Almost two weeks ago I suddenly thought: enough nostalgia about how lovely the big river "Elbe" in Hamburg was - and how I jogged there, and had to go 120 steps down to reach the bank (and up, to reach our flat) - and enough about "more nature in Hamburg".
You know me a bit by now: If I can't get one thing, I shrug and think: "Other mothers have beautiful sons, too" (you say: "There are plenty of fish in the sea") - err...no...I mean: I'll find an alternative in this big beautiful world.
And of course I did.
Not far away from our Berlin flat is the Tiergarten (long time ago the Kings hunted there, now we common mortals are allowed to stroll through it - and a lot of rabbits happily dance in front of us, being sure of their life!) It is huge -here you see about a qurter of it:
And suddenly - I was so surprised and not quick enough to take a photo - a kingfisher (Alcedo atthis) flitted past me!!!
I walked almost an hour. Spring signs everywhere (and today it will be far more advanced).
If you ask: why the "greed" in your header? I have to show you this:
These seeds I
TYPICAL! (my father would say: Your eyes were bigger than your belly! (though only when my garden is concerned).
Come to think of it: I don't have a garden anymore.
I have a (big) BALCONY.
Want some of the hundreds of marigolds when they push through the earth of the boxes???
Re the Tiergarten - A man crept into a piece of woodland in a big, London Royal park one night and put up a tent, with a little boundary made up of string or something, then stayed there - for 7 years. After this time - by law - the trespasser owns the land if someone does not kick him off, so now he owns a very expensive bit of Royal London. Maybe you should camp in the Tiergarten for 7 years?
ReplyDelete... will answer you at length as soon as I have finished fixing the tent pegs!
DeleteYou certainly will not leave room for weeds.
ReplyDelete"You never know with weeds", answered Winnie-the-Pooh.
DeleteWeeds are just flowers that get no respect.
DeleteI agree - I am a big fan of dandelion (but though I cook it like spinach I am very reluctant to ashweed - Aegopodium podagraria)
DeleteNew rivers, new parks, new walks - all good for the soul.
ReplyDeleteAs is an afternoon in a garden centre...or on the sofa with a see catalogue. Just ship me anything that comes up that is pink or fuchsia, please.....and thank you.
Especially a brisk walk in awakening nature, Pondside - and seeing a bit of water (even a canal might do) is really reviving my spirits.
DeleteYou like the same colour scheme I had in my garden: pink, fuchsia, white. A little bit of blue. On a balcony I had to learn that in spring a bright yellow is uplifting (in my garden only the faintest cool moon yellow was allowed - sometimes).
There is so much you can grow in a smallish space - looks like you will have a colourful display.
ReplyDeleteYes, it all (?) might fit in with the two little maples, the huge vine, two clematis, two box, 5 roses, one lavendula, a few perennials --- you get the picture, Elaine. Problem might only be to fit in Husband and me :-)
DeleteYou were certainly ambitious about a garden when you chose your seeds. I do not know if there is a mosquito problem where you live but the marigolds are a natural repellent.
ReplyDeleteI was over-ambitious (if I express it in a nice way, Emma), or just plain greedy :-) Our flat is on the third floor (if you count the grounf floor as one), so not so many gnats come up - but wasp do. But good to know!
DeleteIn this case your "greed" will fill up your balcony with lovely flowers and veggies! I don't know what I'd do without my south facing balcony. It is not huge but big enough to bury my head in it! Keeps me happy ... very therapeutic. Greetings Maria x
ReplyDeleteI would like to see your balcony, Maria! I often go through Berlin and take photos of unbeknownst balconies. Facing south is good - though you will schlepp cans and cans of water...
DeleteOur balcony is quite big (and protected by the one above and walls at the side), facing south-south-west. When we lived at Hamburg, in one flat on the fifth floor (without elevator), we had a tiny little one - but I loved that too - it gave the impression of sitting in a bird's nest, high up.
The problem now is that I have so many plants already (please look at the list I wrote in the answer to Elaine's comment). But I'm sure: only a few seedlings will come through - and then there is always the 'Mrs Willmott-way'... Greetings Britta x
I had to Google Mrs Willmott (English plantswoman Ellen Willmott used to secretly scatter seeds of this plant, "Willmott ghost" while visiting other peoples' gardens) - what a brilliant idea you've given me!.....hehehe. X
DeleteYes, she was terrific! I read her biography (actually I wanted to write that myself, but someone else was quicker). Sadly she had to sell her Italian and French garden in later life - having spent most of her money to the fullest.
DeleteThere's nothing quite compares with jogging next to a river.
ReplyDeleteYeah - much better than a canal.
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