Jigsaws

Some years ago we were able to offer for sale jigsaws depicting a Holland Park peacock in full display. These are now available again and we have added a beautiful new jigsaw of the Kyoto Garden. Both are high-quality, finely-cut wooden puzzles of approximately 250 pieces measuring 360mm x 250mm. Made for us by Wentworth Puzzles, they contain unique “whimsy” pieces shaped to reflect the image theme, and will happily challenge you for hours. They are packaged in a smart shrink-wrapped box with the puzzle’s picture on the lid – ideal for presents.

Please order them on the order form, which can be downloaded.

Trees of Two Continents by Dr Prabha Patwardhan

Dr Patwardhan is a medical doctor by training and a Homoeopath by conviction, whose concentration on natural remedies reinforced her interest in plants acquired from her father-in-law. Now retired, she divides her time between her home in Pune, India, and long visits to family in Melbourne and Oakwood Court, W14. While abroad, she started to observe trees and shrubs which grew in the streets and parks near her. The idea came that she would like to produce a book that would be suitable for family and friends who were not necessarily botanically aware, thus passing on her love of plants to the next generation.

The result is a fascinating study of what actually grows in and around Holland Park and the suburb of Murrumbeena, in Melbourne.  In addition to the main list, walks round Holland Park are given so that readers may know what to expect border by border.  There are also brief excursions into Kensington Gardens, Hyde Park and Kew Gardens.  For simplicity, emphasis is on the common names of plants but scientific names have also been added and many plants have been illustrated with the author’s own photographs to make identification easy. Dr Patwardhan visited at different seasons and this is reflected in photographs taken at different times of the year, with an unusually strong collection of autumn fruits as well as earlier flowers.

Those who know Holland Park might think that only half of the book could be relevant to them. Intriguingly, this is not the case because many of the species are common to both and Dr Patwardhan’s wider knowledge of Indian plants also contributes.

I commend this book to all as an easy way into the study of plants which can be an absorbing pastime. Please ask for your copy on the enclosed order form; the Friends make a  profit of £4.00 on every copy sold.                [Spring 2010]

Rhoddy Wood

The Spirit of Holland Park

Members who were at the Art Exhibition will recognise our newsletter front cover as being a reproduction of the winner in this category.  Now the artist, Wendy Mackenzie, has made a few prints of this so you can have your very own copy.  They have a cream mount and are unframed, measuring  33 x 40 cm .including the mount.  Do use the Order form to obtain yours.  They cost only £45 and Wendy is donating one third of this to the Friends.  Please do support Wendy and us and give yourself a lasting memento of your favourite park. [Summer 2009]