A little bit of China in our backyard

 

When we bought our magnolia tree, it was small, possibly two feet tall, and covered with green leaves and completely devoid of flowers. The first spring was a surprise. The blossoms were more purple than pink and the petals were long and thin. This was not the usual magnolia tree so common on London lawns.

A little digging and we discovered that we had planted a Magnolia liliiflora or lily magnolia as it is commonly known. Originally it was native to eastern China but today is rarely, if ever, found growing wild. The tree has been domesticated and is now found growing around the globe.

The pink tulip magnolia that we thought we had bought is also originally from China but the flowers are larger with a rounder appearance. The colour is usually more towards the pink end of the spectrum.

Nearby apartment towers have not brought shoppers

 

East London has been in trouble for decades. At one point, Dundas Street running through business section was ripped up and replaced with a curved section of road surfaced with paving stones. This unique roadway was supposed to ignite renewed interest in the area. It didn't.

Family businesses that had operated successfully for years were closing regularly and the empty stores remained empty. Blaming the curved street for the collapse, the failure to attract new businesses became the go-to-reason for the derelict district.

The curved road was straightened. The paving stones were lifted and removed. The straight road was made cyclist friendly and to encourage parking cutouts were created. No shoppers appeared. The neighbourhood residential density was said to be too low to support a business district. High-rise apartment building were encouraged and today the old East London shopping area is in the shadow of a number of high-rises.

The street is quieter today than it has ever been. More stores are empty and boarded up than at anytime in the past. The parking cutouts sit empty most of the day and the only thing one can say with assurance about the residents in the high-rise apartments is that they do not frequent the old East London core.

COVID took down the St. Regis

 

The exact date when the building housing the St. Regis Hotel and Tavern was built is unknown. What is known is the building has been a combination hotel and tavern since 1883. The present name, St. Regis, goes back 91 years to 1931.

Sadly, a business that survived the Great Depression could not beat COVID. The St. Regis closed two years ago in mid March 2020. From the looks of it today, it seems rather doubtful that it will ever reopen.

Whimsical planters for the home

 

When I was a boy, planters for the home were often quite plain, simple fired red clay, or outrageously fancy—decorated with scenes of Jason seeking the golden fleece. Today, many planters are a source of whimsey. The planters at our local garden centre encourage smiles and not discussions of the Greek classics.

Unicorn topiary

 

Garden centres need more than just a good selection of plants to attract customers. Featuring something to delight the children is always a good way to get the kids in the family on side. The unicorn tapiary at the entrance to the garden centre in the northwest part of London does an admirable job of pleasing the children and most everyone else for that matter.

It's not art.

It's called metal garden art but it isn't art. It is craft. And this is the time these durable garden ornaments begin appearing on neighbourhood lawns and gardens. Some are new but many are simply reappearing after winter storage.

These metal pieces are often made offshore in place like China, India or Bangladesh but sometimes they are locally made. Wherever these are made they are cranked out in vast numbers. It is not unusual to come across the same piece in three, four or more garden centres.

Still, people love 'em. I'm embarrassed to admit it but the cat pictured above almost found a home on my lawn.

Grand Theatre proscenium arch

The proscenium arch in front of the stage at the Grand Theatre is one of the highlights of the heritage theatre.