Firstly, cold. And specifically cold in London. As a hardy Scot, brought up with the traditional ice on the inside of the windows blah blah, normal winter temperatures down to -15, central heating set to a brisk 17.5C (that .5 makes all the difference), the ONLY time I have ever experienced borderline hypothermia was in London. A day at Kew Gardens in March and I was chilled to the core and beginning to lose rational thought and speech.
Plant blindness and then sudden reveleation - yes, it is a thing. All I can see at the moment is witch hazel, and because I suddenly want one, it's cropping up everywhere, including in your post. It's a thing like car blindness, which I definitely posses. Husband to me, "did you see that car that just went past?" Me, "what car?".
Foraging - I am tussling with my conscience because having returned to the area I grew up, I've become aware that the current owners of my childhood home (which my great grandfather built), have a swathe of snowdrops (which my great grandfather, or his gardener) planted at the turn of the 19th century. I desperately want some, and wonder if I might just acquire some, because they're not technically wild flowers. I know exactly where they've come from...
Re cold - perhaps in the case of both Kew and Battersea Park it is an issue of their location on the south bank of the Thames... Whatever the case, bloody BRR!! Also, now that I know yours please do not ever ask me what number my thermostat is set to...
Re plant blindness - YES! Yes! Being haunted by the plants on your want list! I have to say that having seen the amazing witch hazels today I really, really want one, too. The colours are amazing. And the scent. And also the extract is the BEST for the skin. Not that I can ever envisage distilling my own...
Re foraging - in your case my greater concern is not the stealing so much as the possible trespassing. The trespassing is definitely a problem. But if you were to ask nicely I can't imagine anyone with even a hint of humanity denying you your ancestral snowdrops.
Ah, I should have said that the snowdrops have spread outside the garden into a country lane. And I've already asked very nicely for a very small item associated with the house which they no longer use and they refused, so... But I can't square lifting plants in the wild with the Countryside Code and the Scottish right of responsible access to land. No "No trespassing" notices here!
Linda, I replied to this at the time but it didn't bloody post. In short: I don't know those codes/responsibilities, but TAKE SOME!! Absolutely do it!!
Firstly, cold. And specifically cold in London. As a hardy Scot, brought up with the traditional ice on the inside of the windows blah blah, normal winter temperatures down to -15, central heating set to a brisk 17.5C (that .5 makes all the difference), the ONLY time I have ever experienced borderline hypothermia was in London. A day at Kew Gardens in March and I was chilled to the core and beginning to lose rational thought and speech.
Plant blindness and then sudden reveleation - yes, it is a thing. All I can see at the moment is witch hazel, and because I suddenly want one, it's cropping up everywhere, including in your post. It's a thing like car blindness, which I definitely posses. Husband to me, "did you see that car that just went past?" Me, "what car?".
Foraging - I am tussling with my conscience because having returned to the area I grew up, I've become aware that the current owners of my childhood home (which my great grandfather built), have a swathe of snowdrops (which my great grandfather, or his gardener) planted at the turn of the 19th century. I desperately want some, and wonder if I might just acquire some, because they're not technically wild flowers. I know exactly where they've come from...
I dont know those codes but I say go get ‘em!!!!
Re cold - perhaps in the case of both Kew and Battersea Park it is an issue of their location on the south bank of the Thames... Whatever the case, bloody BRR!! Also, now that I know yours please do not ever ask me what number my thermostat is set to...
Re plant blindness - YES! Yes! Being haunted by the plants on your want list! I have to say that having seen the amazing witch hazels today I really, really want one, too. The colours are amazing. And the scent. And also the extract is the BEST for the skin. Not that I can ever envisage distilling my own...
Re foraging - in your case my greater concern is not the stealing so much as the possible trespassing. The trespassing is definitely a problem. But if you were to ask nicely I can't imagine anyone with even a hint of humanity denying you your ancestral snowdrops.
Ah, I should have said that the snowdrops have spread outside the garden into a country lane. And I've already asked very nicely for a very small item associated with the house which they no longer use and they refused, so... But I can't square lifting plants in the wild with the Countryside Code and the Scottish right of responsible access to land. No "No trespassing" notices here!
Linda, I replied to this at the time but it didn't bloody post. In short: I don't know those codes/responsibilities, but TAKE SOME!! Absolutely do it!!
I'm duly encouraged!