Work morning in the Dick Turpin Orchard

Work morning at the Dick Turpin Orchard here in sunny Aldborough Hatch. Four members of the Aldborough Hatch Defence Association plus a photographer spent the morning mulching round the fruit trees and bushes. The thistle had grown to alarming height in the recent rain and sunshine. Earlier Jenny had filled two plastic sacks with rubbish dumped – and we cleared this at the end of March during the clean-up. Clearly the patrons of the Miller & Carter Restaurant need to be taught a few lessons about keeping Britain Tidy!

Chris attached name plates to some of the 100-year-old fruit trees identified by their DNA by the Orchard Project. Both the old trees and the new ones planted last year are looking in good shape with lots of blossom, some turning to fruit already. We look forward to a good harvest later this year.

Kew

Yesterday I spent at Kew Gardens - a perfect spring day with warm sunshine and green everywhere. Travel is easy - on the London Overground from Stratford, itself a pleasant ride through Hackney Wick, Islington and Action. One day I will get off at a few of these stations and explore. I love the talk from the station at Kew - through a side street with some really grand houses.

The restored Temperate House was open for the first time this week after five years of renovation - which are yet to be finished outside. It was not too warm - being temperate. I climbed to the roof for a splendid view. The hothouse was just too hot - but the water lily house was good. 

I bought two plants for the garden - and must go out plant them now that the sun is shining again after the light rain in the night.

A great day!

Today I have been to Kew Gardens. Just two photographs for the moment - more will follow. The first was spotted on a station on the London Overground Line between Stratford and Kew - I believe on South Acton Station. Someone bothered to brighten up a dreary station in North London. Well done!

The second was at Kew when the Temperate House has been renovated over five years and reopened this week. Work continues in the grounds outside - but it is simply magnificent and being temperate is not too hot. I stayed for an hour, climbing the spiral staircase and walking round the top.

A wonderful day out.

A sunny Sunday

This sunny Sunday I decided to take a day in London. First to St. Paul's Cathedral for Choral Matins then to Sung Eucharist. Two excellent sermons - the first by Canon Michael Hempel on the theme of forgiveness, with reference to the political upheaval of the past few days and the need to ignore the unhelpful comments of the gutter press (Canon Hempel was pleased to hear that I am a GUARDIAN reader as we shook hands at the North Transept!).

A light lunch at Paul then the number 15 bus to Tower Hill. This bus has a conductor - today I was the only passenger. A hour wait at Tower Pier, but there as plenty to watch as Tower Bridge opened to let a large ship pass. On the Greenwich, a walk atoned the market then the Docklands Light Railway to Stratford - and from Canary Wharf I had a front seat and played at being the driver!

A very warm but pleasant day. No coat and short sleeved shirt. I left home at 8.30am and wads backlights just before five. A good day.

The garden at 7.15am on4th May

Yesterday George spent six hours in my garden doing all the things I have wanted to do for days - but just do not have the stamina to cope with anymore. I can do the potting up and the bits of cutting back but digging and the like is just too much for me. It annoys me no end, but Heather says I have to accept this is a fact of life and get on with it. 

The first photograph shows the Clematis in Anup and Anju's garden next door.  I used the long camera lens Graham gave me - the plant is just magnificent. I will try it again when the light is better - all these shots were taken from my office window at 7.15am today.

The second shot shows Socks’ friend - Socks at that moment was under the shrub where he has his hiding place.

The final shot is the garden. You will see Socks’ tail at the bottom left hand side as he moves into his hiding place. George did a terrific job cutting back - I need to sort out some of the pots. If you look carefully you will see that the tub seats are now revealed once more - near the greenhouse. Later in the day I will take some shots down there to show just what a change there is. I can now walk on the pathway and sit on the tub seats again! The wildflower garden is out of sight but is a blaze of colour. Hanging basket frame near the house is ready for the tumbling tom tomato plants which are still i the greenhouse. The bench seats need to be oiled and I have new heathers for planting down near the tub seats.

Have a good day!

Sunshine!

A day in the garden with much help from George for I find the hard work too physically demanding these days. George cleared a patch at the end, revealing the pathways leading to the tub seats. I will plant this up with new heathers. The Arun lily is doing well after the frosts of the winter took it back to the ground. I will now be able to do the potting and organise the hanging baskets with tumbling tomatoes ready for the summer.