London - Water Features in Kensington Park, Gardens and Hyde Park

Recently, my wife and I had the opportunity to spend a week in London, England.  We spent the time strolling Kensington Park and Hyde Park.  The majority of the Parks' area is dedicated to wide boulevards and expansive lawns.  Several lovely water features including The Fountains of the Italian Garden, Serpentine Lake and the Diane, Princess of Wales, Memorial Fountain, were available for the enjoyment of the Parks' many visitors. 

The Diane, Princess of Wales, Memorial Fountain drew many visitors, especially families with small children.  The parents lounged along the side of the meandering fountain's course or on the green while their children frolicked in the water.  One elderly gentleman also joined in the fun, immersing himself in the flowing stream.  I wasn't certain his attire and position in society lent itself to such escapades, but no one else seemed to give a second glance.  So,....

The Fountains of the Italian Garden were amazing, consisting of a small central fountain and four octagonal cut-stone, oblong pools, each sporting its own fountain, water lilies, and various other water plants, as well as fish and ducklings.

 

Above is the Queen Victoria Statue and pool which stands before the entrance to Kensington Palace along the boulevard in Kensington Park.

 The Kensington Palace formal gardens boast a wide array of meticulously maintained plantings surrounding a long rectangular pool bordered by broad natural stone paths.

Here, in July of 2013, the nearly placid waters of the pool reflect the clear sky and Kensington Palace and the planters and plants along its edge.

 

I look forward to soon sharing some of the stunning gardens and architecture we enjoyed in our too-short time in London.

Michigan: Fall Gardens

Fall is in full swing and quickly moving toward winter. I thought now would be a good time to get out and view some local gardens and show everyone some ways of keeping the garden interesting even during these days of dormancy. So, over the next few weeks, I will be posting pictures with descriptions and explanations of the various ideas behind the use of the feature shown. Hopefully, you will get some ideas on how to make your landscape and gardens shine in the coming months.

Among the ideas I will try to touch on, is the use of structural plants like the variegated grass to the right. Even through winter, this grass can add interest. When other plants have died back and withered away, strong ornamental grasses can hold their shape and give the garden some height. In addition, the swaying and swishing of the grass as the wind blows through it can be mesmerizing and calming in the middle of a bleak winter. Look at the way the light filters through the blades. Beautiful.

Hint: Sometimes large grasses can become unruly. If needed, you can always use tan twine to help keep the grasses from collapsing under the weight of excessive snow/rain or wildly whipping winds.