Sunshine on a Tube Strike Day

[commonpeople1]

I travelled this morning on a 45 degree angle, somebody's butt clinched against mine, my crotch in the face of a startled guy. The Central line ride ended at Marble Arch and I decided to take my chances above ground. What a gorgeous day to cut through Hyde Park! Felt like spring; I took long deep breaths as I crossed that large field on the east side, the sun in my face, enjoying the sense of space and freedom.

Yesterday eve was my first horticulture class at Regent's Park. A class of thirty people, most already working in the business and older than me. A few true English eccentrics. By the end of these 18 months I'll be able to name most common plants by their latin name, prune them at the right time of the year, grow and propagate to my heart's content. I wonder if in the near future I can have a part-time job in the arts and a part-time job in horticulture. Would be ideal.

It's going to be a bitch getting home tonight. I might just sit in some cafe and do NaNoWriMo until the crowds have dispersed.

Comments

[easterbunny.livejournal.com]

You're learning to prune? I cheer your soon-to-be-had competence and confidence with the pruning shears (perhaps you're already a confident and competent pruner?). After one successful pruning of my Japanese maple after my aunt handed me some kitchen scissors and said, "Cut here, here, and here," further experiments have yielded no reliable pruning prediction of, "Yay, it's bushy!" vs. "Boo, it's dead."

[commonpeople.livejournal.com]

It's all about the angle you cut and the time of the year! You can chop off a plant nearly down to its roots, leaving no leaves or stems behind, and it will grow stronger and more beautiful if it's the right time. Well... depends if it's annual or perennial. ;-)

[petercampbell.livejournal.com]

If you want to practice your pruning, I have two hugely overgrown hedges that need cutting back. They're full of hawthorn and dog rose, so you emerge from the experience looking as you've had a losing battle with a grizzly bear. It'd be very character building for you :)

[commonpeople.livejournal.com]

Sign me up! I've been meaning to travel north for ages. :-)