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Diary – 2020 September
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All my diary pages going back to 2009
DRAWING & PAINTING:
1 September
We went to Burgess Park in South London. It has a large lake, and the first thing we saw was loads of pigeons having a wonderful time bathing and preening. Some were just sitting on the warm sandy bit.
Most of the water was covered in this green algae. The patterns are interesting, but it did not look healthy at all. There were some big fish in the lake, which we only saw the back fins of, breaking the green surface, and some anglers at their fishing spots.
This is a barbecue area, and the metal fireplace is full of relief pictures of the local wildlife. Dotted around are these little house shapes, to commemorate families who lost their lives in the Second World War. There used to be roads and houses here, before it was turned into a park.
In the middle they were putting in sand-filled drainage ditches, ready for the new sports pitches. This is the Bridge To Nowhere, it used to be over the Surrey Grand Canal, which is now just another park path. It was closed and we will go over it when they repair it and make it safe.
We came to Chumleigh Gardens and took a walk around. These two gates have a map of the world on. Brown Teddy liked the rock pool part but it was a bit muddy and overgrown.
This is the Arabic garden, with exotic plants and quite shady round the edges. The pool was quiet looking but no fish in it.
Brown Teddy was fascinated by the peeling paper Bark Maple tree. I would be tempted to tidy it up, so this is not one for my garden!
This sundial was getting some sun, but there are a lot of trees around, so I don't think it will show the time other than in the middle of summer. This other one in the gardens has the gnomon missing.
Another bit of history on the gate.
We travelled to Southwark and watched the river, there is always something happening.
We decided to walk along towards London Bridge. These old wharf buildings are now mostly apartments. We found this millstone in one of the courtyards.
Along the riverside here are lots of iron chains, anchors and other bits of ships. I don't think anyone could lift one link, let alone the chain.
Back to London Bridge station and I always like this view of the Shard between the tall office buildings. It is a different colour every time, depending on the time of day.
4 September
We went to the park at Dartford, where they always have a good show of flower beds. The yellow one is commemorating VE Day with a picture of a plane in the middle.
We walked further on to see the river. It divides into two routes just here and this one has been drained to allow landscaping work. Further back it was flowing normally, I am glad to say.
We walked on the pathway that crosses the fishing lake. There are lots of trees, nettle and brambles along the sides, so there are no sheer edges! I just love the colour of blackberries changing colour! This bridge is at the end of the walkway.
5 Sep
We found this big caterpillar on a rose branch. It is a grey dagger moth caterpillar. We relocated it down the garden.
Loads of rambling rose branches to cut back, so it is all now cleaned up and ready to make strong new growth next year. We also had to dig out an old skimmia bush past its best, and we decided to put the branches with all the berries down the end of the garden, in case the birds want to eat them.
You can get through a lot of gloves doing gardening! I am wondering when to pick this big heavy pair, I don't want it to smash but I will wait until it is a bit more yellowy. It is a Conference pear.
7 September
A lovely trip to the dump, it is very well organised here. The reason it is a lovely trip is because everything is very tidy back home with all the rubbish gone!
10 September
We went to Hampton Court. These planters have an old pattern on them, but I think they are resin reproductions, and not original lead ones! We found a seat by the river to have our sandwiches.
We walked back up the river to see Molesey Lock. We watched several boats go through. I just love to see the water churning up when the lock starts to let the water out.
Someone was throwing in bread. The gulls can be very noisy. Some flew off with their piece but were quickly followed through the air by others. The only solution is to eat it quickly!
11 September
This is the best fruiting apple tree. I don't know the name but they are very sweet.
13 September
These enormous rose hips are about the same size as the under-size apples. I hope they turn red by winter. We should really have picked off the tiny apples earlier in the season so that the others could grow bigger.
14 September
A day at Morden Hall Park, a big park of grass and trees, with streams running through at the far end.
We went into the garden centre. I really like this bower seat, I could sit in there with my book and snack. Inside they had these little crates with perspex fronts, containing Fairy Gardens with tiny houses made of bits of plant material.
We always like to go into the aquarium centre. Most fish are quite lively but these sucking loaches had all attached themselves to the glass!
I have called this chap Benny the Blenny. He is looking very thoughtful. We all liked the long aquarium of live corals, all waving in the current of water.
Outside a real stream runs through the garden centre, with all these fish lined up in the flow.
We walked through the woods and streams. No fish here that we could see. It is a nice shady place when it is hot.
We found a fallen tree trunk as a seat and had our sandwiches. A robin perched overhead and sang very loudly.
15 September
It was very misty and foggy early this morning. The garden was covered in wet webs.
17 September
Today we are going out in the car to visit friends. After a lovely lunch in their garden, we took a walk through some woods by a stream.
We came out into a big field with a wonderful view of the South Downs. Most of us fell asleep on the drive home, and it was sunset as we got back to our area.
18 September
This is Beckenham Place Park. The drinking fountain is a relic now, the working parts are not there!
There is a very well kept ornamental garden. The weather vane was brilliant in the sunshine.
There is a shady part of the garden done as a fernery, with pieces of sawn trees instead of the usual rocks.
This is the swimming lake. It has a fence all the way round. The swimmers had little dayglo coloured floaters tethered to them, to make sure they could all be seen and stay safe. We all agreed that we prefer the clean water at home!
We climbed up the mound. There was not a big view as there are trees all around. We thought that probably they were finding a fun way to use up some leftover soil after the landscaping!
We went back to the ornamental garden for our snack. Someone had put some seed on the bird table. This wood pigeon went round and round but never got up the courage to stick his head through the mesh to get it. He got one or two bits though. Later on a magpie got some, and then a little dunnock got inside and ate some, being very small.
We walked on and found this woodland pond. Half of it is covered in duckweed, as the breeze blows it to one side.
Further on we found an outlet making a bit of a puddly pond in a depression in the open grassy area. We think it would be much larger in winter. We were too early for our train, so we went back in the park and walked around for a while until it was time for the train.
20 September
My pansies in the pot next to this one have dropped lots of seeds in and they are all growing, which I discovered when I cut back the plants to clear it away. Sometimes the pods have all the seeds in, which I have been collecting, and sometimes they all spring out suddenly and scatter.
I like the Michaelmas Daisies but they spread by seed too much, so this year I have just left a few in.
22 September
This is Kelsey Park in Beckenham. It has a stream running through it. I like little stepping stones and the roots on the other side make good steps, if they are not wet and slippery.
There are two big lakes in the middle.
The cormorant was sitting absolutely still on his drying perch. Here I am at the waterfall between the lakes. It is quite tall and there is a bridge over, so you can get a close-up view from above.
We went round the ornamental gardens part. These are Red Hot Pokers, and they do look very hot indeed!
The ground was covered in acorns so the squirrels will be fat this winter. Another tree with interesting roots.
This very old plane tree has an enormous trunk at the base, getting thinner until it branches into two.
Trees that fall over are made safe and left for the wildlife to use. Here is the playground, seen over the fence. I am not sure I would like to slide down a tube, but the sound effects you could make would be interesting!
We walked back along the lakes, with every duck, goose and pigeon eye watching us in case we had food.
This fence topping looks like Christmas tinsel, but it is sharp and twirls round, to prevent anyone from climbing over it onto the tracks.
24 September
Both ends of a brilliant rainbow, back garden and out the front.
28 September
This is The Tarn at Eltham. It has a long narrow lake in the middle, so it is a very pleasant walk around the outside.
Most of it was covered in duckweed, but this moorhen doesn't seem to mind.
At the far end, behind this fence is a watercourse that brings water into the lake. It has baffles to prevent rubbish coming past.
We walked around the wildlife garden, but nothing much was happening that we could see, it is late in the year.
The toilets building has supports made to look like tree trunks. These Canada geese lounging on the grass did not move an inch as we went past.
Back at the entrance, we had a look at the 16th Century ice house. It is about as deep as my upstairs bedroom window is high. You can't fall down, I am glad to say!
Then we went on to Well Hall Pleasaunce, a half-hour walk away. This is the moat, with the Tudor Barn behind, which is now a restaurant. This little ditch has become a tiny stream, but only this time of year and winter, it is always dry in summer.
We had our sandwiches on this bench. No flowers much, but lots of autumn coloured yellowing bushes. The wood pigeon was resting in a warm sunny patch.
Here we are back at the moat. The middle is flat ground, although there used to be a house on it long ago. I like moats but I would want an inflatable dinghy so I could go round and round it!
In the rose and fruit garden, the gardeners were weeding and tidying up for the winter. The central fountain was switched off for the season, and people have been throwing the tiny fallen apples into the water.
Then we went to the wisteria pergola. Wisteria can get very strangly and the huge winding stems have cracked up the brick supports in many place. It would fall down if the stems were not there! Finally we walked through the Italian garden to get our bus home.
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