Don’t seem able to walk by a foxglove at the moment without attempting a photograph. Here’s a selection of those flourishing at St John’s and at home. ‘Excelsior Hybrids’ in the first image, combining beautifully and fortuitously with some self-seeding Hesperis.
#foxgloves
#foxglovesofinstagram
#digitalis
#flowerphotography
#flowerpower
Harking back to the longest day.
#thisisjohns
#stjohnscollege
#bridgeofsighs
#cambridgecolleges
#cambridgecollegegardens
#universityofcambridge
#summerflowers
A few snapshots from a varied week in the gardens @stjohnscam , beginning and ending with yellow bearded iris. ‘Benton Apollo’ flowering beside the Bridge of Sighs and ‘Ola Kala’ in the Scholars’ Garden.
“What’s vegetable shingle Dad?” I was asked by my youngest last weekend whilst walking on the Suffolk coast. “Not vegetable”, I answered, “it’s VEGETATED” and went on to explain in far too much length about the importance of it as a habitat. And how many of the plants we came across are my all-time favourites, which probably stems from all the childhood outings I was fortunate to enjoy to the beaches at Felixstowe and Aldeburgh. Put simply, anything with ‘Sea’ in its name is a favourite, like the Sea Campion and Sea Kale photographed in full flower in front of the power stations at Sizewell. Curiously far more flower that just down the coast at Aldeburgh, which had me wondering if that was anything to do with nuclear power? Many of these plants are edible of course, so “Vegetable shingle” wasn’t too much of a misnomer.
We have just finished laying out the final spring planting at @stjohnscam following completion of our proposals for decanalisation of Bin Brook, the stream that runs through the Backs of several Cambridge colleges.
Unlocking this section of the watercourse by removing the concrete retaining walls gave us the opportunity to create a renewed natural riverine environment, comprising woodland edge and meadow to waterside plantings using British indigenous species. Providing habitat for local fauna, including water birds, water voles and otters, there are also a number of dwell spaces for students and staff. The scheme includes the design of a new bridge across Bin Brook to improve site accessibility.
A new garden with plants selected for their resilience to the drier conditions that have become more prevalent in this part of the country, offers a wider range of plants to strengthen future biodiversity.
Thank you to Master of St. John’s @heather_j_hancock for commissioning us and getting stuck into the planting and to Head Gardener @david_austrin and his team and @stewartlandscape for all of their hard work to realise the scheme. We are looking forward to seeing it evolve.
Recently received some great news in the gardening team @stjohnscam … our horticultural apprentice @cleyfernandes2024 successfully completed his studies - taught by @keitstrainingservices and @goodlifegardening2004 - and achieved a ‘distinction’ in his final assessment. Been feeling a little guilty of late for posting too many photos of the gardens at college and not enough of the gardeners that make them. Well Cley has made himself a key part of that team and we’re all incredibly proud of his efforts. I am confident he’s going to enjoy a long and rewarding career in this industry.
A little bit of blossom watching - and watching people watching blossom - from across college and the city this week, beginning and ending with the Yoshino Cherry out front.
#blossomwatch
#cherryblossoms
#cherryblossomseason
#hanami
Narcissus ‘Jenny’ photographed flowering in the Scholars’ Garden at St John’s. One of my favourite daffodils. Partly because of its name, which also happens to be my sister’s, but I love how the colour of the corona changes over time, starting off yellow then becoming creamier.
Know I’ve missed World Book Day by a few days (always have been a slow reader) but wanted to share my love for a book I’ve just read, ‘Constable’s Year, An Artist In Changing Seasons’, by @susanxowens . About the Suffolk-born artist John Constable. Born 200 years before me, in the village of East Bergholt (where I attended secondary school), I’ve been fascinated by Constable since I was a boy, and the landscape of the River Stour and the Dedham Vale that was the inspiration for much of his art. Susan vividly brings Constable and his career to life. And taught me a new word. Have you ever heard of a “runover dungle”? A local word for a gigantic mound of manure at the edge of a field. Wonder if it’s still in use? I love it, and I’m photographed with the book in front of the College’s own dungle, more compost than manure, but we do like to add some to the heap when we can get hold of it.
#dungle
#runoverdungle
#constablesyear
#susanowens
#worldbookday
