Brighten the Day 12 – Here Comes the Sun
Before we say goodbye to winter a little applause for the sparkles and glistens of frost and snow and yuletide festivities. 🙂
– all three videos are worth seeing in HD at full screeen – with thanks to Lady Fi for making me think of Sugar Plum Fairies with her Frosty Views ⇒
And this version, by Lauren Cuthbertson, for the extraordinary elegance and precision . 🙂
And, then:-
A wash of colour
With spring there is the inevitable silliness (I insist upon it). 🙂
Brighten the Day 11
Once upon a time, in a galaxy far far away ~
~ a new flower wonders what comes next.
Perhaps the new flower would be of the wind ~
~ or be ablaze in the sun ~
~ or perhaps hear the best guitar solo ever.
But, if not, why worry.
Perhaps there is a beautiful song of the sea by an extraordinary person.
Perhaps, if we but seek, there is something to remind each of us that we live in a world of wonders.
A good day to you all.
Peckham Rye Park and Flowers
From stop V across the road from Peckham Rye rail station the numbers 63 and 363 buses travel south along the west side of Peckham Rye Park. About half way along the park’s length is the easiest way to it’s centre where all the trees are. The Café on The Rye is to the left by the car park, whilst straight on is :-
Peckham Rye Park Japanese Gardens
and :-
Sexby Gardens
If this is early April then summer must be amazing
and :-
Peckham Rye Park Lake
The lake is at the east side of the park and is a short distance to Nunhead Cemetery ⇒, but it is uphill so please see the directions ⇐ for a bus route.
Spring 2017 with Squirrels and Flowers and Song
And here at the Squirrel Olympics in Tower Hamlets Cemetery Park, Bobtail makes his final slalom run of the day. He’s going well and it looks like it’s going to be a record.
And the crowd are going wild. They’ve never seen anything like this and it’s absolute bedlam here.
The Crocuses are cussing
They’ve lost control and applauding like crazy.
And the stamens are out of their seats.
The Windflowers are all of a flutter.
The Poppy Anemones are popping
All the other Anemones are all anemoning
Will this madness never end.
And the umpire has had enough and run up a tree. 😀
The band is restoring some calm with some cool music and encouragement to go for a walk with a little swing in your step.
.. or spring.
More Tower Hamlets Cemetery Park ⇐ (with a fox).
More Brighten the Day Gallery⇐.
Brighten the Day 10
Brighten your day. Confuse a Happiness Engineer. Ask for a Happy Meal with extra fries and the solution to Fermet’s Last Theorem.
“He thinks he’s the Lock Ness Monster. What can you do”.
Amaze squirrels with your impressions of a nut.
Sing along with Sachmo.
. . . and the squirrels. And, enjoy your day.
Brighten the Day 9
Have you just gotta get out, just gotta get right outta here. Wait for the explosions and the band to start headbanging, then bob up and down like a Muppet walking, or Walk Like an Egyptian ⇒, and sneak right past the guards.
And, a few flowers to calm us down.
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Brighten the Day 8
Out came the sun.
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Meanwhile, at Martha’s Vineyard, a lady sang and some youngsters told the tale.
So they did.
More Brighten the Day ⇐.
Chelsea Physic Garden
The Chelsea Physic (for healing) Garden ⇒ was established in 1673 and is the second oldest botanic garden in the UK after the Oxford University Botanic Garden ⇒. The garden has approximately 5,000 plants including those with exotic scents. It is a very peaceful and pleasant walled garden hidden away in west London.
There are some free tours upon entry but there is an entry fee and charges for the workshops, courses and special tours. Please see the website link above.
The easiest approach is by the 170 bus (bound for Roehampton) from Victoria Station to Chelsea Physic Garden. On alighting, just outside the gardens educational center, walk back a short way along the bus route to Swan Walk and the main entrance is little way down that road. Map of the Garden ⇐.
The garden is next to the the Royal Hospital Chelsea ⇒ (home of the Chelsea Pensioners).
Chelsea Physic Gardens Views and Flowers
In the Greenhouses
Pelargonium Rosa
Pelargonium Milfield Gem
Pelargonium Bute
Pelargonium Copthorne
Around the Gardens and Outdoor Flowers
Statue of Sir Hans Sloane
Helienthus Annuus – Ring of Fire Sunflower
Sweet Pea
Farmopolis
Farmopolis ⇒ is an ambitious project very near to the O2 arena on the Greenwich Peninsula. At present only a very small part has been built and is still a work in progress. It consists of a small café/restaurant with some indoor and outdoor seating and surrounded by plants rescued from the Chelsea Flower Show. These plantings should be complete by the end of August 2016.
Like many such venues I found the food and drink rather pricey and pretentious, but there are plenty of places nearby where a picnic can be enjoyed. There are events ⇒ at the site and the flowers are worth seeing.
Below is a view from the United Emirates Cable Car ⇐.
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There Is Nothing You Can Sing That Can’t Be Sung
“There’s nothing you can do that can’t be done
Nothing you can sing that can’t be sung
Nothing you can say but you can learn how to play the game
It’s easy
Nothing you can make that can’t be made
No one you can save that can’t be saved
Nothing you can do but you can learn how to be you in time
It’s easy
All you need is love
All you need is love
All you need is love, love
Love is all you need”.
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LOUDER ⇓.
A Flower Without a Name
Whilst this world was young,
Before names could fall from human tongue,
There was no I, nor thou, nor thee,
Only flower and grass and tree.
No sound but sweet refrain,
Of wind and sea and rain,
No less a flower without a name,
A living beauty just the same.
🙂
Dulwich Picture Gallery and Park
Saints Amandus and Walburga; Saints Catherine of Alexendria and Eligius by Peter Paul Rubens
The Dulwich Picture Gallery is not very large but does contain works of significance with occasional exhibitions and events. Ticket prices and more information can be found here⇒.
The photographs here have been a little enhanced to compensate for low lighting and the age of the paintings, nevertheless they are realistic and show why, in their time, they were so well thought of.
Girl at Window by Rembrandt van Rijn
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Vase with Flowers by Jan van Huysum
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Still Life by Jan Van Huysum
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The Bucentaur at Molo on Ascension by Canaletto
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The Penitent Magdalen by Cignani
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The Flower Girl by Bartolome Esteban Murillo
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Whilst one can always admire the patient efforts of an artist, ever changing nature provides its own special fascination. Across the road from the gallery is Dulwich Park.
The park has a number of facilities including a pleasant café and hire boats on the small lake at weekends and holidays. More information⇒
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Burgh House and Hampstead Flora
Burgh House provides space for the small Hampstead Museum⇐ and a pleasant indoor/outdoor tea-room (The Buttery). It is close to the charming Fenton House⇐, not far from Kenwood House⇐ and the outdoor seating area has some nicely kept flora.
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The above orchid is from inside Burgh House and the flora below is from picturesque Hampstead.
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Tower Hamlets Cemetery Park, Fox and Flowers
Tower Hamlets Cemetery was opened in 1841 and its last use was in 1966. It is now a lightly managed woodland, a nature reserve and has an ecology center. It is the only woodland for miles and comes complete with many cheeping birds, squirrels and the occasional fox. About Tower Hamlets Cemetery Park ⇒.
The park is located just south of Mile End underground station (on exiting the station turn right then second right onto Southern Grove and the park gates further down on the left).
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The above are artificial (fooled me).
These are just outside the southern railings.
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More from Tower Hamlets Cemetery Park in spring with squirrels ⇐.
Sounds Like Someone Punched a Goat & Brighten the Day 7
The Ballad of Beaker video. The thing I like about beaker is he’s daft enough not to give up. There’s a lesson in that somewhere.
Ignore the adverts.
And, a little something to brighten the day.
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More Brighten the Day ⇐.
Brighten the Day 6 with Flowers, Daftness and Songs
Are you having a bad hair day ?
Just about had enough.
Or have a selfie like mine.
Perhaps you would prefer to feel like this ↑.
Take some of this. Originally by the Statler Bros but this has a little more daft ↓.
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Or perhaps a little more foot stomping ↓.
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Or a leaping lizards rocking launch ↓.
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And a blue bayou bye and bye from the bear.
More Brighten the Day ⇐.
Brighten the Day 5
8 pics. The answer my friend is blowin’ in the wind, the answer is blowin’ in the wind. Bob Dylan.
Wisley Gardens and Flower Show.
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I can’t help it, I’m just whaaaaa.
Bekonscot Model Village Play Train
“I’m so chuffed to meet you all. Enjoy the day”.
More Brighten the Day ⇐.
Brighten the Day 4
8 Flora and some lyrics to brighten the day.
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“What do you say to an 8 foot tall Budgerigar ?”. “Who’s a pretty boy then”.
“Call that a hair style, check out the hat”.
“I’m feelin’ glad all over
Yes I’m-a glad all over
Baby I’m glad all over
So glad you’re mine.
The Dave Clark Five
“That John Wyndham had a good idea”.
“Purple haze, all in my brain
Lately things they don’t seem the same
Actin’ funny, but I don’t know why
Excuse me while I kiss the sky”.
Jimi Hendrix
“Yellow is the color of my true love’s hair
In the mornin’, when we rise
In the mornin’, when we rise
That’s the time, that’s the time
I love the best”
Donovan.
“Blue moon!
Now I’m no longer alone
Without a dream in my heart
Without a love of my own”.
Billie Holiday
And, one more time with a song.
“Sunny, Yesterday my life was filled with rain.
Sunny, You smiled at me and really eased the pain.
The dark days are gone, and the bright days are here,
My Sunny one shines so sincere.
Sunny one so true, I love you.”
Stevie Wonder
More Brighten the Day ⇐.
Brighten the Day 3
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Vera, Chuck and Dave
“And here’s some we made earlier”.
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“Alright blue then”.
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I’m not sure whether that’s a goat or a monkey. Here are some monkees with a little innocence.
More Brighten the Day ⇐.
Brighten the Day 2
To brighten the day. Flowers, a puppy, a ruddy duck, a little tree, a big mobile and a little tom foolery. I hope it does brighten your day. 🙂
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Mostly from the Wisley Gardens Flower Show.
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“The sun has got his hat on, hip hip hooray. The sun has got his hat and is coming out to play”.
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“Moon river, wider than a mile, I’m crossing you in style some day. Oh, dream maker, you heart breaker, Wherever you’re going, I’m going your way”.
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“They call me Baby Driver, And once upon a pair of wheels
Hit the road and I’m gone, What’s my number ? I wonder how your engines feel. baa ba baa”.
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Acer Buergerianum
“I’m a tree, wheee”.
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“I was born up in the mountains, where the rattlesnakes have legs, Where the hootowls speak in English, and the roosters lay square eggs”. (by True Blue Bill)
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“She comes in colors everywhere, She combs her hair, She’s like a raaainbow”.
More Brighten the Day ⇐.
Flower Festival at Leeds Castle
During the Flower Festival the castle was festooned, here are just a few. And there is more to see at Leeds Castle Interiors and Leeds Castle Grounds. 🙂
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Leeds Castle Grounds
20 pics. Leeds Castle in Kent that is. The long lake beside the castle and the path that passes the formal gardens and leads to the playground, maze, falconry display and a cheeky Jackdaw. Castle interiors here. See the castle website and tickets are valid for a year of repeat visits, yay. In the meantime enjoy ~.
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This is “Elsie” the land train from ticket office to the castle entrance (50 pence each). The walk is about 10-15 minutes and passes through some pleasant gardens.
Approaching the castle.
The time of my visit coincided with a flower festival. More of that in another post.
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There is a cafe and restaurant and a small dog-collar museum.
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Past the cafe and restaurant are the gardens.
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And, the tiered gardens beside the long lake and a view of the playground fort.
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“This year I will be mostly wearing my nose in the air”. | “She will too, she’s such a boy. I’ve got a long skirt you know”
There is a maze (keep turning left) with a turret at the center. Beneath the turret is a grotto complete with sounds of the sea, a doom laden voice reciting doom laden poetry and a tunnel to the way out. 🙂
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“And what are you laughing at. Just because I’ve got a comical looking face. I’ll have you know that I’m part of the entertainment”. “They don’t give these umbrellas to just anybody”.
“From me, Jack Daw, and all the other birdies, we hope you enjoyed your visit and do come again”. 🙂
Brighten the Day 1
10 pics. I’ve put aside some florality to brighten the winter days. Collages will include flowers, orchids, bonsai trees, statues, an occasional odd duck and perhaps something photo-shopped. Mostly from the Wisley flower show. This is the first, I hope that it brightens your day. 🙂 Click on twice to expand an image.
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Have a guess how old this Bonsai tree (Juniperus Rigida) is, Answer further down.
It’s not my fault. I just live here.
Best Friends by Harriet Francis
Fluffy did it.
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And, the Bonsai tree is an amazing 150 years old.
More Brighten the Day ⇐.
Wisley Gardens Orchids and Pitchers
Wisley Gardens (main post here) has a very well kept glass house with many amazing inhabitants. Here are just a few.
I didn’t know what this was called. I thought “Your Highness” was probably the safest option.
The glass house is much bigger than this, but I particularly like this section. More at Wisley Gardens.
Freed From Time 