St Peter's Church in Autumn

A personal view from a regular visitor

As we come to the end of this contrary summer, when the grass has still needed cutting twice a week in August, it is worth reflecting that in April and May we had the driest and warmest weeks for many years. The clematis, both the early flowering and the late flowering, have not done as well as in years when the weather has been kinder. The early flowering ones like Montana Rubens that grow on last year’s wood were short of water when they bloomed while those that flower on their current year’s wood have not grown as vigorously as in other years. The Etoile Violette that keeps the hot sun out of my window flowered well this year but grew less high than usual. So it was just as well that there wasn’t much hot sun!

"The kiss of sun for pardon,
The song of the birds for mirth,
One is nearer God's heart in a garden
Than anywhere else on earth”

wrote Dorothy Frances Gurney. Well, not quite. It churns around in the brain when things are going well but it’s not totally true and doesn’t sustain when you’re up against Mother Nature. Great for pruning but not for too-late weeding! I see my garden as a metaphor for life – one starts each Spring with ideas and plans and gradually, as the summer progresses, Mother Nature, like the tortoise in the hare-and-tortoise fable, overtakes us and, by now, yet another year has gone by with not everything achieved. For all that, a garden is an emotional anchor, a place of delight and refuge just because it demands time each week to keep it in order and to let it give back its rewards. Continued..

And the church is being redecorated...See Parish News...

Welcome to Petersham Village

Petersham village lies between Richmond and Ham in Surrey England as is designated as a conservation area. It is contained by Richmond Park to the East, the River Thames to the North and Ham House estate to the West.

The village is a distinctive well defined historic settlement. There are important views between the village and the surrounding green space of riverside meadows, parkland and Richmond Hill, a setting which contributes to its exceptional rural character. There is also an important view along Petersham Avenue towards the landmark Ham House.

View from Richmond towards Petersham

Towpath from Richmond to Petersham alongside Petersham Meadows