Category Archives: Gardens

The Stepney Meeting

Posted on 07/06/2019 by carolinemmurray

A stone’s throw away from the back of Stepney’s enormous churchyard, where the parakeets and pigeons own the sky, and even closer to Lady Mico’s almshouses, is a much smaller cemetery, its gravestones broken, eroded or obscured by the black, … Continue reading →

Posted in Biography, Gardens, History, London | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Plant of the Month: June 2019

Posted on 04/06/2019 by carolinemmurray

This seems to be an amazing spring/summer for roses – even mine are looking good (or were until it just started raining), and they are by no means my most successful plants. And it’s not just locally, either. We’ve just … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Botany, Gardens, Museums and Galleries, Natural history | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

In Deepest Limehouse

Posted on 26/05/2019 by carolinemmurray

I imagine that ‘Play it again, Sam’ is the most famous line from a film which was not actually spoken in the film, but ‘We don’t like strangers in these parts, Mr ‘Olmes’ may run it close among aficionados of … Continue reading →

Posted in Gardens, History, London, Natural history | Tagged , , , | 5 Comments

Sant’ Eufemia Revealed!

Posted on 03/05/2019 by carolinemmurray

Nearly two years ago, I wrote about the church of Santa Eufemia on Giudecca, noting my frustration that it never seemed to be open. But yesterday, strolling down the fondamenta after lunch for a quick look, we were riveted to … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Gardens, History, Italy, Venice | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments

Rome In Three Days

Posted on 30/04/2019 by carolinemmurray

I am sitting in an apartment in Venice with a glorious view which encompasses the towers of San Stefano (looking worrisomely more lop-sided then usual), San Marco, San Francesco della Vigna, and even, in the most extreme distance, the three … Continue reading →

Posted in Archaeology, Art, Botany, Classics, Gardens, History, Italy, Museums and Galleries | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Plant of the Month: April 2019

Posted on 10/04/2019 by carolinemmurray

Which came first, fritillary as the name of a plant (Fritillaria meleagris, the snake’s-head fritillary, also known as chess-flower, Lazarus-bell, leper-lily, frog-cup, or drooping tulip), or fritillary as the name of a butterfly? It seems that the plant has priority, … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Botany, Gardens, History, Museums and Galleries, Natural history, Printing and Publishing | Tagged , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

The Charterhouse

Posted on 28/03/2019 by carolinemmurray

Another real bargain in London … Last week I took a tour of the Charterhouse. In my case it was organised by the Friends of Strawberry Hill, but you can book online yourself. I was escorted there by kind relatives … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Biography, Gardens, History, London, Museums and Galleries, Music | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Plant of the Month: March 2019

Posted on 09/03/2019 by carolinemmurray

As I have mentioned in passing before, the botanist Pierre Magnol (1638–1715) was born in Montpellier, and spent most of his life there. His father and grandfather were apothecaries, and his mother’s male relatives were physicians. His older brother César … Continue reading →

Posted in Biography, Botany, France, Gardens, History, Museums and Galleries, Natural history | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Plant of the Month: February 2019

Posted on 21/02/2019 by carolinemmurray

I had always thought that Garrya elliptica, usually at its most spectacular at this time of year, was an Australian plant. I have no idea why … In fact, it comes from a quite restricted strip of coastal western America, … Continue reading →

Posted in Bibliography, Botany, Exploration, Gardens, Natural history, Printing and Publishing | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

The Artichoke

Posted on 16/02/2019 by carolinemmurray

I have been to Strawberry Hill twice now, and on both occasions the weather was foul. Luckily, the house is well signposted from the station, and barely five minutes’ walk away, but I really must try and get myself over … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Bibliography, Biography, France, Gardens, History, Museums and Galleries | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments