News & Updates from Clare Walker-BoundingSquirrel · Page 12
As it`s holiday time, a permanent-and much-loved- resident in our living must have just turned 37. Meet *Mr Hibiscus*, who my Mum took as a cutting on holiday in Portugal when I was small.
And who, as you can see, is very much alive and kicking in our flat in 2017. My Mum looked after him (and believe me, strange though may sound to some, this is a plant of some personality, who it isn`t hard to call, him at all) until she died.
And then I inherited him, just as you might inherit anything else.
Since Mr Hibiscus has survived and thrived here for about 18 years, and is about 8 ft tall, he seems pretty happy here.So if you`re sick of net curtains, but don`t want everyone looking in, maybe a resident hibiscus might work for you too...
If you love cats, gardening, and/or interesting sculptures, keep reading, because this week, I thought Id tell you about the, Whittington Park Floral Cat Sculpture (to give him his proper title).
Hes just up the road from us, and the star of this picture.The Whittington theme comes about because legend has it that this is the area in which Dick Whittington decided to turn again, and become ,thrice mayor of London Town.
But this living statue statue of Dick Whittingtons feline friend is altogether more modern and quirky.
Hes a living sculpture (and not just fancy hedge-trimming) because hes built from sedum plants, painstakingly fitted into a wire frame. (And though the paws and tail that hold him up arent plants, they *are* made from woven recycled bicycle tubes, which is also pretty unusual).I love this sculpture, because whatever time of year you go past him, he looks different.
In spring, hes a bright fresh green. In summer, a darker green as the sedum leaves mature. And now, hes just getting hints of the his autumn red coat.For me, a sculpture thats alive and always changing beats something static every time.
But I hope that hes brightened your day too (and/or given you some inspiration for your garden or craft projects).
OK, so the summer sun seems to have gone on its holidays. But theres one way to enjoy the beach, whatever the weather: looking for sea glass.
In case this is new to you, sea glass, is the name given to pieces of glass that have been so naturally tumbled by the action of the waves that they have become an entirely different and beautiful thing, all of their own.
Instead of being sharp and transparent, sea glass pieces are rounded, frosted and opaque, and end up looking a bit like boiled sweets (as in the pieces in the picture, which we found in just one visit to a beach on the Thames Estuary).
Clear glass turns into white or aqua sea glass, dark green into a pale jade, and brown into amber.Whilst I would *never*, ever, want anyone to throw glass into the sea these days, it is nice to think that Nature is so magnificent that it can even produce beautiful items (great for crafting and jewellery making) from human mistakes of the past.
And, you dont necessarily have to go a long way to find it. Any beach or shore near to a place where people have lived for a couple of hundred years or more might wash up sea glass, whatever the weather.
Happy searching!
It was our own fault. My husband and I were the ones who went to Charlton Park, carrying hazelnuts.
With the full intention of feeding the squirrels...What we didnt necessarily expect was to have 10 squirrels (yes, you read that right) all coming up to us for nuts *at the same time*. (Some were even playing a little game to see how many nuts they could stuff into their mouths at one time).But how can you deny nuts to such cuties, especially when summer is actually their hungriest time?
Winter stores have long run out, they no longer have any spring sap or shoots, and the autumn bonanza of berries , nuts and acorns has yet to kick in.So we were delighted to feed them, if a little overwhelmed.
And feed them we did...until the nuts ran out, forcing us to beat a hasty retreat. As we got into the car, I noticed someone else with a rustling bag go and sit on the bench nearest the squirrelly mob.
They sure know their business, those squirrels...
This week, I thought Id tell you about the lovely people in our neighbourhood whove really changed how it looks, just with plants and flowers.
We used to be just three ordinary London streets.
But thanks to the Three Streets Gardeners project, every spare bit of soil round trees, bike tethers, and everywhere else you can think of is now festooned with flowers, as in this picture.
It makes walking round the neighbourhood just like being in a park, and has made a tremendous difference. Note: bee-friendly window boxes are about as far as my own ability goes with gardening. I am simply saying a big Thank You.