RHS Wisley . . . Summertime

[  Photo Gallery # 103  ]

The Royal Horticultural Society’s garden at Wisley in the English county of Surrey, south of London, is one of four gardens run by the Society.  It may be unseasonal, but my Photo Gallery today takes me back to a visit there in Summertime ten years ago.  Following last week’s photographs of Spring in these gardens I give below some of my photographs taken 4 months later.

Oslo, NORWAY

[ Photo Gallery # 83 }

OSLO, the capital of Norway, is a beautiful city.  I published a previous blog – ‘Oslo Statuary’  (q.v.) in November of 2016 in which I sang the praises of this fine city and displayed photographs of a few of the many statues dotted around the harbour and the city centre.

I am including below more photographs taken in and around the city during my visit there in 2004.

My first photograph, to set the Scandinavian theme, is of a troll, well possibly a gnome – not sure I can tell the difference. Trolls can be found everywhere and anywhere in Norway.  They are deeply woven into Norwegian culture, and, when in Oslo,  you don’t have to go far to find them.  They can be found in great numbers in every tourist shop – miniatures, books, calendars, t-shirts and other fabric designs dedicated to these fantasy beings.   It is apparent that Trolls come in all shapes and sizes; immense mountain trolls; moss covered forest trolls; terrifying three headed trolls and mischievous, gnome-like trolls.  Many shops have a troll statue standing by the entrance and are regularly incorporated in selfies.

 

A shop-front Troll ready for a skiing session

The sea approach to Oslo is by way of  the Inner Oslo Fjord

Akerhus Fortress or Castle stands beside the main harbour.  It is a medieval castle that was built to protect Oslo from invasion. It has also been used as a royal residential palace and as a prison.

Looking from the Korketrekkeren towards the sea approach to Oslo along the Inner Oslo Fjord

This is ski jumping hill Holmenkollen.  Close by is the Korketrekkeren, a former bobsleigh and luge track in Oslo.  It is operated as a public venue by the municipality.  It is possible to rent out sleds and try your hand at the skislopes, just a short distance outside the city .

I certainly wouldn’t dare!

. . . although he obviously would – and did!

King Olaf V of Norway, 1957-1991, and his dog Troll. This monument is placed near ski jumping hill at Holmenkollen.  The monument is called “Skiglede” or “Love Skiing”

Street artists plying their trade in the city centre

Street puppeteer (Reminds me of the one at Whitby I included in my photographs a few weeks ago).

One of Oslo’s many city centre living statue performers

Not another living statue this time – just one of the many harbour-side statues. 

Another of the many harbour-side statues – this one, somewhat like Atlas, balances a cruise ship on what remains of its head.

Zakinthos

[ Photo Blog  #68 ]

Zakynthos, or Zante,  is a Greek island in the Mediterranean’s southern Ionian Sea. The island’s capital is the coastal city, which is itself called Zakynthos.  It is centred around the waterfront area of Solomos Square.  I visited the island in 2006 and include below some of the photographs of the island and its capital which I took at that time.

Approaching Zakinthos from the sea

Rainbow over the island

Rainbow

Cypress trees in the wooded hills above the island’s capital

One of the island’s many tourist beaches

Harbour side – Fish fresh from the sea

Colourful fishing nets

A Bougainvillea-clad house in Solomos Square 

Bronze bust of a Greek Orthodox bishop outside the Church of St Agios Dionysios, Zakynthos

Statue of Liberty on Solomos square in Zakynthos city 

Close-up of ‘Liberty’

Jason’s long-lost and battered Argo perhaps !?

Zante’s turquoise sea

P&O ‘Arcadia’ at Zakinthos

 

The Sculpture Park

I attach below just a sample of some of the sculptures on view in this delightful hidden setting in England’s Surrey Hills.  In fact, my photographs were taken about ten years ago and since that time there have been considerable changes to both the venue and the artwork on display.  The setting is very atmospheric.  It lies in a steep-sided valley covered in trees and vegetation and dotted with pools, water gardens and water features.  Just wandering around the many pathways there is a delight, with unexpected positioning of sculptures popping  up at every turn of the many rambling paths to surprise and to appreciate.  Many well–known sculptors display their work there, all  in the open air often half-hidden amongst the undergrowth and bracken.  There are something like 800 exhibits scattered throughout this ten acre site amidst the many trees, lakes, and the natural wildlife of the area. In fair or in inclement weather a visit there is a guaranteed delight,

More can be discovered by visiting the park’s website at:

   The Sculpture Park, Churt, Farnham, Surrey

Click on any of the photographs above to view the sculpture in a larger format and to start a slide-show of them all.

DALI IN LONDON

DALI  IN  LONDON

I saw on the London South Bank
This statue and to be quite frank,
I thought it bizarre,
Something from a bazaar;
Surely this is the work of a crank?

I was told I had Dali to thank
Surely a bit of a prank?
This mammoth in metal
My sight did unsettle –
Where taste goes I’m thick as a plank.

However that soon was outdone
By a dripping watch out in the sun;
Called ‘Nobility Of Time’,
Which hardly did chime
With Big Ben, England’s favourite son.

But then on this old riverbank
Another sight this did outflank,
A torso was carved
In two it was halved.
From exploring further I shrank.

Now I know you’re a self-publicist
And your paintings I love them to bits.
Senor  Dali, please choose;
You’ve nothing to lose
If you want to stay off my blacklist.

#     #     #

Photographs, apart from the top one of Dali himself, and the one of the clock, were taken by me in 2002.  The Exhibition of Dali’s work, previously housed in the old London County Hall, is now closed and the exhibits, one of the most extensive collections of Dali’s work in different media, are currently, I understand, awaiting a new venue.