Spring Blooms in Notting Hill
Other than seeing blossoms, there are other things I am so thankful for when spring arrives in London. For one thing, the sun finally makes an appearance; I get to wear my spring jackets and put away my winter coats! Consequently, I get to feel the warmth of the sun on my skin and get Vitamin D from sunlight. The days are also longer with temperatures rising; the trees begin to burst back to life, and the flowers are blooming making the parks and the streets look a little bit more magical.
I am not a photographer (I only use my iPhone, can’t use a proper camera for the life of me but I need to learn haha!), but I try to capture some of the most scenic views in the neighbourhood as the first springtime days show Notting Hill’s greenery and blossoms in all of its glory.
There are magnolias, cherry blossoms, and other trees that line the streets standing tall and swaying outside tall Victorian and Georgian townhouses, and fragrant wisterias adding colour to the roadsides. Anywhere you turn to, gorgeous blooms abound!
Londoners, and visitors alike, don’t even have to wait for the Chelsea Flower Show next month to enjoy some of the most beautiful flora and fauna. They simply need to step outside of their doorstep or go to any of the royal parks and see all the beautiful blooms.
The neighbourhood becomes ‘wisteria-land’ for a few weeks.
There’s a street where practically every house has lilac wisteria covering most of the facade.
Most of the terraced houses have candy coloured doors that complement with the stunning blossoms.
The glorious, colourful display of pink sakura (cherry blossoms) and purple wisteria is ‘Instagram-worthy.’
Some days the sun hardly ever appears and it’s rather gloomy as the photo above shows. But then again, that’s London for you! 🙂
Although I often complain about the dismal weather, I don’t allow it to dampen my enthusiasm to get out, walk around and enjoy the beautiful blooms.
Yesterday as I was taking photographs, a lady in her mid-50s who was out sitting in her well-tended garden saw me; she called her housekeeper to open the gate and invited me in. The helper came out and surprisingly she’s a Filipino. I had a little chat with her and her boss, they both offered me a cup of tea but I was in a rush and politely declined to join them for tea. Told them I’d come over for tea one day when it’s sunny and we all can sit down in the garden to have a cuppa. 🙂 It is such a nice gesture and quite unusual here. I mean, it doesn’t happen everyday in this side of town, or anywhere in London, I must say. Notting Hill is a wealthy neighbourhood; majority of the residents are very snooty and wouldn’t give the time of their day to even say hi to anyone, much less entertain a stranger taking photos of their house.
Notting Hill has a lot of houses with wisteria.
At Portobello alone you’ll find loads of row houses covered in wisteria.
It really is a sight to behold!
If you happen to be in London this time of the year, it’s well worth a wander through to see Notting Hill in full bloom.
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