Roofs & Rambles

As the nights draw in and the storms of autumn herald in the approach of winter, everything retreats into itself in preparation for hibernation. The naturalists mind leaves behind thoughts of bees, and the fragrance of summer  and turns to fungi and winter tit flocks. A visit to a green roof in autumn may well not seem the most exhilarating experience. But then again green roofs can always surprise. Even when they are deemed past their best in the yearly calender. Professional green roofers, especially the suppliers and installers will avoid them, preferring the peak months of May and June when the flowers are at their best. But then again they have something to sell! And perhaps less inclined to look and observe the minutiae of nature still active.

A visit a few weeks ago to a wonderful roof on a car port in south Essex regaled our senses with the smell of wild thyme, majoram and oregano. An architect accompanying us was enthralled with this olfactory experience and I know she will now extol the virtues of green roofs in her work, celebrating green roofs and scent. There were even a plants in flower even though the bees have long sort refuge for the winter and ceased toforage.

Another visit to a small roof in Lewisham, which has been a regular in this blog, had the odd House Sparrow feeding within the senescent vegation. The odd Small scabious, Sea campion, Corn marigold, Common toadflax and Cornflower were offering themselves up for polination. But the pollinators are long gone. Another roof in the City also had Small scabious and Campion in flower and a visit to the Laban on Saturday in the wind and the rain was blessed with the yellows, blues and pink of a few late bloomers, including Kidney vetch, Vipers Bugloss, red clover and Ribbed Meliot.

But it is the brown of vegetation long past it’s best and fading away – as is natural – that provides a somehow beautiful feel to these roofs. A brown roof for autumn – a strange beauty – a beauty of retreat in preparation for spring. A brown