Orchids at Kew Gardens
Orchids in the Hot House at Kew Gardens
7 pics. Hot house is not an overstatement and is also very humid so be prepared to carry clothing. These are just a sample, there are also many other exotics and cacti. Also at Kew; Kew Gardens and Kew Palace.
Hey, hey we’re the Monkeys. It’s worth a click-on for full screen and another click to magnify. 🙂
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There are more orchids here
Kew Palace
14 pics. Kew Palace is within the grounds of Kew Gardens and entrance is included in the price of admission to the gardens. Non-commercial photography is permitted inside the palace but without the use of flash.
The gardens and its many attractions were created by Lady Augusta following the death of her husband Prince Frederick. She was much influenced in this endeavor by Lord Bute. A portrait of the lady can be found further down.
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Flowers at Kew Gardens
From around the grounds.
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From the Japanese ornamental gardens.
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… and just outside on a nearby cottage.
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Elegant Danson House and Park
20 pics – Danson House and park are near Bexley Heath just a few miles east of London. The park includes a boating lake with rowing boats for hire, a water-sports center, the Danson Stables public house/restaurant, a very well equipped children’s play area and the elegant interiors of Danson House where photography is allowed.
The house includes very pleasant tea rooms, a spiral staircase, three very ornate rooms on the first floor and an exhibition on the second floor. During my visit the exhibition was of beds.
The house was originally built in 1766 and the paintings are from that period. Refurbished and opened by the present queen in 2005.
Unfortunately the opening times are limited. Please see the Danson House website. Very near is Hall Place with extensive grounds and is also worth a visit.
Danson House
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In the Cellar
On the second floor.
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Olde English Garden
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Part of the Park and Boating Lake
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The Fan Museum at Greenwich
The Fan Museum is at 12 Croom St, Greenwich and, at just £4 entry fee with numerous concessions, is well worth a visit. The museum is thought to be the only museum, dedicated to fans, in the world. There is also a charming Orangery style tea room (you do need to book ahead)
The museum is quite small but has a number of activities and events. You can also create or commission your own designs. For more information please click here and then start with “Practical Information” from the side menu. For more of the many attractions at Greenwich please click here.
The Fans
It is well worth seeing the finer details, which are little obscured by the folds. To do so, please click on the image for full screen and then again to magnify. To return here use the “back arrow” screen button on your browser.
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The Orangery Tea Rooms
You might notice the false shadow that has been painted on to give a 3D effect. You will need to book for tea, so please see the website (the link is at the top).
Happy Halloween
You know that Large Hadron Collider in Cern. I ate it.
If you’d like something eaten, please contact Munchies R Us and leave a message after the groan.
Please have a safe Halloween and enjoy you’re eats responsibly. 😛
Wild Fowl at Hall Place
Welcome to Cray river at Hall Place park.
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Let me take you on a brief tour. Please walk this way.
Here we have Ducksville.
…. and of course our newest inhabitants.
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.. and so it’s good night from him and good night from me. Do come again there’s loads of us, innit. 😀
Inside Hall Place
The interior of Hall Place may see a little empty at first, but it does give the impression of being recently vacated and still vibrant with the presence of it’s previous occupants. One might imagine the graceful elegance of past days, romance and gentle intrigue. More about Hall Place, admission and gardens can be found here.
Above is a view of the hall from the side gallery and below is the musician’s gallery as seen from the floor of the main hall.
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Hall Place Gardens
Hall Place is a little north of Bexley (not Bexley Heath) to the east of London. The gardens are free, there is a large car park, the rail station is not far away, there is small butterfly house, entrance to the hall is £8 and it makes a great day out. The hall dates back to about 1540 and was built on the site of a manor house built about 1240. More at The Hall Place Website, Hall Place Interiors and History of Hall Place.
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The Queens Beasts
More about the Queens Beasts
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… and this is part of their very interesting art gallery
Butterflies at Hall Place, Bexley
The butterfly house at Hall Place is very small and hot but one can re-enter on the same £4 ticket.
This lady is definitely dressed for the summer ball.
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Chocks Away.
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The Black Night does battle with the invaders.
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The next one got away (they really won’t keep still) but the flowers are nice.
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Thank you for your visit and I hope you found it enjoyable. There will be more from the magical Hall Place later.
🙂
Flora at Hall Place, Bexley
12 Pics – Hall Place
In the hot house and shop.
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This one comes in peace, offering tokens of jelly beans.
Happy is the tiger with a badger as guardian angel
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Hang on Snoopy, snoopy hang on, de dup de dup, dee do do, de dup .
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Whaaaa, surprise.
In the Garden
She’d not pulled a double a double rose, a rose but only two, When up came young Tam Lin says “Lady pull no more.”
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In the House
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Thank you for visiting and there will be more about the house and gardens later.
Winter Blues & Seasonal Affective Disorder
Some suggestions for treating and dealing with Winter Blues and Seasonal Affective Disorder. 😀
And, Vitamin D supplement, which is usually created in our skin when subject to sunlight. 🙂
Deer at Bushy Park
I went to Bushy Park in search of green parrots, but found deer instead . There are a number of flocks of green parrot around London, thought to have escaped and managed to adapt to our UK winter. I hadn’t thought about it, photographing green parrots amongst a summer of verdant green leaf wasn’t going to be possible. I heard them and occasionally saw a quick flash of green wing but that was all.
I was delighted to find deer instead. I knew they were in Richmond Park and Hampton Court Deer park but pleasantly surprised to find them here. Photographed in early August they still had velvet on their antlers.
Fallow Deer
The Black Prince, and I think he knows it. Black deer are quite rare but do live amongst the herd.
The above were happily grazing amongst the fallow deer, although they are probably reds. It’s mid-summer, live and let live.
Red Deer
Red deer are the largest of deer-kind with the exception of moose and elk. Found at southern end of Bushy Park, they were not so much a herd as a squad.
They have the unnerving and unerring ability to raise their heads at exactly the same time. Much like a bristling of antennas. One can almost hear “Have you got permission to be here and have got any ID.
” I say it is tea time you know”
Time to leave
Deer are generally not dangerous but one must be careful in spring when there are young about and in autumn when they are rutting. They will also attack and sometimes kill dogs. Some deer herds (those around London) carry Lyme Disease which is spread by ticks. It is quite difficult to pick up but such places are not suitable for lounging in the grass or for bare legs in tall grass.
Beautiful Demoiselle (Calopteryx virgo)
I first noticed a few bright blue flitters beside the Thames near Hampton Court some while ago. I thought at first they must be butterflies. It turns out they were Beautiful Demoiselle damselflies. I finally discovered some in the wetland area of Bushy Park. I also discovered, eventually, that they fly away if you let your shadow fall upon them.
Damselflies and Dragonflies have a number of charming names in folklore across the world, including sewing needles, snake doctors, horse stingers, mosquito hawks and devil’s darning needle..
Beautiful or gruesome ? It probably depends on how close we look and, of course, the eye of the beholder. Certainly, I think, one of nature’s wonders.
Bushy Park
Bushy Park is just a short distance north of Hampton Court and is full of surprises. To the west of the park are wetlands, just behind this view. I could almost eat these clouds. They look as if they are too solid to stay up there. Magic. Later posts have a particular little gem and some shots of deer.
The wetland area is very peaceful and the river quite still.
This one confuses the eye beautifully.
… and on the pond further down; “There’s an old mill by the stream, Nelly ~ “.
This one is basking in her own glow.
… and here’s the old mill (I think). 🙂
August 2014
Characters at the Greenwich Tall Ships Festival
Characters (18 pics)
I’m a star. – Those on the other end of the lead were watching the river and had no idea what their dog was doing. She was drawing a little crowd of her own. The words “what a character” were often heard. She wins my first prize for “Character of the Festival”.
A close second comes :-
Please click on an image to expand and view a slideshow:-
The Crews
Please click on an image to expand and view slide show:-
And, then click on
And, thank you for your visit.
The Tall Ships at Greenwich
The Greenwich Tall Ships Festival
14 pics. The Festival brought a group of tall ships up the Thames for the first time in 25 years. They met from all over the world at Falmouth and raced to Greenwich. During the last day parade the wind was not favourable to sail. Hats off to the skippers for making sail for the spectators, even though it meant expending extra fuel to make progress. There were 50+ taking part. Here are a few.
Dar Mlodziezy
Dar Mlodziezy, which dwarfed all the other vessels, won the first in it’s class (A).
Duet
Duet won first in it’s class (B) and first overall. It is a yawl. That is, it has an additional mast/sail aft of it’s rudder. The design was originally created to add extra sail without breaking the design rules for it’s racing class. That, together with a big mainsail and two additional foresail(s) on it’s bowsprit, makes a very powerful rig that takes skill to handle well. The Cirdan Trust ⇒. Pictures under sail (updated) ⇒.
Stavros S Niarchos
The Stavros S Niarchos won the communications prize for doing the most to aid the race schedule communications.
Tenacious
Tenacious was a mix of able bodied and less able bodied crew. They did well to gain third in their class (A)
Gulden Leeuw
The Golden Leeuw won the the Friendship Trophy for having contributed the most towards international friendship and understanding. They were also the most international crew and won the Young Trainee Award.
Pelican of London
The youngest Captain (Tom Whiteford)
J.R. Tolkien
Loth Lorien
Morgenster
Oosterschelde
Mercedes
Swan
Pirate
I couldn’t get the name of this one but it certainly caught everybody’s attention. Most particularly because it had a working cannon which they delighted in using, making everybody jump and producing great clouds of smoke. They even had the cheek to fire it in the vicinity of Woolwich Arsenal. In past days they would have been blown to bits.
Royal Barge
The Royal Barge appeared two days earlier and is the one used for the Queens Jubilee. Sixty years in the same job and they didn’t even give her one with an engine. A close look at the those on the oars would indicate that they have probably been quaffing something.
Next, click on – The Festival and it’s characters.
And, thank you for visiting.
Flowers that look like something else – Plants pareidolia
I just had the share this. View original for 20+ pics of extraordinary orchids.
Climate Change – Making a Real Difference.
The London Rally
What Has Changed and How You Can Help
On Monday 22nd September 2014, the Rockefeller Brothers Fund pledges that it will divest itself of all fossil fuel assets. It is reported that 650 individuals and 180 institutions have joined this pursuit as part of the worldwide Divest-Invest platform which began seven years ago. This is surely a death knell for those companies and politicians who do not push forward with green technology and policy.
The situation is beginning to change. I believe it has come about because all the elements for change are now in place. We have much to thank the genuine climatologist for. They have for decades faced an uphill struggle, often against personal abuse in attempts to discredit them. There is now sufficient awareness to have raised simultaneous protest right across the world, with a report of 400,000 attendees in Manhattan alone. And, the involvement of the the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, well respected statesman Kofi Annan and the Divest-Invest program.
Making a Difference
There remains only one essential element to maintain the impetus. That is us. Now we really can make a difference. The whole issue is driven by the public opinion that affects politicians and the consumerism that drives commerce. So, be part of wave in the ocean not just an isolated drop. You can:-
- Find greener suppliers here⇐. Switch and, most importantly, tell them why. Trends make business plans which are a prime mover of change.
- Change any investments, and tell the companies why.
- Write to your democratic representatives both local and central and voice your concerns.
- Insist the climatologist and engineers decide what is necessary and the economist provide instead of hinder.
- There are various schemes that make it possible for your computer’s down time to be used to run climate models. Such as Climate Prediction Net⇒.
- Support Greenpeace⇒, Friends of the Earth⇒, Peoples Climate⇒ (the rally organizers) or any other committed organization. Many people have committed years to help us. They need and deserve our help.
- Be knowledgeable and a source of solid information for friends and colleagues.
- Pass it on by blogs, emails, tweets, shares and word of mouth. Be knowledgeable and a source of solid information for friends and colleagues.
Do any of one these things and you will have made a difference. There are still those who wish us to believe that we can’t. It was always a lie. To paraphrase FDR, there is nothing to be hopeless about except hopelessness itself. You can surprise and shock those who thought we were complacent and you will be in good company.
I am reminded of the The Boatlift⇒ film posted by Cindy Knoke (at CindyKnoke.com) with the very apt title of “The True Nature of Humanity”. It is the extraordinary story of those who came forward and helped people caught in the 9/11 disaster. And, as the boatman said: “I never want to say the words ‘I should have’. If I do it and I fail, I tried. If I do it and succeed, better for me. And, I tell my children, never go through life saying you should have. If you wanna do something, you do it”.
Now is the time to assist the surge forward by adding one small piece of effort. Just one thing, just do it and smile that you made a difference. And, good luck to you all. 🙂
Climate Change Rally – London 2014
If you would like to learn how we can have more of an effect click here. (click here for 2015 Rally Information)
For the past 3 decades, it seems to me, that there has been much effort to persuade people that there is no point in trying to make a difference. It didn’t work. To those who never give up, add those who are just beginning. Hope and endeavor just keep on being born. It is slow but it is relentless. ~ Latest news – 40,000 attended the London rally. That’s 4 times the expected number.
To download a picture; left click to expand then right-click and choose “Save Image As” from the pop up menu.
Nelson Mandela, Lloyd George and Winston Churchill. I think they would have approved
And, It’s a Long Road Out of Eden, but it does have some good guitar on the way.
I have a slight preference for the original Eagles version, but this is the best recording I could find.
More news from the BBC
Bench Presses
Books about Town
By popular demand.
The National Literary Trust together with Wild in Art, created the Books About Town project. As result 50 ornate benches were placed around London in early July 2014. Each bench is dedicated to a particular book. The benches will be removed from 15 September 2014 in preparation for auction in October. The auction will raise money for the trust. What a great idea. Just below are a few I managed to photograph in Greenwich and here are all the Books About Town ⇒ and here is More About Greenwich ⇐.
On the Origin of Species – Charles Darwin
The Railway Children – E. Nesbit
The Canterbury Tales – Geoffrey Chaucer
Frozen in Time – Captain Scott
We’re Going on a Bear Hunt – Michael Rosen
Flowers at Upper Greenwich Gardens
I’m always amazed at the extraordinary detail that can be seen in flora when using more than the human eye. Enjoy 🙂 More of Wonderful Greenwich.
Upper Greenwich Garden Views
11 pics ~ Upper Greenwich Park is a great place to spend a morning and have a picnic. Then wander on to the observatory and from there down the hill for a range of attractions, mostly free. For more information please click on Visiting Wonderful Greenwich.
Now you see me, now you don’t. (a little slideshow)
I’ll jump. Idiot
There is also a deer enclosure but, on the day, they were hiding. ❗
Squirrels in Greenwich Park
At the upper level park.
Your mission, should you wish to accept it, is nuts.
First we catch the nut.
Then we check to see if it’s suitable for burying or best eaten now.
Then we bury the ones that will keep.
Then we have some fun. Shhimple !
This is one’s just hanging.
But, in a different light. Them paparazzi will demonize anybody, disgraceful. 😛
Squirrels can usually be found at the south east corner of upper Greenwich Park.
Freed From Time 
