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Post by bixaorellana on Jun 18, 2016 23:39:54 GMT
Wonderful London is a revelation, not least in the glorious profusion of flowers both cultivated and wild, and the endless expanses and varieties of green everywhere. The pictures are presented in more or less the order I took them, starting when I got off the train at Kensington Olympia to go my little residence here. I'm interspersing stray snaps of other things just because.
~ More, much much more, to come ~
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Post by lagatta on Jun 19, 2016 0:28:06 GMT
Luverly! And there is really something about flowers in chilly climes.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 19, 2016 1:33:32 GMT
Indeed, very lovely Bixa. Thanks for cheering me up a bit, and I look forward to more with your keen, keen eye.
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Post by bjd on Jun 19, 2016 5:54:58 GMT
So different from your Mexico pictures with all the greenery. And interesting to see what catches your tourist's eye -- the look left/look right painted on the street. Normal for Brits, odd to the rest of us.
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Post by mossie on Jun 19, 2016 7:35:15 GMT
I noticed the look left etc, when I go to Paris I have to remind myself before crossing a road "the silly b's drive on the wrong side of the road". That said Britain goes in for overkill with trafic signs and warnings and road markings. I look at pictures of the roundabout at the Arc de Triomphe and think what a horrendous mess our traffic gurus would make. Bollards and white lines everywhere, not to mention traffic lights, which would make one almighty traffic jam.
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Post by lagatta on Jun 19, 2016 15:03:07 GMT
Actually I think the look left signs are a good idea with so many visitors from continental Europe and elsewhere. Though actually one should always look both ways. With so many drivers, pedestrians, cyclists and skateboarders texting in motion, many people don't look at all. Scary.
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Post by lugg on Jun 19, 2016 18:09:45 GMT
You are in London !!!! how had I missed that Lovely photos
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Post by bixaorellana on Jun 19, 2016 19:51:24 GMT
Lugg, I'm here for six more days, if there is any chance you might be here! Ha, Mossie ~ you think of those signs as overkill. I think of them as what has kept me from getting killed! Bjd, I guess you picked up on how I'm reveling is all the soft green and humidity. Thank you so much, Casimira. You, of all people, reeeeeaally need to be here with me. That's so true about the flowers in cool climates, LaGatta. Really, this whole place is like giant florist's refrigerator. Nothing is melting in heat.
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Post by bixaorellana on Jun 19, 2016 20:46:46 GMT
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Post by bixaorellana on Jun 19, 2016 21:16:09 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jun 19, 2016 21:20:58 GMT
Why do the parks of London have so many weeds?
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Post by htmb on Jun 19, 2016 21:43:18 GMT
Wonderful pictures, Bixa, but the bee is especially nice.
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Post by lagatta on Jun 19, 2016 22:29:29 GMT
Bixa, I observed the keeping powers of chill in the Netherlands. Not here; although we get far colder here in the wintertime, today I'm sweltering after a modest hike going to buy a giant (but extremely light) bright red plastic pot for my ficus tree.
My, Liz as a glam young lady and at 90 is the "way of all flesh", innit?
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Post by bixaorellana on Jun 19, 2016 23:45:51 GMT
Kerouac, English gardens are veritable songs of the souls of those who love growing things.
LaGatta, I keep double checking, thinking that all the fragile petals on all the flowers I see must be fakes, they're so perfect. It's all the more amazing since it's quite wet here.
I suppose you're right re: all flesh is grass, but I'll be happy if I'm as hale as she is at 90.
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Post by bixaorellana on Jun 19, 2016 23:55:21 GMT
Let me finish up this thread for the time being, as I don't know what is still lurking in my camera, not to mention that I went happily ape in Hampton Court gardens today.
A fowl interlude ~This little quacker was as curious and friendly as a dog ~
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Post by lagatta on Jun 20, 2016 1:16:28 GMT
I love that little duck - and the dog toilet.
Where are you staying in London?
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Post by bjd on Jun 20, 2016 6:12:28 GMT
I wouldn't want to live there, but I sure do like the parks, gardens and greenery.
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Post by bixaorellana on Jun 20, 2016 8:56:33 GMT
Belated thanks, Htmb -- don't know how I passed right over your kind comment. LaGatta, I am very close to the Kensington Olympia station, in a nice-sized studio apartment. Bjd, I want to be rich enough to live here part of the year -- the part where the weather has a chance of being nice. I talked to a young woman yesterday who moved here from Johannesburg and she says the lack of sun in winter really gets to her.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 20, 2016 9:19:35 GMT
Oh Bixa, so many, many splendid shots. It's difficult to single out any one.
This is my kind if gardening.
If anything, it's so evocative of you in your element there and yes, I can see you living there part of the year.
Thank you so much for these.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 20, 2016 10:13:49 GMT
Summer starts today according to my calendar. That should solve all of our weather problems.
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Post by lugg on Jun 20, 2016 18:57:53 GMT
Alas no Bixa - I'm working all week in Herefordshire and then when I am vaguely close ( Stansted area Sunday) on my way to Spain on Monday I think you will have departed . ? So near and yet so far . Fabulous photos it looks as if you are really enjoying London so far. I hope this weather improves - ( sshh don't say it aloud but the next few days showing good weather so far )
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Post by mossie on Jun 20, 2016 20:10:58 GMT
You have really done justice to London's flora.
I think May June September and October are about the best months to sample UK conditions.
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Post by bixaorellana on Jun 20, 2016 23:47:44 GMT
I appreciate that so much coming from you, Casimira, as I know you are seeing what I see. Okay, Kerouac -- I'm holding you to that! Lugg, you must have been sending good wishes my way, as the weather turned gorgeous this afternoon. Thank you! Looks as though you & I will be as ships passing in the night. Sunday morning I'm taking off for a 3 1/2 day garden tour of Kent & Sussex. I'll be back in London after that, but only for a day and a half. *sigh* Enjoy your time in Spain and of course take lots of pictures. Thank you so much, Mossie. (unless that's just a veiled way of saying I went overboard ) Thanks also for the weather tips, as I desperately want to come back here & that will help me plan.
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Post by mich64 on Jun 21, 2016 20:18:24 GMT
Gorgeous flowers to photograph! I can imagine you click click clicking away! One favorite is the last bee picture, what kind of flower is that?
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Post by bixaorellana on Jul 23, 2016 10:37:48 GMT
Mich, a big apology for answering so late. Yes, I did go click crazy and probably will unearth even more London flower pictures eventually.
I am also intrigued by that drumstick flower, which I never saw before England. It also grows in France. I think one kind is a shrub and another a medium-tall garden plant. Maybe someone else can identify it. I bought a seed packet of the garden kind to give to a friend, so have that name: Cephalophora aromatica. The pack is from Germany and the English language blurb on the back says, A great summer flower with yellow flower heads and an intensive fruity gummy bear scent. Ideal for beds, scented and herb gardens, balconies and terraces.
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Post by lugg on Jul 23, 2016 15:16:09 GMT
I think the yellow flower may be a Buddleia looking at the leaf if that is from the same plant
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Post by nycgirl on Jul 23, 2016 16:29:34 GMT
What a delightful perspective of London! When I spent a week in London traipsing the city streets and taking the usual tourist shots, it didn't occur to me to take a breath and stroll through the flowery parks. I'll definitely do that if I'm ever there again.
I also found those "look left, look right" signs very useful. Probably saved my neck. For convenience, I wish they also had the words "driver" and "passenger" written on car doors. When getting into my friend's car, I made a beeline for the driver's side every time.
Charming photos, as usual. especially the amazing bee close-ups!
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Post by breeze on Jul 27, 2016 10:35:58 GMT
Some beauties on this thread, starting with your very first photo.
Is that a plane heading for Victoria's crown?
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Post by bixaorellana on Jul 27, 2016 12:27:03 GMT
We have a winner! Thank you for that identification, Lugg. I was very curious about the yellow drumsticks but didn't know where to begin to look. Here's the full poop from Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddleja_globosaThanks so much, NYCGirl! Re: strolling vs. sight-seeing: I sort of felt like I needed to have struck a better balance between strolling parks and seeing the Great Sights! I'm eager to go back and correct that. How fabulous that you had a friend with a car there. I had that enormous advantage in France with two different people and will forever feel magically privileged and grateful because of it. Thank you, Breeze and yes ~ yes, that plane is headed right at her in a coordinated attack with the killer pigeons. Sad, really.
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Post by tod2 on Jul 27, 2016 16:47:02 GMT
Once again I have only stumbled upon this thread from you Bixa! Admittedly I have not had the same time usually dedicated to my computer, but alas, I wish I had seen it sooner. The photos are wonderful Bixa!
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