Belated spring flowers

[patricklondon]

I don't know whether the long cold spell in the UK has made the flowers try even harder now we're pretty well back to normal, or whether it's just the psychological effect of finally seeing some sun and warmth, but this week's gorgeous weather made me think you might appreciate seeing what they've been looking like these last couple of days:

You would expect the Royal Parks gardeners to make an effort around the Palace and up Constitution Hill:



but what I was looking for was not the regular parks and gardens, but the incidental planters the City corporation has in and around traffic junctions and the like.

I must say, I was a bit disappointed by comparison with previous years. It rather looks as though they've either found it difficult to source plants because of the weather, or maybe the budget's a bit tighter this year - or perhaps it's the lack of contrast in the block bedding of mostly single colours and types of plant. But it still looks pretty good in the sunshine:

[tod2]

Patrick, Patrick, Patrick! Thank you for reminding me that I was heading for the UK at about this time last year Actually we were in Paris after our short trip to Amsterdam and Keukenhof.....mmm, wonder what that looked like this year? and then on to UK.

The photos are wonderful Patrick! Especially in front of Buckingham Palace. Everything looks so - Happy and glorious, Long to reign over us, God save the Queen!)
Thank you so much for leaving the Thames behind to bring us these beauties!

[htmb]

Lovely photos and very pretty flowers, Patrick. Here's hoping you'll have a bit of stellar weather and more colorful flowers once I get to London for my visit.

[Deleted]

The flowers are blooming already in London? They sure look amazing.

Patrick I have to ask, what is that bullet like structure/building in your photo second from the last?

[patricklondon]

The flowers are blooming already in London?

They're anything up to a month late because of the long cold spell in March/April

what is that bullet like structure/building in your photo second from the last?

30 St Mary Axe, christened (by its architects) "The Gherkin": it's an office block built mainly for an insurance company. I call it (but I'm vulgar) The Crystal Suppository.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/30_St_Mary_Axe

[mossie]

Well, we'll. I'd heard it called "the glass p***k", but that takes the biscuit.

[tod2]

The Gherkin - I made a special trip to see what the very bottom looked like.



It's beautifully finished in design at the base as it is right on top.

[Deleted]

What an amazing looking structure. Tod, did you go inside of the building? How did I manage to miss that last time I was in London..

mossie - I'm shocked at you! ;D

Patrick, I bet people have all sorts of names for it!

[tod2]

No Deyana, I didn't go inside. I should imagine it must have an observation floor.....at a price!
I am heading for The Shard on my next visit and will take the lift to the top!

[htmb]

Patrick's Wikipedia article is an interesting description of the building.

[lugg]

It is so nice to see all the splashes of colour amongst the buildings , great photos Patrick, thank you.

(I wish people would not throw their dog ends away in flower beds , or elsewhere, so thoughtlessly.)

[Deleted]

The flowers looks quite similar in Paris at the moment, but I think that the daffodils are already finished, particularly since some of them were already blooming in the snow.

It is always nice to be able to file away in one's mind the condition of the vegetation in various seasons in the other big cities that we are likely to visit, but it is indeed important to remember the word "belated" in this case. The flowers are late just about everywhere this year.

[nycgirl]

Very pretty, Patrick.

Spring flowers were annoyingly belated here, too, but they finally showed. This thread inspired me to dig up photos.