After the drought of April the heath’s flora have been revelling in the rains of the last few weeks – and none more so than the nettles which have all but enveloped the new dead hedge on my path down from Hampstead Lane. Here it is a mere ten days ago.
I had not actually intended to post about the heath at all today, but to take you on a long promised tour of my building site garden. But as so often happens, although I went out for a walk today without any intention of even taking my phone out of my pocket, there were too many plants to share to leave it there.
So, down at the bottom of the path the horsechestnut is in full flower – although the candelabra do not look quite as lush as they did last year. Maybe they were held back by that drought.
And just out on the heath itself a clutch of buttercups was glorying in a quick burst of sun…
The sun had gone in but the yellow was no less vivid over in the dip beyond Kenwood – although I am not sure what the flowers are. (It was only on my way home that I finally downloaded that app which is going to tell me what all of these mysterious flowers are…)
Nor do I know what this delicate little pink beauty is, the drops from a sudden shower of rain still clinging to its petals.
However, I definitely do know what these are…. The Kenwood azaleas and rhodedendrons are now in full bloom and a fine sight to behold.
And out on the meadow a lone bicycle waits for a claimant.
Early morning slow moments