Linda
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lindacdolan.bsky.social
Linda
@lindacdolan.bsky.social
2.8K followers 2.2K following 1.4K posts
Worked at RHS Wisley, now retired and a happy and proud volunteer there. Passionate about Wisley, plants and gardens. Also a quilter, embroiderer and beader. Proud to be Woke. 'Woke just means you give a damn about other people’ Jane Fonda 2025
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lindacdolan.bsky.social
🌱 #thicktrunkTuesday
It’s another Tour Guide training session with Jonathan this morning and we will be on Wisley’s Battleston Hill again looking at trees. It’s such a privilege to have training every month
The base of a tree where the trunk has split into numerous branches. The tree is Prunus himalaica and it has very attractive bark with shiny horizontal stripes.
November 11, 2025 at 7:10 AM
lindacdolan.bsky.social
#BirdoftheDay #StandingonThings
A Robin perched on a “ChampionTree” sign at Wisley. Next to it is a Plant label and beneath the label are purple Vinca flowers.
November 10, 2025 at 7:13 AM
lindacdolan.bsky.social
🌱 #SundayYellow
The Mahonia has begun to flower, so useful for late pollinators. I’m off to do my usual volunteering at Wisley’s Hilltop. There will only be two of us instead of the usual four and there is a Craft Show so we might be busy.
Sprays of bright yellow flowers and prickly holly like leaves of a Mahonia plant.
November 9, 2025 at 7:46 AM
lindacdolan.bsky.social
First one posted for a while for #postboxSaturday. This one is at Clapham Junction.
A bright red postbox standing on brick paving against dark green walls.
November 8, 2025 at 1:39 PM
lindacdolan.bsky.social
My #birdoftheday joined me as I was waiting for a train to London this morning.
A Pied Wagtail standing unusually still. It has beautiful black and white markings.
November 8, 2025 at 12:57 PM
lindacdolan.bsky.social
🌱 #sixonSaturday from my tiny garden. I’m surprised to still find flowers in November but as @stuartbourne.bsky.social wisely said, a warm autumn and extended flower season is not all good news. I do have my own Turkey Tail fungus and that is good news! #fungifriends
A collage of six photos from my tiny garden. The large picture are a cream Calendula with a yellow centre and bright red flowers of Rosa Biddulph Grange. The small pictures are a spray of tiny white Nandina buds and large Fatsia buds. The small pictures at the bottom are a Turkey Tail fungus and Camellia buds as a reminder that spring will come.
November 8, 2025 at 9:05 AM
lindacdolan.bsky.social
Look what arrived! Such fast and efficient service. Thank you @jackwallington.com I have only been able to have a quick flick through but I already know it’s going to keep me enthralled.
The book cover of “Wild about Weeds” by Jack Wallington.
November 7, 2025 at 3:00 PM
lindacdolan.bsky.social
🌱 #fungiFriday #fungifriends
Good morning from the Lovely Lodge in the Berkshire countryside where I found some beautiful mushrooms.
A mushroom growing in rough grass. Taken from beneath the mushroom the photo shows pale pink gills. A tiny mushroom growing among clover. It looks as though the gills are on top of the cap.
November 7, 2025 at 8:43 AM
lindacdolan.bsky.social
🌱 A memory from June for #insectThursday. I shall still look out for critters when I am at Wisley but I think there will be slim pickings over winter.
Back to the Lovely Lodge in the Berkshire countryside today.
An insect with a slim, long green body resting on a bright yellow dandelion flower.
November 6, 2025 at 8:53 AM
lindacdolan.bsky.social
🌱 #roseWednesday Tiny pink roses still flowering at the beginning of November are a real bonus. This is ‘The Fairy’
I woke up to more hopeful news from America!
A spray of tiny pink roses tumbling over a low brick wall. The paving below has patches of light grey lichen.
November 5, 2025 at 8:40 AM
lindacdolan.bsky.social
From this month’s RHS Garden magazine. Something lovely to think about during the dark days of winter. Wisley in the spring will be spectacular. Plan your visit now and let me know if you want a tour.
A double page magazine article explaining how Piet Oudolf is adding bulbs to the borders he designed at Wisley.
November 4, 2025 at 12:58 PM
lindacdolan.bsky.social
🌱 #thicktrunkTuesday
Stewartia pseudocamellia in Oakwood at Wisley. It is such a beautiful tree with a patchwork bark and beautiful white flowers.
A tree trunk where bits of bark have flaked off leaving a patchwork of colours, grey, brown and creamy yellow. The background shows red fallen leaves and shrubs.
November 4, 2025 at 7:51 AM
lindacdolan.bsky.social
Can I show off? Every Sunday I take photos in Wisley’s Hilltop gardens when I am volunteering. This was one from yesterday. The plant is a hardy Chilli, Capsicum flexuosus 🌱
Two small round red Chilli peppers, each with a drop of water suspended at the bottom. There are some reflections in the drops of water.
November 3, 2025 at 10:47 AM
lindacdolan.bsky.social
🌱 Good morning #BlueSkyMonday. No I haven’t been anywhere tropical. This banana plant is growing in Wisley’s Hilltop World Food Garden. The one in the Exotic Garden actually has tiny (inedible) fruits! Sadly I don’t think there will be blue skies this week.
The huge leaves of a banana plant against a clear blue sky. The leaves are an untidy mess having been shredded by the wind.
November 3, 2025 at 7:52 AM
lindacdolan.bsky.social
🌱 #SundayYellow
I took the first picture, wondered about the tiny black dot and zoomed in!
It is going to be a very quiet volunteering shift at Wisley’s Hilltop with the A3 closed ……..again! Oh well, I will have fun looking for critters and fungi and enjoying being with my colleagues.
Golden yellow Ginkgo leaves. I zoomed in to the tiny black dot on one of the leaves in the first picture and discovered it was a spider!
November 2, 2025 at 7:52 AM
lindacdolan.bsky.social
🌱 #sixonSaturday from my tiny garden and a view of my tiny garden from an upstairs window. The colour in the garden is mostly from autumn leaves although there are still a few flowers.
Another wet day so another day stitching.
A collage of six pictures from my tiny garden. The two larger pictures are a dripping wet red Salvia and white rose. The small pictures at the top are bright red Acer and yellow Ginkgo leaves. The two small pictures at the bottom are a Hydrangea leaf and yellow and orange leaves in the bird bath. A view of my tiny garden from an upstairs window. Although the garden is small it is packed with plants, many showing autumn colour. There are two patio tables and a closed parasol. At the far end there is a small glasshouse. The patio is filled with pots and a couple of bright yellow raised beds.
November 1, 2025 at 9:08 AM
lindacdolan.bsky.social
We have another wet day ahead but my plan is to stay warm and cosy at home working on my latest stitching project.
I thought this Hydrangea was perfect for #flowersonFriday and #foliageFruday 🌱
a late season Hydrangea with tow rounded heads of pink flowers. The leaves have turned from green to autumnal shades of reds and orange.
October 31, 2025 at 9:03 AM
lindacdolan.bsky.social
The Cosmos continue to be a delight well into autumn and are still providing pollen. #insectThursday 🌱
I’m off to meet a friend in Guildford to see an embroidery exhibition. Oh and it’s set to be dry after all the rain yesterday.
A picture of a pink Cosmos flower with a bee on the yellow stamens in the centre.
October 30, 2025 at 7:52 AM
lindacdolan.bsky.social
🌱 #roseWednesday As we hurtle through autumn and head towards winter, this gorgeous rose is still flowering in Wisley’s Hilltop Wellbeing garden.
A rich, dark red rose with velvety petals and a single splash of white on one of them.
October 29, 2025 at 7:56 AM
lindacdolan.bsky.social
Not one of your worst! I remember you have seen and recorded much worse than that! Hope your bulbs arrive soon. This is from The Garden magazine.
A picture showing that 285160 will be planted by 135 staff and volunteers in the 5 RHS gardens.
October 29, 2025 at 6:56 AM
lindacdolan.bsky.social
Same trees, different times of day. This is the view from the Lovely Lodge in the Berkshire countryside.
A view of a line of trees against a darkening sky filled with clouds. The trees have mostly shed their leaves and the bare branches show clearly against the sky. The same view of the trees but this time the sky is clear and blue.
October 28, 2025 at 8:45 AM
lindacdolan.bsky.social
A Veteran Oak at Painshill Park in Cobham, Surrey for #thicktrunkTuesday. There were so many trees to photograph, I was spoilt for choice. 🌱
A very ancient Oak tree with a trunk split from top to bottom but it is still living and covered with leaves. The background of the picture shows a lake with reflections of the trees in the water. The oak is thought to be over 450 years old and predates the founding of Painshill by Charles Hamilton. As a veteran tree, it is a vital home for many species of wildlife.
October 28, 2025 at 7:51 AM
lindacdolan.bsky.social
I was very taken with it. It was hard to tear myself away!
Designed by William Pye, the font is a magnificent structure full of still, dark water that provides reflections from around the cathedral. My picture shows the reflections of the stained glass windows.
October 27, 2025 at 1:24 PM
lindacdolan.bsky.social
🌱 #mushroomMonday #fungifriends
It’s so exciting looking for fungi when I am volunteering at Wisley. Spotted these yesterday.
A cluster of mushrooms in grass. They are light grey, tall and conical in shape but different sizes.
October 27, 2025 at 8:24 AM
lindacdolan.bsky.social
Calendulas are such good value flowering well into autumn. I took this photo last Sunday in Wisley’s Hilltop World Food garden. Wonder what I will spot today when I am volunteering there. 🌱 #SundayYellow
A bright yellow Calendula flower. Each petal is notched at the edge. The centre of the flower is dark maroon with yellow speckles.
October 26, 2025 at 7:22 AM