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Diary – 2022 February
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All my diary pages going back to 2009
DRAWING & PAINTING:
2 February
We went to Chiswick House and Gardens, which is in the west of London. The big waterfall is very loud and fierce, but when we came back before going home it was turned off. Some of the camellias were beginning to come out, with the mild weather lately.
Grassy beds are becoming more popular, and I think I might start having some ideas of growing my own in pots - especially ones that wave around in the breeze.
This is a commemorative sundial, but no sun today. In the corners of this area are four of these very highly scented Daphne Odora shrubs, another one for my wish list. The fragrance is light and pleasant but there is lots of it for such small flowers.
Loads of clumps of snowdrops under the bushes.
This is the magnificent long glasshouse, full of very old and rare camellias. Sadly the Box Moth has got at the box hedges, I hope they replace it all with something the Box Moth caterpillar doesn't like. I had to take all mine out a few years ago.
Sneek peek through the door of the glasshouse, the camellias are just starting to come out. We will be back for the show in a couple of weeks. I like these frames and information boards around the gardens, you can get a really good photo that includes the frame.
We had our sandwiches sitting outside the glasshouse and then walked all round the long lake. Back on Chiswick Station, their planters are up to grand house standard, and will be full of blooms quite soon (we hope).
3 February
This stray crocus is growing in the gravel strip by the edge of the house. It must have been swept in. There is little or no soil there, so I will rescue it later on and give it a good home under the rose bush with the others. The other plant is a sedum which will grow anywhere on next to nothing.
7 February
We went to Eltham Pleasaunce today, my favourite bit is the moat, we are standing on the square island in the middle.
The sundial says: "Turn your face to the sun and the shadows will fall behind you."
I like this brickwork, all different colours of brick and some plain and curved tiles. The snowdrops are out here, nice big ones.
Up a concealed path round the back of the shrubs, we decided to treat these two pigeons to private feast of bird pellets.
I like to see the old leaning wall, it leans at the same angle as the buttresses.
9 February
First flowers in the garden, pulmonaria. This wood pigeon has decided to rest in the sun on top of the trellis, nice and warm and a good view of any food-related activity happening near the kitchen!
11 February
Today we went to Morden Hall Park. All these beehives are over the stream in a more private part of the parkland.
This is the fish windvane on the clock tower in the stable block, and this is the stream running through the park garden centre that has hundreds of that type of fish in it. The tend to stay in big shoals under the bridges where they feel safer.
12 February
We went to see an exhibition of Prince Charles's watercolour paintings in the old Garrison Chapel, which is part of Chelsea Barracks. Beautiful paintings of landscapes of his travels and lots of Scotland, but no photography allowed for us visitors, as we thought!
We walked back to Victoria Station, all the roads are very Royal!
17 February
Here is Mr Robin, keeping guard near the kitchen window. He is there a lot of the time now, keeping any eye out for trouble or food.
20 February
Frogspawn at last, we always wonder when it is going to arrive. I don't think it is going to be troubled with any severe frost this year.
25 February
Brown Teddy and I have been taking photos of the moon over the last week. It is different every time. It takes a steady hand to zoom in and get it in view, so we do get some help.
All early morning photos.
17 February
Egyptian Goose goslings in Kelsey Park.
The big storms and gales have just started, and the lakes was absolutely full of seagulls, I took three separate panoramic photos like this, the water was covered with them. There is lots of shelter here with all the trees.
26 February
We went to Kidbrooke, and here is the River Kyd between the buildings. It eventually becomes the Quaggy at Eltham, and then ends up at the Thames at Deptford.
You can see a map of all these South London rivers as they join together here:
http://qwag.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/quaggy_map_02.jpg
We took the footpath through Morden College, which is a care home estate. I like to see these old kissing gates, that were to prevent vehicles or bikes coming through, but the main latched gate is now missing.
We went into Greenwich Park, which being a weekend was quite busy, but it is a very large park so everyone can spread out. These ring necked parakeets are nesting in a hole in one of the old trees. Here he is flying away:
Looking towards the Royal Observatory
Thames looking upriver towards the City. It was very busy here with the crowds, but the river is always open and calmer!
27 February
We went to Beckenham Place Park. Here are some long catkins and a notice about not treading where the bluebells are coming up.
There were two people in the swimming lake, we were surprised as it was rather chilly.
Lots of daffodils in the ornamental garden area. The children were climbing and walking all over these low shallow rocks.
We walked down towards the Ravensbourne River. These trees have met the stormy gale and lost the battle, but at least half of each tree is still standing, ready to grow again. We crossed the railway bridge.
Brown Teddy and I really like big open spaces, no crowds!
We followed the path up the River Ravensbourne. There is a playground with this very interesting big climbing frame, and I am glad to see the surface all around is made of safe rubber!
This big tree has gone over in a storm, and more branches over the path.
You can use the space on your 404 page to help find missing people by embedding info from notfound.org See Yellow Teddy's 404 page
Where to report a lost or found teddy or toy https://whiteboomerang.com
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