An oasis in Princelet Street

Love the head appearing from the out of the Ivy.

 The calming sound of water.

 Rows of small pots on iron shelving.

 A beautiful creamy rose.

More sculpture.

 Pink Aguilegias in pots.

 And some blue ones.

 The back of the garden.

 Camellia.

Hostas and Hellebores thrive here.

 Amazing hostas, not a hole in sight.

A sense of history...makes me wonder about all the people who used to walk these streets.

 Dream house.

Between Brick Lane and Spitalfields Market are some of the most beautiful houses in London. They were built in the early 1700s and used to house Huguenot silk weavers. I have always thought that there must be gardens at the back of them and today I had the chance to visit one, thanks to National Garden Scheme. A lovely haven of a courtyard in the middle of such a busy area.

Not so many years ago it was undesirable and cheap to live here. Not any more. Gilbert and George have lived here since the late 60s and since then many other artists have moved here. Tracey Emin has built a swimming pool underneath her house. And a hundred metres away is the mish mash of Bengali supermarkets, edgy fashion shops and pubs full of city boys, dodgy deals going on at street corners and at night time hundreds of people roaming the streets looking for various kinds of fun.

If you would like to explore the area and visit one of these house, look up Dennis Severs House in Folgate Street.