Spring? More like Summer in London!

We have had the longest winter ever! And this is one of the coldest spring I can remember since I moved to London 18 years ago. April started out bitterly cold this year, and there was little sign the cold will be relenting until about a couple of weeks ago. Not that we didn’t get our spells of brilliant sunshine, we sure did. But even when the sun was out, it still was a bit chilly. Obviously it hasn’t fooled the trees. Wisterias were in full bloom this time last year; today the buds are just barely starting to bulge and it might take two to three weeks before they are in full bloom.

Yesterday was the warmest day so far (temperature soared up to 84°), which is unusual for April. We normally get to mid-high 80s around June. So yesterday was like a real bright and warm summer day . . . and boy did it feel nice! While having lunch with a visiting friend from Manila yesterday, she told me how lovely the weather in London was, and how cold it was in Copenhagen. I said to her, “Well, London actually skipped spring and went straight into summer, but rather briefly, only for a day!” 😂

Anyhow, we’ve waited a long time for this, so we are enjoying it. Jared and I have been taking long walks at the park, usually late in the afternoon, and yes, we’ve been snapping photos of the trees and blossoms. 🙂 It’s been a lovely end of a long week for a wander through the blossoms.

Spring18-elsphotos30
There’s a wonderland feel to the summer, or rather spring, colours. I run through this path in the morning and yesterday I simply had to stop for a moment to take some photos while there’s no photo bomber in sight. 🙂 
Spring18-elsphotos13
Earlier today I noticed this old phone box in front of a garden and a Filipino-looking lady was cleaning the front yard so I asked her about it. She happened to be a Filipino indeed, and from Samar as well, and we got into a nice chat, in Waray of course. 🙂 We exchanged mobile numbers and agreed to meet up next week. She was very kind in inviting me to get inside the gate to take a photo. 🙂

Spring18-elsphotos12The grass is lush, green and vibrant. 

Spring18-elsphotos19Mallus Floribunda, also known as Japanese flowering crabapple, is a stunning tiny fuschia pink flowers and one of my favourite blossoms.

Spring18-elsphotos11
There’s six cherry blossom trees behind Albert Memorial and it’s the favourite picnic ground of the Japanese expats (I call them ‘The Nihonjin Notting Hill set’) and I often see 4-5 Japanese families on weekends eating and chatting away under the trees. It probably reminds them of ‘hanami’ back in their homeland. Taken early in the morning yesterday so it was very quiet.
Spring18-elsphotos10
Catkins, just like Daffodils, are regarded as a welcome sign of spring.

I am relishing the comfort of the summer weather, albeit rather briefly.😂  Next week we’re back to reality with temperatures dropping from mid-70° to about 59-62°, and who knows, may be we’ll get more grey and wet days before summer finally arrives.😂

Enjoy your weekend, dear family and friends. I’ll leave you with this scripture: “For, lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone; The flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of birds is come, and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land; the fig tree putteth forth her green figs, and the vines with the tender grape give a good smell.” (Song of Solomon 2:11-13, King James Version)

Note: This post from last year SPRING BLOOMS IN NOTTING HILL has some of my favourite wisteria display in our neighbourhood. You’ll see how beautiful the wisterias are when they’re in full bloom.

by Elna Categories: Uncategorized