Two from behind Queenie's house

This is a pretty view across a wild pond area in the back
garden of Buckingham Palace, the only area we common
folk get to see as we exit the Palace Tour. [This is adjacent to
where the garden parties are held.] Waaaaay off in
the distance I spotted a very colorful mixed border, but we
weren't allowed anywhere near it. Inside, got a good look
at the Order of the Garter robes, which I do like.

Now, that's edging.

Fenton Hice

Of course, the plummiest Upper class accent turns the "ou" sound in
the word 'house' into a long "i", hence, Fenton "Hice."
Upper it may be but this place is so enchanting, while being
compact, and very practical.
This is a walled garden, some of it nearly 300 years old, at Fenton
House, what it's really called, in Hampstead. Lead tank, daisies, roses, yew and box
hedges, rose garden [I found it suitably small, since I think formal rose layouts are almost uniformly unattractive], all of it just wonderful. There's a very old orchard, and a kitchen garden meticulously kept that put me into a state of veg garden envy, a feeling I've never experienced
before! I placed
a pound into the "honesty box," and in I went. To see it all against the
lovely rooftops of Hampstead was an extra bonus treat.

peony update

these are the same coral-tone peonies, five days later...
ravishing still, and now faded to ivory-pink, then to ivory,
then the petals drop....very dreamy!

MMMM, monkshood........deeeeeeeeeeply blue; a good grab on
Columbia Road on Sunday.

It's nearly August, and I cannot fathom that there
are still peonies available, but
here they are, corally flamboyant, from Columbia Road.

Here's my hands-down favorite weed, not sure exactly what
it is, a baby thistle of some sort, growing in the parks, etc,
wherever there's tall grass allowed to grow around town.
Here it is, in the wildlife garden planted to the side of the Natural History
Museum, London. Absolutely charming little space, showing
7 different natural habitats occurring in Britain. Sad to say, at the
bottom of every explication panel was the note that that
particular habitat was disappearing due to human activity
of various kinds, and the wildlife, ergo, is declining. So this
charming garden is really like a "zoo" for natural habitats that are endangered.
Sigh.

now,
that's boxwood! From front court of Carnavalet Musee
in the Marais section of Paris. Weary spouse in background.

the universe that is Knole

though the public can only see 15 rooms of the 365, it's a start...

from under
a tree, to escape the sun, here's a lovely outside
wall at Knole. His Lordship only opens his
garden on Tuesdays, but I got a glimpse or
two from various rooms in the house. And
the deer were very dear.

back to planet Earth...

this is the planter behind our apartment building

ok,ok....

...I realize my poor little hydrangea I've been obsessing over
is completely wimpy compared to this one.
This is along a street at Mudchute, Isle of Dogs, on the
way to the Greenwich foot tunnel, just south of Canary
Wharf.

gorgeous
espaliered pears on an old wall, in the garden of the Geffrye
Museum, in east London. This is a small, wonderful museum
of period gardens and period rooms through
the ages and stages of British domestic life.

little venice, nw9

Regarding peonies and Pimm's

here's
a very poor shot of some very beautiful
peonies---in July!! Note Highland Springs
sparkling Scottish water bottle vase. Yes, Dave,
it is sunshine in that other photo; it has
not rained a single day since we arrived.
We heard at the pub last night that the Pimm's
people are on strike, in the middle of a glorious
English High Summer. Extraordinary!!

From Columbia road. Also armfuls of peonies
and some nice dark blue tall veronicas. Forgot
to do the Suzanne Farrell pose with them when
I first came in the door with the armful. The G & T
tin makes a good little vase!