Mich ~ thank you! You are so good to always look all the way through a thread. It's much appreciated.

[Deleted]

What a gorgeous space beautifully rendered!!!

Of course my favorites are all the plants that will not thrive here save the lace cap hydrangeas and of course the camellia which by the way, that singular photo is spectacular in it's crispness and delicate daintiness you captured perfectly.
That particular species of artemesia you posted is my all time favorite, Artemisia Ludoviciana, 'Silver Queen' and although it can become somewhat invasive, i don't care.It's one of the oldest mainstays in my garden.

It appears you had most of the garden to yourself as I do not see but a few people in the pics. Lucky you!!!

(I had to gasp a bit when I read BJD's remark about the Koi as I  know your affinity for fishies but, that's one of the things I love about this forum, the manner in which we can or cannot agree on our various tastes and opinions.)

As for plant identification you seem to have remained pretty sharp.
I get good practice because I have a couple of young aspiring gardeners that seem to rely on me for ID'ing different plants by constantly texting me pictures of plants they see around the city. I love the challenge. I also try and give them advice on a particular plants appropriateness for the space they plan to plant it. I don't always succeed in this but, I remember when mentors of mine tried advising me and I did not heed only to find out later they were right.
All I can do is advise, (as I mumble "you'll be sorry....").

A stunning thread.
Thank you.

[bixaorellana]

Thank you so much, Casimira and of course thanks for the Artemisia ID. Such an important point, too, about having favorite mainstays as part of your garden's signature. But yeah, some restraint too, when it comes to appropriateness for the space.

Well, the garden is huge, plus I subscribe to the Felix Unger school of photography. I did run into people in odd places, though, such as a mucky area in the woods where there was a group of people botanizing.

[Deleted]

ENVY at the group of "botanizers".

What I forgot to mention was the brilliant, clever planting/placement of the bonsai in the tree stump!!!

The other thing I loved was how restrained the beds are and the use of texture and foliage versus flash. Give me foliage any day over brash blooms.

(as an aside regarding that particular artemesia, one can clip and make a bundle of say, 15, 6 inch stems and use them as "smudge sticks" that after lighting and placed in the proper receptacle to burn is utterly delightful).

[bixaorellana]

Had no idea of that use for A. ludoviciana ~ sounds lovely.

Well, of course we associate restraint with a Japanese garden, however ... since that is a four-season garden, I suspect there are periods of bright color -- undoubtedly in the Fall and I think not too much time before I visited. In Reply #2, the eighth picture (4th one after the peacock), you can see that whole stand of irises had a big bloom earlier on. Next to them is that shrub with the pink flowers, and in the left forefront you can see that wide expanse of azalea.

Much as I love foliage, I imagine people living where there is an extended winter yearn for and really need the sight of lots of flowers every year.

[mickthecactus]

Another stunning report.

You're doing a great job for the English tourist industry.....

[bixaorellana]

Thanks, Mick! My enthusiasm knows no bounds -- I am champing at the bit to get back there.

[tod2]

Bixa your photos are just fab! Colour and clarity only some of us can wish for.
The Holland Park you showed us looks nothing like the one I went to in 2000 with my mum.
We hung around the cafe` after gaining entrance from a back gate. A walk over a hill and then down to the tearoom. Much has changed and improved.
When you go back to UK, and if its in early spring - do try and visit The Isabella Plantation in Richmond Park.
I have visited there twice but only in early autumn. Still lovely.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richmond_Park