psmv5: Hampton Court

At the end of last month to Hampton Court Palace, a place last visited around the end of January, as noticed at reference 1. Much the same format this time. Starting with four aeroplanes spotted heading down to Heathrow from various eminences on the way.

Then the fine line of (white) chestnuts behind the car park hedge at the railway station.

Then a giant buggy full of nursery children being pushed by a small young lady. A sort of tub, got up to look like Thomas the Tank Engine or something else of that sort. I should imagine that it would be quite hard work uphill. Probably the same nursery as was noticed at the same spot around three years ago. See reference 2.

River looking well too. One dead boat at the bottom of the line, just to prove that we don't all have to do what the council might be telling us to do. Don't think I would care to live on one though, what with the damp, the cold and the likelihood of unwanted nocturnal visitors, two legged and otherwise.

Tulip festival a little past its prime, but there was still plenty of impressive and interesting action, these ones being on the front drive. I like peering inside the singles - not being so keen on the more complicated doubles, frillies and so forth.

Getting used to the new format of the rose garden, snapped with the sequoia behind. Not getting used to the tiresome garden art, here wicker, brown and figurative. But, as BH pointed out, it won't last forever.

Actually, I think, a frilly tulip. Might almost be an out of season dahlia from a distance. I thought that the telephone made a better job of it than it often does of bright flowers close-up: maybe the light was right.

I passed on the fish finger bap at the Tilt Yard café, opting instead for the reheated bacon roll. Rather better than the one I had last time, but still not in the same league as Whitecross Street, where they do bacon sandwiches properly. But I was able to watch one of the workers working her thermometer in the cold display while I ate it.

We decided that this was indeed wild garlic. The stuff we often see great swathes of, about this time of year, on Dartmoor roadsides.

Flowers very like those of the various borages that I have been spotting in Epsom. Both BH and Google Images suggest the lungwort (Pulmonaria officinalis), which is indeed a member of that family, despite the rather different format of the green parts.

Laburnum arch in fine form, the first time that we have caught it for a while. Pleased to see signs of maintenance in the form of some serious pruning and some replanting.

Some successful mixing planting involving tulips and others in the beds to the east. Telephone continued to do better at close-ups than usual.

Presumably all part of the catering franchise. Got to move with the times, although not to the point of being open on a fine Spring week day.

The people at reference 5 are or have been involved with catering strategy at the palace, but they did not bother to reply to my email inquiring who had the catering just presently.

Fountain Court looking well, this snap facing the fourth side noticed at reference 4.

Onto the Privy Garden, which was also looking well in the bright sun, to count the fish in the round pond. We made it at least six, up to maybe half a metre long.

And it was hot enough to be glad of the shade offered by the covered walk. A sign explained that it was hornbeam, Carpinus betulis, a kind of birch (Betulaceae) rather than a kind of beech (Fagaceae), as I had thought. In mitigation, I can report Zomlefer, who says that these two families are closely related.

Out to stroll past the sunken gardens. Off snap left above. Then from the left, the ancient grape, the ancient wisteria and the orangery. Which last prompted me to wonder whether some munificent billionaire could not be persuaded to stump up the couple of million (say) needed to commission a modern replica of the much faded Mantegna within. A modern replica which would, for most of us, be a lot more interesting than what we have now.

Wandered out to pass an ice cream van, manned by a proper old-style ice cream salesman, possibly even of Italian origin, who sold us this choc ice on a stick. Very much like the brick format choc ices of old. The first time we have had such a thing (one between two) for a long time.

Over the bridge to take a sandwich at one of the cafes at the Palace end of Bridge Road, passing this broken down bit of flash on the way. Which carcheck tells me is a 2023 Audi R8, which has seven gears and can do up to 200mph. Just the thing for nipping across the bridge to Bushey Park.

While this one appeared to be up and running. A 2020 Porsche 911 Carrera S PDK, which has 8 gears but can only manage 190mph.

BH took a tuna baguette with her tea, while I took a ham salad baguette with my apple juice. All very satisfactory. And I took a bottle of the apple juice home with me, originally from the people at reference 6.