Library Visits and Walk

A walk in the local park to the library to collect the books that I've ordered on line has been a lifeline this year especially during the continuing restrictions and difficulty of going further afield.  Although it's a familiar walk there's always something new to see as the season changes from Autumn to Winter.

It's also worth a stroll through the walled garden, if it's open, as the staff work there during the times when it's closed to the public. New plantings such as the cyclamen (below) are added and maintenance goes on all the time.

The dahlias were a treat to see in recent months, but I was also surprised to see the pussy willow bush in bud as it's usually out in the Springtime.

The banana plant had been taken out of its pot and no doubt wrapped up and stored away for the Winter.

When the restrictions were eased before the second wave lockdown it was possible for two or three friends to sit together in the rose garden so long as they were maintaining the social distance guidance rule.  However, it was disappointing that our library group meeting in the walled garden for September had to be cancelled because there are more than six members in our group.  Now a zoom meeting has been arranged by the librarian who leads the meetings for this month instead. I was pleased to learn from an email that books that I had reserved online before the first lockdown in March have now been released and as I've got to the top of the queue for some I've been able to collect some newer publications instead of the random five books that the librarian chooses from the quarantined stock.

A walk in the woodland garden, which is just beyond the walled garden and always open to the public,

revealed more interesting changes.  In the stumpery and by the pond there were more woodland plants and a new planting of a pink cyclamen.

The ornamental heron that usually sits in the walled garden had been placed by the pond.

Do you remember the artwork that the children from the local primary school had displayed last year?

This year more colourful artwork has been attached to the woodland garden fence. I like the creativity of the patterns and I'm pleased to know that the children often visit the woodland garden and use the park resource for exercise and learning.

Recently I've been reading some of my own collection of books set in Venice such as

The Venetian Game written by Philip Gwynne Jones - the plot centres around a mysterious package left at the British Consulate.  Inside is an antique prayer book illustrated by a Venetian Art Master.  Is it genuine or a fake? 

At the moment I'm engrossed in Donna Leon's recent publication on loan from the library. I like the fact that Trace Elements appears to be up-to-date with what is going on in Venice and reflects the politics and thought-provoking areas of criminal activity in the city as well as the development of the relationship between Commissario Brunetti, the police officers, the secretary in the Questura, his associates in the city and also, more importantly, his own family.  When you already know the characters of a series I find that there are familiar aspects as well as a new plot and for me that makes a novel more enjoyable.  The print is quite large so easier for me to read without getting eye strain.

As always, thank you for your visit.  Have a good day!