This week’s ABC Wednesday post comes to you from our local town park. We go there quite often because it’s a great place to walk dogs. It’s sheltered by the buildings and the trees, so that on a bleak and blustery day out here on the fens, we can go into town and have a much warmer and more peaceful walk on tarmac paths instead of mud. Also, the dogs get to see lots of activity and other dogs, which is good for them.
Our park, as you can see from the above picture, is a riot of colour in springtime. They really do it up very well, even though I personally prefer a less restrained planting style. This little corner has a sunken garden with raised beds, and even though the garden itself is rather regimented, at least the beds have no hard corners, but snake across the gravel like multicoloured ribbons.
There are other, more geometric beds too, of course. This one is nice and round, isn’t it?
But there are also many beds dug right into the grass, and most of those are rectangular. It was May last year when I took these pictures, and the sun was quite low. When it came out, it created some interesting lighting, but it made taking a picture rather difficult.
In this picture, apart from the rectangular beds, you can see a bench where you can rest awhile and enjoy the view. It’s just a pity that they’ve placed it so that your back would be to the flowers. If only they’d rotated it 180 degrees, huh? At least the rubbish bin is in the right place!
And what would a town park be without railings?
You can see some in the background of that picture of the round, raised bed, just catching a ray of sunlight along the top. Those are the railings which define the park. They run all around the outside edge between the grass and the road, and they are painted black. But around the children’s play area, it’s a different story.
See? Aren’t they wonderful? Some rogue in the town council has required them to be rendered in rainbow hues! And I’m sure the children appreciate them.
On the southern edge of the park is something quite rare. It is a stone archway with a wrought iron gate, and decorative pillars which remind me of the illustrations in the old Rupert Bear books, and it was relocated here when it was no longer needed at the railway. It’s a pretty thing, though doomed always to exist in deep shade. Actually, I think it rather suits it!
Now, what’s missing?
Oh, I know! What did I say right at the beginning? We walk our dogs here! And one of our dogs was the beautiful Princess, whose real name was Renie. Here she is tangling OH up around a tree – or is she tangling herself? Sooo, either she wasn’t the brightest bulb in the box, or she was smarter than the average, and being very lazy by nature, had learned that she simply had to wait in order to be rescued.
Why should a Princess be required to do the walking? Isn’t that what human servants were for?  You see, that’s the thing about retired racing greyhounds. They are used to having servants!
Marvelous collection of R words, gorgeous flowers and colors! Great post for the day! And you photos are terrific!
Enjoy!
Sylvia
Sylvia Kirkwood´s last blog ..ABC Wednesday — R!
Beautiful photos Jay. Bright colorful flowers to brighten up my otherwise dreay fall day. And of course seeing your Princess is always a treat too.
Very creative posting, – and a lovely park. I am impressed with the Rainbow Railings.
Hildred and Charles´s last blog ..
Really enjoyed this! Love the flower beds and the bit of humour at the end.
That first image made my mouth drop open in awe. And, as I scrolled down, it pretty much stayed that way.
Awesome!
Molokai Girl´s last blog ..Roll Out Those R’s!!
What a treat to see all those cheery Spring flowers on this blustery, dark morning. I enjoyed my walk with you – thank you!
jabblog uk´s last blog ..ABC Wednesday Round 3 R is for . . .
Marvelous collection of 4 words, love the riot of colors!
Jama´s last blog ..EMPS # 64 – TRAINS
I love this creative post with all the R’s. The riot of color and your precious pup.
photowannabe´s last blog ..ABC WEDNESDAY LETTER " R "
Sylvia Kirkwood – Thank you! I’m glad you enjoyed the photos.
Sistertex – She was such a gorgeous dog. So pretty and dainty – and I thought she got prettier as she aged, with that grey face.
Hildred and Charles – I love those railings! They always brighten my walk up for me.
Leslie – Thanks! I can’t help myself with the humour, you know. Although Renie is gone now and I miss her so much, it’s still good to remember how she made me laugh sometimes.
Molokai Girl – How kind you are! Thank you! I enjoyed taking the pictures – I can still smell the scent of all those hyacinths. I hope they planted them again this year.
Jabblog UK – I enjoyed seeing them, too. It’s good to be reminded that spring will come around again, isn’t it?
Jama and Photowannabe – Thank you!
Enjoyed the post. Most of the town parks in the UK are great places to chill out.
Anthony North´s last blog ..RELIGION
Oh hyacinths. I remember my mother cultivating bulbs in the cupboard under the stair so that she could plant them out in Spring, they always seemed quintessentially English. Lovely park. And LOL at the tangly man! Happens to me all the time!
Baino´s last blog ..Sanctimonious and Shameful
I needed those colours, especially on this very windy, rainy and icky day! Thank you
Mara´s last blog ..R is for…
You are soo clever to find so many R words! The park is very beautiful! Thanks for sharing! Also for visiting! Yea, it was very boring in the concentration camp without books. We had to give them to the Japs, but I tore them apart. I didn’t want them to enjoy the beautiful illustrations in many of my books. (I was nine years old then)
Reader Wil´s last blog ..that’s My World, ABC Wednesday, R of Reading.
Beautiful colors and what a great place to able to walk the dogs. I agree, though, I prefer a less formal garden. Hmmm, I thought I was the only one who got tangled up in a dog leash:)
Rose´s last blog ..ABC Wednesday: Raining Leaves
Breaking news:
http://www.people.com/people/package/article/0,,20315920_20320494,00.html
Maureen´s last blog ..Rush Rush Rush
Anthony North – Indeed they are! Little oases in the concrete jungle.
Baino – Mmm. I love hyacinths. Mum used to force them in a dark cupboard, too, but I bought a ready forced pot this year. They’re going to be pink, and they’re sitting on the (cool) windowsill in my lilac and green room, so it will be very springlike in there. Do you think a yellow tablecloth would be OTT? LOL!
Mara – Thanks! Yes the colours are very cheering, aren’t they?
Reader Wil – Nine years old! It must have been so traumatic for you. Do you feel it made you stronger, or was an episode you merely ‘got through’?
Rose – No, you’re not the only one. I think nearly everyone does!
Maureen – I just read that on my Depp site! And I thought, ‘well, of COURSE he is!’ LOL! Thanks for the link though, I hadn’t seen a picture yet. The high res ones take a while to filter through. Looks great, doesn’t he?
The photos are so beautiful and your dog is precious. Thanks, too, for your positive comments on my blog!
I haven’t thought of the Rupert Bear books in years – will have to reacquaint.
Amy´s last blog ..ABC Wednesday – R is for Rock
The scents and colors are magnifique, Jay! Ethereal! Thank you for the wonderful excursion! And sharing Princess was a beautiful surprise!
Hope you’re having a wonderful day!
)
petra michelle´s last blog ..Comedian Rick Miller performs Bohemian Rhapsody imitating 25 most annoying? musicians!
Lovely park, and I can just smell those hyacinths. The rainbow railings are great.
Dragonstar´s last blog ..Abc Wednesday – R for Reclining Dragon.
I love parks, they are all so different, and yet share those wonderfully bright planting arrangements you would never get away with in a garden. What a lot of care and attention it takes growing those gorgeous plants. The rainbow railings are a genius idea, now where are my paint pots.
Joy´s last blog ..ABC Wednesday – Rusland
I’m sure you’re already ga-ga over this:
http://omg.yahoo.com/news/johnny-depp-wins-his-2nd-sexiest-man-alive-title/31404?nc
Mr. Nighttime´s last blog ..The Parting Glass
Lovely photographs Jay – a feast for the eyes!
Rosy and riotous! Looks so spring, a bright spot on this gray day. Oh, I see someone else told you of Depp’s award. I thought of you instantly this morning when I heard about it.
Nice spot of spring to counteract the approach of winter.
Beautiful flower beds in various “r” shapes! I like the rainbow hued railings, too.
Janie of Utah´s last blog ..Redneck Repairs
And I was oohing and ahhing over the beautiful flowers and panting over there beauty and suddenly there was that beautiful Greyhound…I’m in love.
Sandi
ps
Greyhound racing in Wisconsin will be over as I read in an e-mail earlier today!
sandi mcbride´s last blog ..The Thanksgiving Challenge Post 18: The Cats have their Say
Amy – Thank you! We lost the Princess just after last Christmas, very sadly, but she was a gorgeous dog and so wonderful with the people she visited as a therapy dog.
I haven’t looked at a Rupert book for years, either, but something about that arch always reminds me of them.
Petra – Thanks, Petra. I like to bring one of the dogs into my posts now and again. Just because they’re gone, I won’t be forgetting them any time soon.
Dragonstar – I knew everyone would love those railings!
Joy – My feelings exactly. I love the bright planting in parks, but I would never do the same here. My favourite bed is planted with soft pink peony tulips, and deep purple/red double tulips. I much prefer the subtle mixtures!
MrN – Thanks for the link, but yep, already done the drooling over that one! LOL!
Geri – Thanks!
Tumblewords – Yes, indeed. I get to hear about these things pretty quickly! No doubt one of my US friends will send me a copy of People magazine, too!
Janie – Thanks – I must say I’m looking forward to the spring bulbs already! I have a ton planted in my own garden.
Sandi – She was beautiful, wasn’t she? My Princess, supermodel thin always, gentle, loving, and sweet. I miss her!
Yes, the Dairlyland track is due to close and the greyhound rescues are in a panic as always, trying desperately to save all the dogs who will be out of a job. Estimates vary, but it seems it could be anything between 500 and 900 dogs will hit the adoption groups all at once, in a bad economic climate and just after Christmas. And of course, there are people losing their jobs too.
Whether you are for or against dog racing, it’s going to be a bad time.
Thanks so much Jay for that comment thread…I know now what I intend to do. I’ll be signing up to adopt one or two of the Greys as I know we would give them a great home…we can afford their heartworm preventatives and medical checkups…and it’s something I’ve always longed to do. I haven’t even mentioned this to Mac, but I have no doubt that he will be on board for it…I married the most wonderful man in the world…sorry for everyone else that they got leftovers!
hugs
Sandi
sandi mcbride´s last blog ..The Thanksgiving Challenge Post 18: The Cats have their Say
Sandi – Oh, how wonderful of you! I’ve emailed you with some info. You can have a read of Greytalk (it’s in my sidebar) and do some research, then … I can only wish you good luck!! Thank you so much!
Tell Mac he’s an absolute gem.
great place, I came to comment to say that when Johnny Depp won the sexiest man award, I thought of you.
I especially loved the rounding on the colorful fence – reminds me of a child’s toy – and the round flower area.
Roger Green´s last blog ..Politicking
How lovely to see Princess again – I still think about that day she was so sweet!
I love those railings Jay – how brilliant are they???
the flowers are lovely too of course – but the railings take the prize!!!
Kate´s last blog ..Mavis and The Slow Cooker