Picture

This past week was the 2009 Chelsea Flower Show in London, and as you can likely tell from the above photo, I attended. 

Sponsored by the Royal Horticultural Society, and begun way back in 1862, the show is described as a garden show held annualy on five consecutive days in May by the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) on the grounds of the Royal Hospital Chelsea in Chelsea, London.  It's the most famous such show in the UK, and perhaps the most famous gardening event in the world.  It's also considered part of London's summer social season (though I do not purport to be a participant in any "social season").

I can't remember whose display this was in the photo, nor do I recall what the names of the contents were, but I thought the photo turned out pretty lovely.  It was taken inside The Grand Pavilion.  I thought it a bit ironic that one of my favorite shots from a giant flower show was actually of non-budding plants.

For that reason, and for the beautiful colors it contains, this is my "Pic Of The Week."

 

Instead of skipping Pic Of The Week for lack of something "fancy" to show, I've decided to post this pic I took along Great West Road (the A4 motorway) in west London.  I dig it because of the combination of grassy green, lemon yellow and white -- if I made my own textile prints I think I'd turn these dandelions into one for a sun dress. 

If you keep your eyes and mind open, even weeds along a highway can be beautiful.

 

This is the triumphant return of "Pic Of The Week" after a bit of a hiatus...

This week's shot is of the Round Tower at Windsor Castle (and the gardens below).  Windsor Castle is the residence of the Queen of England.  Contrary to the assumption of most, the Queen does not live in Buckingham Palace - she lives in Windsor Castle, which is in the town of Windsor, west of London.  I went there today.

In this shot you see the Round Tower in the upper left, and a steep, lush hillside in the rest.  I liked looking at the bench in the bottom right and thinking the Queen might hang out there when she needs a break from her husband.  The garden extends to the bottom of the hill, dispelling the notion that there's a moat around the place.

For a little history, William the Conqueror built the first castle there between 1070-1086 A.D.  A dark factoid about the place:  Queen Elizabeth left the outbreak of Bubonic Plague in London to go live in Windsor Castle in 1563.  There she built gallows where she executed anyone visiting from London.  Nice!

On a sweeter side, Windsor Castle houses an enormous dolls' house created for Queen Mary, who loved arts and miniatures.  It has miniscule silver on the dining table made of real silver, teensie oil paintings created for her by top painters of her time, real tiny jewels to simulate the royal jewels - even working electricity and plumbing.  Quite a site - better appreciated by adults than children.

ANYway, despite the gray and damp weather today - and the inability to use cameras inside - I managed to get a nice shot, I think.  A 900-year-old castle and lush English gardens make for a great Pic Of The Week.

Oh - and yes, the Queen was in the castle during our visit today.  She must have been in the shower or polishing her crown at the time because she didn't come over to say hello.