Snowdrops and other delights at Doddington Hall 2026 (part two)

Here are more photos from the visit to Doddington Hall last weekend.  

I do enjoy photos where you are looking through door or gates or hedges.

Here is a close up of the rhododendron which you can just see in the middle of the previous photo.

It is such a peaceful place.

This is looking at the back of the house, and there will be lots of bearded irises in flower here later in the Spring.  Look at that blue sky - something we haven't seen that much of this dull, grey, wet winter.

We saw a single iris, probably a reticulata, which was just going over, but which had very painterly stripes.

Around the ancient sweet chestnut trees (at least 450 years old), there were more crocuses, early daffodils, cyclamen and snowdrops.

Those trees are incredible.

The crocuses were loving the sunshine.

Back in the kitchen garden, the bug hotel 'sculptures' were looking good.

These birch tree trunks had been drilled to provide more insect homes - perhaps for solitary bees.  They made a striking feature too.

It was a lovely visit and the weather made it so much more enjoyable.

Snowdrops and other delights at Doddington Hall 2026 (part one)

Last Saturday, when it wasn't raining and there was some lovely winter sunshine, we set off to Doddington Hall, just outside Lincoln, to see their snowdrops and other plants.  We had a slow journey due to an accident on a main road, which meant we had to go round the villages just like everyone else.  However, we got there and enjoyed our look round.  Above was from the kitchen garden and I liked the grasses and seedheads which hadn't been cut down yet.    

They looked lovely with the sun on them.

We headed off into the gardens and there were large drifts of snowdrops, together with crocuses, enjoying the sun too.

So beautiful!

There were also Leucojum (Spring Snowflakes), looking like giant snowdrops...

...and cyclamen coum.

The snowdrops were the stars.

Around the corner wafted the most delicious scent, which was coming from this Daphne. 

Views across the gardens were lovely.

Some early rhododendrons were in flower.

The foliage of this Arum italicum marmoratum is stunning, although this plant is poisonous.

The white stems of the bramble (Rubus Cockburnianus) shone out across the grass, completely overshadowing the wire unicorn sculpture.

More to come in part two. 

Marie Antoinette Style - a beautiful book

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mqaHsy7hMWo

Above is a video from Youtube by someone who went to the exhibition.  Lucky them!

(These are my photos from my copy of the book - they are not great quality thanks to the grey and dull weather, but give some idea of some of the images)

I was very lucky to receive a beautiful coffee-table book which is the catalogue of the V & A exhibition about Marie Antoinette Style which is on at the moment, but sold out, unless you are a member of the V & A.  While I would love to be, it just isn't practical as a trip to London is not a cheap day out and to see the museum in all its glory would take a week, not a day!

However, there are many videos about the exhibition (such as the one at the top of this post) which give a good taste of what it is and the book is a beautifully produced accompaniment and looks to be an interesting read in its own right.  

There are lots of gorgeous photos of jewels, furniture, clothes, shoes of the time as well as discussions about her influences, from the films about her to fashion, interiors and many things in between.   

There are also videos about the book on instagram and facebook (neither of which I am part of) but I am sure they will give a good idea of the book.  I am really looking forward to sitting and reading the book (in stages, as it is quite a tome).

There are lots of blog posts about the exhibition too, so here is just one.  I am sorry that I am not able to see the exhibition in person, but with all the articles, videos and reviews, and a copy of the book,  it's the next best thing.

Welcome, February!

I am pleased that it's February.  While I don't want to wish the time away, January always seems to be at least twice the length of any other month.  I was having a wander in the garden yesterday and these old stems from a herbaceous clematis caught my eye.

There's something very sculptural about them.

Then further down the garden, there were some snowdrops looking fresh, elegant and gorgeous.  

They are definitely one of my favourite flowers.

Hopefully I will get out to see some in the big drifts where they look so wonderful.  Yes, welcome to February!