Have you ever met a Handkerchief Tree? They are relatively rare trees and in May they produce a profusion of large white bracts which look exactly like freshly washed handkerchiefs. The trees originate in China and were first discovered in 1869 by a French missionary/naturalist, Armand David. He found just a single tree way up …
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Kenwood gears up for Christmas
No, this doesn’t look very like Christmas, does it. The last flurry of autumn colour on the Kenwood lawns soon to host a serious Christmas show. But all around the house, preparations are well under way. Up by the Stable block, a huge lorry park has been created. At the entrance to house massive wooden …
Late Saturday afternoon at Kenwood
A late afternoon walk across Kenwood and I caught the sun just as it was going down – first over Kenwood’s West Meadow and then from the top of Henry Moore’s reclining figure’s slope. Although the trees look good in the evening sun, the autumn colour is not that great – certainly not compared to …
Mist….
The mist hung heavy over Highgate this morning – discouragingly chilly looking although I then regretted that I had not braved it. By the time I did it had lifted somewhat although still giving an ethereal look to my path. Once on the heath, the sun was trying to break through, but without much success. …
Reasons to be cheerful…
Well, today is the 21st December which means that from now on the days get longer and the darkness starts to recede. It also means that spring is on its way. And, in one small corner of Kenwood, could be said to have arrived. Yes, this is a winter flowering shrub (and I am hoping …
The sun does not always shine on Hampstead Heath
In fact, today it was grey and unattractive enough for me to have to talk seriously to myself to drag myself from my desk. But I did, and I discovered that there had been some major pruning done on the rhododendrons on the lawns at the side of Kenwood House. On the other side of …