2020 has been a strange year for shopkeepers. In March all nonessential stores had to close in England. Although most stores were allowed to reopen in July footfall is still down in the shopping centres and malls. Customers are worried about their jobs, many have been put on furlough or on reduced hours. Others prefer to shop on line rather than risk catching covid or wearing a mask. Continue reading “Autumn in Cabot Circus Bristol #thursday doors”
Category: Bristol
Riverside Cottage Hanham #Thursday doors
We have had an Indian summer, warm weather in September and our gardens are still looking colourful. As most indoor activities are cancelled due to covid 19 we have been exploring the local area.
Hawthorn and the story of the May wishing tree #ffotd#ff17
This is my first flower of the day post for May so what could be more suitable than May blossom. In late April and early May hedgerows and fields in England are filled with the delicate white flowers of hawthorn. The hawthorn (crataegus) is a native tree associated with celtic folklore and especially with May day and the start of summer. Continue reading “Hawthorn and the story of the May wishing tree #ffotd#ff17”
Apple blossom #fotd#ff14
Apple blossom in my garden. A welcome promise of Autumn pies.
Gorse FOTD
I have chosen gorse as my flower of the day after reading that children used to use the flowers to make a dye to decorate Easter eggs in the past. In England scrub land is alive with the bright yellow gorse flowers. It is an evergreen shrub and the sharp needle like leaves make it difficult for animals to eat.
Here it is going to be a very strange Easter with the churches shut and friends and family unable to visit.
I would like to wish you a happy Easter where ever you are.
Foraging for wild garlic
Here in Britain the country is going into full panic mode with the corona virus scare. When I went to the supermarket this morning I noticed a lot of empty shelves. So it is good to know that many of the plants in our woodlands are edible and can be very tasty. A couple of weeks ago I went on a plant foraging walk in our local nature reserve and the leader Steve England introduced us to several plants that were safe to eat or had other uses such as making string or home remedies. Wild garlic is particularly easy to distinguish because of its distinctive pungent smell.
Bristol Street art for Thursday doors
Bristol is famous for its street art. It is after all the home of Banksy. Over the last few years the buildings, underpasses, bridges, buildings and street furniture of inner Bristol have been turned into an art gallery. Continue reading “Bristol Street art for Thursday doors”
Christmas 2019 in Bristol
There are lots of reasons to visit Bristol this Christmas. The German market in Broadmead is bigger and livelier than usual. You can enjoy a Stein of Lager in the beer garden or try curling on the artificial ice rink. The galleries shopping centre are decorated with candy canes and lollipops and Cabot circus is hosting Santa’s Grotto.
