Another lovely cycle to the Olympic Park today, to actually sit outside at a restaurant and eat some food outside with friends. The cycle is so easy these days partly due to the low emissions zones and the new cycle lanes. It’s still so surprising that all this is on our doorstep though.
Thinking back to 2021 when it all opened for the Olympics, it’s interesting to see how things have grown nearly 10 years on. The banks of the river look so lush now and all the trees have grown within their Olympic rings. There’s still lots of building going on but these promise arts venues, museums, music studios and gig venues. Can’t wait to see some live music and for our kids to benefit from all this local culture.
On the way home, we cycled past what seems to be this week’s most eye catching nature detail – a clump of honesty by the new cycle lane on Capel Road. The petals are an almost perfect mid pink and promise silvery delights of their own in the form of the moon like seed pods that will follow in the late summer and autumn. Love the way that this plant has been named for these captivating discs: Lunaria annua – the annual moon.
I’ve tried to grow it in my garden before and it’s never taken so might try and get hold of some seeds or plug plants now and get some in the woodland area. The green cased pods would look amazing peeking through the clumps of Hakonechloa macra, which are bursting through in glorious verdant green now, and I love using them for wreaths and Christmas arrangements.
It’s also another beautifully sunny day so going to put on that barbecue and enjoy all that’s left of Friday night in this lovely garden of ours. Such a work in progress last year. Such a haven of peace now.