From May 13^th garden centres in the UK have reopened to the public. (“O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!”)

Garden centres had been shut down since March 24^th.That’s how late the lockdown was inaugurated in the UK: Italy’s began on 8^th March over two weeks before! Meanwhile, Wuhan, where it all started, came out of lockdown on April 8^th just over two weeks after the UK entered its own lockdown.

Garden centres reopened in Italy on May 2^nd; it’s not surprising, therefore, that these essential delights for the green and not so green fingered UK public have followed so soon after.

We decided to visit our nearest garden centre which is Birchen Grove, next to the Welsh Harp reservoir, (described in my post at https://longoio3.com/2019/10/23/i-laghi-di-londra/)

Birchen Grove is one of greater London’s largest garden centres and is placed in idyllic woodland surroundings making it appear that one is in the middle of the countryside although, in fact, Brent Cross shopping centre is just a few minutes away.

The method of entry into Birchen Grove was very civilized with the usual socially distancing queues. We didn’t have to wait more than a quarter of a hour before we were immersed into the panoplies of indoor and outdoor plants, shrubs, trees, garden furniture and tools. The flowers were in particularly good shape after all the hype that they were suffering and would have to be thrown onto the compost heap.

For me, however, the highlight was the fish section. Tanks upon tanks of often minute tropical fish were laid out in long rows.

There were examples of the pig-nosed turtle native to Northern Australia and New Guinea In the larger tanks. These were not, however, for sale for a notice advised the public that they required very specialized conditions and knowledge for their rearing and survival.

The largest tank was actually an indoor pond teeming with koi carp. Nearby was a food dispenser for one to feed the amazingly large and beautifully coloured fish.

These koi are particularly loved by the Japanese who recognize several distinct types. Indeed, the word ‘koi’ in their language means love and friendship so these fish are symbols of deep affection.

On our way back we came across further examples of the off-beat houses designed by Ernest Trobridge in the first half of the last century and to be found in this area of North West London.

They made an interesting contrast to the standard semis which otherwise line Kingsbury’s residential streets:

All in all it was a satisfactory enjoyable excursion in a London which, sadly, still remains the centre of the worst pandemic in any European country.