The Herb Garden, Greenwich Park
Warning:
If you're ScaredofChives, or of a similarly delicate constitution, look away now. We are about to enter Herb County...
Tucked away in the North-west corner of Greenwich Park lies a little garden. Behind low, dainty railings, and separated by parterres of box, a modern Tudor-knot contains herbs for every sense, billowing out their frond-y, frothy abundance in a heady green-and-yellow haze, a gentle breeze rustling the ferny leaves in a soft murmur.
Well. Ok. maybe not just at the moment. It's more like a bunch of dark green boxes full of dead brown-and-black stalks and grizzled old earth, scoured by a howling gale. But in these dark January days a Phantom needs a few memories of long, hot summers and long, fragrance-filled evenings to light the way through to Spring.
Memories, for example, of that little fountain in the middle - I think it's supposed to be a thistle - but it could be a tulip or even a pineapple. No matter. The tinkle from that tiny pond twinkles in my mind and I can feel the warmth of the sun on my back, even if it's actually just my cardi, an extra blanket and a fan heater.
It's not that old (the herb garden, of course, not the fan heater, which is antediluvian.) There's precious little written about it anywhere - naturally - I'm beginning to get used to a total blank-er-oo whenever I try to find anything out about stuff in Greenwich. It's as though just putting something lovely somewhere is enough - when surely part of charm of a thing, whether a statue, sculpture, street furniture - or a garden - is in its history?
The new Greenwich Park walks leaflet (which I will be reviewing as soon as I've had the chance to try out one or two of the suggested route-marches) comes to the rescue - a bit. The garden was first planted in 1969 but tarted up in 1993, with 30 herbs. That fountain, designed by (and yea! - we have a sculptor) Kate Malone, was added in 2000.
The Phantom is in reflective mood today, swaddled in blankets and thick socks, leaving you with a lovely photo to remind you that Spring's not that far away now. Honest.
If you're ScaredofChives, or of a similarly delicate constitution, look away now. We are about to enter Herb County...
Tucked away in the North-west corner of Greenwich Park lies a little garden. Behind low, dainty railings, and separated by parterres of box, a modern Tudor-knot contains herbs for every sense, billowing out their frond-y, frothy abundance in a heady green-and-yellow haze, a gentle breeze rustling the ferny leaves in a soft murmur.
Well. Ok. maybe not just at the moment. It's more like a bunch of dark green boxes full of dead brown-and-black stalks and grizzled old earth, scoured by a howling gale. But in these dark January days a Phantom needs a few memories of long, hot summers and long, fragrance-filled evenings to light the way through to Spring.
Memories, for example, of that little fountain in the middle - I think it's supposed to be a thistle - but it could be a tulip or even a pineapple. No matter. The tinkle from that tiny pond twinkles in my mind and I can feel the warmth of the sun on my back, even if it's actually just my cardi, an extra blanket and a fan heater.
It's not that old (the herb garden, of course, not the fan heater, which is antediluvian.) There's precious little written about it anywhere - naturally - I'm beginning to get used to a total blank-er-oo whenever I try to find anything out about stuff in Greenwich. It's as though just putting something lovely somewhere is enough - when surely part of charm of a thing, whether a statue, sculpture, street furniture - or a garden - is in its history?
The new Greenwich Park walks leaflet (which I will be reviewing as soon as I've had the chance to try out one or two of the suggested route-marches) comes to the rescue - a bit. The garden was first planted in 1969 but tarted up in 1993, with 30 herbs. That fountain, designed by (and yea! - we have a sculptor) Kate Malone, was added in 2000.
The Phantom is in reflective mood today, swaddled in blankets and thick socks, leaving you with a lovely photo to remind you that Spring's not that far away now. Honest.
Labels: Green Greenwich, Open Spaces, Secret Greenwich
posted by The Greenwich Phantom at
08:42
4 Comments:
Ooh, I love this little corner of the park. I have also been observing with interest the progress of the Rose Garden at the top of the park. Current status; thorny twigs only. Roll on spring!
Out of interest, where did you pick up the leaflet on the park walks? I think I might need to add some variety to my Sunday morning mini-hikes!
I love that rose garden too. It's glorious in June/July - but also sort of interesting at other times too.
I went on a very circuitous route to get that walks leaflet, so I can save you some leg work. In the paper it said "avaialble from Blackheath gate and the tourist office." I should have gone straight to the TO. Blackheath gate was deserted.
It costs a pound and it has a little about things you can see on each walk - though doesn't actually do instead of a proper detailed guide, which Royal Parks really should create - even if only as a reprint of the 1902 A D Webster book.
Lovely photo, warmed my cockles. I too love the herb garden and the pretty little fountain. In fact, it inspired me to make my own herby oasis at home (also looking a bit mouldy at present, must spruce it up...)
Roll on warm days and the chance to roost happily on the benches and sniff the aromas!
Can someone dig up the chives to allow me to enjoy it too, thanks
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