Pirates!

I went to the Museum of London to see the new Pirates exhibition all about Captain Kidd.

And even saw an original Jolly Roger which I learnt was red as opposed to the black flag you associate with pirates these days.

The rest of the museum is amazing and would highly recommend a visit over to the docklands. Its very pretty round that part of London.

Saw a lovely Tortoiseshell Butterfly soaking up the late summer sun!

http://www.museumoflondon.org.uk/Docklands/

FARM:shop

An Urban Farm in Dalston?? Yep thats right- in a disused shop in the east of London is FARM:shop which combines the ideas of sustainable food, the local community, ecology as well as hopefully a viable business!

The shops aims to grow much of its own vegetables on the premises, and uses hydroponics to be as sustainable as possible.

Tilapia are grown in vats - from which the water is used to fertilise the plants in a closed system.

There are even 3 very happy chickens kept on the roof of the shop! They provide eggs for the shop below to sell.

Hydroponics are used to grow greens for the cafe.

The fish in the tanks under the window and the water is circulated through the plants. At the end of the summer the fish are to be eaten.

Its a great idea and the staff were really friendly- highly recommended to pop in for a cuppa!!

2 mins from Dalston Junction station.

http://farmlondon.weebly.com/farmshop.html

Leadenhall Market

I work close to Leadenhall Market and it was lovely to walk through it this morning when it was practically empty- which is unusual! It used to be a meat market and theres is a story about a Goose who escaped the slaughter of his compatriots and remained in the market as kind of a pet being fed by local bars- apparently he lived to the ripe old age of 38!

Such an amazing place in the heart of the City of London- now filled with pubs, cafes, restaurants and gift shops. Plus a great cheese shop! Yum! :)

Its even been used in the Harry Potter movies as a set for Diagon Alley.

Hackney City Farm

I'd never visited Hackney City Farm before- so as I had a day off today I decided to go and visit it. Its located in a corner of Haggerston Park in the East of London- probably about a 5 min walk from Hoxton overground station.

Its not a huge farm but I would really recommend visiting! They have a whole range of animals- from smaller pets like rabbits and guinea pigs, a goose, pigeons, and loads of free range chickens and ducks. And they have a flock of sheep, some pigs, a couple of goats and a donkey.

There is also a vegetable garden, a cafe, and a shop where they sell eggs and plants.

The chickens are pretty much allowed to wander everywhere which is lovely to see! I was particularly liked a large white Silkie cockerel who was crowing pretty much constantly! When he found a piece of corn- he used a different sound to call his girl friends over - who all came running to see what he had found for them- it was really sweet to see how he looked after them!

I wonder if these are the animals I met at the Phoenix Garden Agricultural show last month?.

Def go and visit this lovely place if you are in the area!

http://www.hackneycityfarm.co.uk/

Open: Tues- Sun 10-4:30 Free Entry.

Spirit Collection Tour @ The Natural History Museum

It was half term and I foolishly decided to go to the Natural History Museum. I love going to this museum but its the crowds that always prevent me from staying longer than 30 mins or so each time I visit. However this time I wasnt going to look round the main museum- but rather what is held in its basement. The Spirit Collection is where the museum keeps its specimens in alcohol that arent on display in the main museum- and these are held as a scientific resource for researchers to use to help in their studies. This area is not open to the general public apart from on these special tours.

I love the outside of this musuem- its beautiful!

The dissection room

The tour guide who informed me that photography wasnt normally allowed while on the tour- however then went on to say if she didnt see me taking photos then that was ok!

Inside each of these aluminium vats are filled with alcohol and hold the larger specimens that would not fit inside a jar- eg chimpanzees, komodo dragons and large mammals. Note the ceiling runners used to open and close the lids.

Mammals

Fish

A giant Squid- this was huge! See a news article here on where it came from.

Different squid tentacles- either discs or hooked depending on the species.

And finally some of the flesh eating beetles used to clean carcasses!

Australian Landscape @ The British Museum

Every year the British Museum turns one of its front lawns into a recreation of a landscape from a different country- this year it was Australia- and ties in with an exhibition within the museum and is made in collaboration with Kew Gardens. In the past few years they have done China, South Africa and India.

I first visited the garden back in early May- where we had had some blustery cold weather so the garden really wasnt looking its best- but upon a return visit in late August really showed the plants surviving remarkably well the temps of a pretty awful British summer!

The grass trees always hold a soft spot for me as I have one myself that lives in a friends garden while I am currently garden-less! and these 2 below looked beautiful. I have to say a couple looked very worse for wear- but Xanthorrhoea are notorious for coming into this country with no roots at all- and then slowly dying. Indeed my X.glauca arrived with only 2 roots! But slowly regrew over time- but i know of many others that simply dont survive. These 2 below are probably over a hundred years old- which i believe makes looking after them something of a responsibility. They are all imported with a liscence to show they have been taken legally from teh wild from where the land had to be cleared- and would have otherwise been destroyed. And also luckily for me have proven to be hardy - especially with the winters we have been having recently.

My lovely Blue Grass Tree (X. glauca)

Me at the South African Garden @ The British Museum last year

The Mayor of Scaredy Cat Town

I love cocktails, and I love secret London- so when i heard through the grape vine a new speakeasy bar had opened where to gain entrance you have to walk through a secret entrance in a fridge- i couldnt wait to try it out! In fact since then ive been back 3 times!

The bar is hidden in an American Diner near Spittalfields where you actually have to walk through the above fridge to get into the bar!

This underground speakeasy is a bit of fun and certainly a great place to take a date- it can be quiet early on in the evenings midweek but get there about 8 and its packed! I wouldnt spend the whole eve there but certainly worth stopping off to sample some well made cocktails!

So my advice is go and find the fridge and ask to see the Mayor....

Columbia Road

I dont think I had been to Columbia Road this summer at all! Which is highly unlike me!

I suppose not having a garden of my own has restricted me in my plant buying trips- but every so often it is nice to surround yourself with flowers! And i am always on the look out for must-have plants for the window sill- although getting much much better at saying no!

I do enjoy the buzz of the market- its always really busy- and packed full of plant mad people like me either looking for bargains, or unusual plants, to others just out to buy a bunch of flowers to take home, or occasionally mad people who try to take home a palm tree on the back of their bicycle!

When i used to have my tropical garden- I would often ask advice from the stall holders as to whether it would survive outside in London- and the answer was always YES! No matter what it was! I learned quickly you have to take everything they say with a pinch of salt!

This guy was sitting in the upstairs window of a shop embroidering something- I loved it! Even if it was a little creepy!

I came away with nothing- (which used to disappoint me)- but im glad my self restraint works sometimes! There was a short twisted stemmed olive that caught my eye- but that can wait until another time!

Loved seeing the Pearly Kings and Queens- the pearly costumes are designed to attract Eattention and make them instantly recognizable. Each group is associated with a church in central London and works to raise money for London based charities.

Summer in Soho

I recently heard about an agricultural show being held in Soho and went along to have a look.

It was being held in the Phoenix Garden which is a community garden found right in the heart of London theatre district behind the Phoenix theatre- and certainly not a place you would expect to find a garden! http://www.phoenixgarden.org/

It had stalls selling jams and vegetables, a tombola, a brass band, a punch and judy stand and lots of animals! Who would have thought you would find a Cow in the middle of Soho?!!

It was a very gentle day out- just like a typical British Fair should be like! But bizarre with it being so central to the capital!

I will blog more about the Phoenix Garden as its one of my favourite places to visit in London.