Wild-flower garden on a summer's day

Wild flower garden on a summer's day #4
Originally uploaded by davidjennings.

May was wet, and June so far has been hot and sunny; so no surprise that there has been a lot of growth in the garden.

A lot of the temporary fencing was removed a short while after the photos I took a month ago, and the gardens now look much more attractive and welcoming. Some people think it's all weeds, but they'll learn.

Here's a picture of the jam-packed climbing frame and roundabout, and another showing the benches being put to use.

Working on the Meeting House finished ahead of schedule, and meetings resumed there last Sunday. I attended then, but didn't make it today (for no very good reason!). Today's meeting was actually still in progress when I took the picture on the left — hence the open door.

Open day in the gardens, 8 July

Advertisement for opening
Originally uploaded by davidjennings.

This is an advert that appeared in Quaker journal, The Friend, recently. Events will run from 10am to 6pm, and are for the funders of the redevelopment, Quakers, and the neighbours of the gardens. Please come if you belong to any of these categories!

Bluebell ridge and metal fence

Bluebell ridge and metal fence
Originally uploaded by davidjennings.

In the foreground is the area of the gardens described on the plans as the bluebell ridge (first mentioned here ). There are two bluebell plants on it, which you can see if you look closely (click on the photo for a larger, annotated version).

At the back left of the photo (at the foot of the tree) are the discarded sections of the metal playground fence, which were allegedly kicked down by someone, leaving a large gap in the fence. A few minutes after this photo was taken, this afternoon, someone came and took away these fence sections in a Glendale van.

Here is the full set of photos I took today. (I'm happy for Glendale to put any of these on their home page). The recently planted bamboo is not looking very healthy — I'm unclear who is responsible for watering it. On a sunny Friday lunchtime, every bench in nearby Bunhill Fields was full, but those here were sadly empty.

Spring is later this year

Spring is later this year
Originally uploaded by davidjennings.

Compare this photo, taken this morning, with one taken on 3 April last year, and I think you'll see the buds are at about the same stage. By 17 April last year, you could see green leaves.

Sporadic work

Replacing the broken tree
Originally uploaded by davidjennings.

Valentine's Day will be the first anniversary of work starting on the gardens. In the last couple of weeks there have been sporadic visits to the site to do some basic maintenance.

First some of the leaves were cleared and I think possibly some new plants may have been planted, though there's little evidence of this if you look up close.

Then both the broken stripling tree and its healthy twin were removed, to be replaced by slightly more mature trees.

Quaker Gardens, tree and Chequer Court

Quaker Gardens, tree and Chequer Court
Originally uploaded by davidjennings.

A picture of the gardens on a December Sunday afternoon.

Some enjoyable carol singing at the Friends' Meeting this morning.

Tree felled

Tree felled
Originally uploaded by davidjennings.

This was taken on Thursday. I don't know when it happened. It doesn't look like an accident. So much preparation and care, and it only takes one person one moment to snuff it all out.