Snowdrops

Usually around this time I head out with friends to visit a garden and admire the snowdrops. Over the years we have visited several local-ish places including Hodsock Priory, Brightwater Gardens and Doddington Hall.  However, this year they are all closed.  

In order to get my snowdrop fix, I suggested to Chris that we walk into the city centre to a little cemetery which we used to drive past on the way back from work sometimes.  Last Thursday, the weather was sunny with blue skies and although it was cold, we decided it would be the perfect time to go.  So we did.  The cemetery itself has been used for centuries - since the Iron Age, according to the board pictured above.  There are London Plane trees, sycamores and limes here too.  Considering it is in a relatively busy part of the city, on a through-road, it was extremely peaceful and there was a bird singing while we were there, which we really enjoyed listening to.   

There was still some snow here and there.

There was a carpet of aconites.

In the sunnier part of the cemetery, the snowdrops had opened a bit more.

One of my favourite flowers (as I tell anyone who will listen!)

There were lots of snowdrops to enjoy.

The trees shadows made some lovely patterns.

It made me so happy being in this peaceful place.

I really enjoyed the visit and will go again when the cow parsley is out, later in the Spring.

Easton Walled Gardens and snowdrops

I spent a very happy few hours at Easton Walled Gardens today, with my friends Katy and Alison, on our first garden visit of the year. We usually go to Hodsock to look at the snowdrops, but we decided to break with tradition and go somewhere else this year. Although we had all visited Easton before, it was a number of years ago.  There was once a grand house on the site, but during the 1950s, it was demolished and the gatehouse is all that is left.  When the current owners took it over the land in 1994, it was like a jungle and has taken a lot of work to get it to what it is today.  Even the weather was helpful as the fog lifted and we enjoyed beautiful warm sunshine.

 There were some beautiful upright hellebores in amongst the snowdrops.

 Following the path round and looking up, the snowdrops appeared to be like a river...

 ...and were then joined by aconites.

 It almost looked like snow.

 There were so many.

 I liked this urn perched on the edge of the wall.

 On the formal bridge, someone had left a heart of gravel - possibly a tribute to St Valentine? - which I couldn't resist taking a photo of.  I liked the way it had been left there.

 Looking back up towards where the house once was. The terraced banks are planted with wildflowers. On the flat area before the bridge, there were once some formal bedding displays.  You can see them in photos from a visit to the house made by 'Country Life' magazine in 1901, which are displayed in the history room and the tea room.

 Looking back down across what was the walled kitchen garden, with the edge of the massive yew hedge.

 Back by the terrace again - I love an open doorway.

 This was on top of a wall by the area where there was once a peach house.  It is the remains of a sundial and you can see the hole where the gnomen was fixed.

 MC's initials feature a lot in the remaining ironwork - a previous member of the Cholmeley family who owned the house.

 This display of primulas gave a welcome bit of colour in the stableyard, where the shop and toilets are.

Of course I came away with a couple of plants, courtesy of Katy.  This is the rather beautiful Galanthus Elwesii with lovely markings on the petals, which will be planted in my garden as a reminder of the very enjoyable visit to Easton.

First garden visit of 2014

On Sunday, my good friends Katy and Alison and I set off for our first garden visit of the year to Hodsock Priory, to look at the snowdrops.  We have been visiting there for quite a number of years now. Above is the lovely gatehouse.

The woodland walk with the drifts of snowdrops is what Hodsock is known for and they are very beautiful.  There were a lot of the double snowdrops this year. 

 This bit of woodland made me think of fairies or hobbits!

 There are also a lot of cyclamen coum in their lovely shades of pink and white.

 This was one of the larger snowdrops - S. Arnott.

 Narcissus Cedric Morris was flowering away on this bank.

 The spidery flowers of witch hazel looked vibrant against the blue sky (when it eventually appeared).

These trees looked as though they were going to be felled, but made a statuesque addition against the sky. They reminded me of the totem sculptures by Henry Moore which I saw at the Yorkshire Sculpture Park back in 2008.

Here's a photo I took from the 2008 visit - can you see why the trees reminded me of these?

The bare trunks do look rather majestic.

 More of Henry Moore's sculptures at the Yorkshire Sculpture Park in 2008.

When the sun came out, it did make some rather nice shadows across the clumps of cyclamen.

 Here's a snowdrop which Katy very kindly bought for me - I love the blob of green (no, I won't be turning into a galanthophile, but I did like this pattern).  This one is Galanthus Elwesii and will be added to my garden soon.  It was lovely to be out and about.

Another garden visit

Last Sunday, on the most beautiful sunny winter's morning, my friends Katy and Alison and I went to Hodsock Priory to look at the snowdrops.  This has become a tradition for us and a visit we always enjoy.  Above are some Spring snowflakes (Leucojum).

 It was a little different this year, as there was a wedding in the house, so we weren't able to have our tea and cake inside this year.  There had also been some water damage to the rooms, so there was a large marquee for the teas instead.  There was also a food and craft fair on that day, and although this increased the visitor numbers, it didn't diminish our enjoyment.  Another good thing was that we walked round the grounds and woods following a slightly changed route, which made us look at things more closely and from a different viewpoint.  Snowdrops and aconites above, enjoying the sun.

 There were pools of bright pink and white cyclamen coum around the trees.

 A view of the gatehouse from the garden.

 The snowdrop wood.

 There were a lot of hellebores flowering in the garden. they are much further on than my own hellebores, which are only just putting leaves out.

Hodsock is known for the beautiful drifts of snowdrops in the woods.

 The sun cast some lovely shadows - perfect for taking photos.

 Katy and Alison very kindly bought me a pure white hellebore as a birthday present to add to my two others.

Here is the flower - absolutely stunning.
I hope to be able to visit lots of gardens again this year.

Snowdrops and other delights at Hodsock Priory

 On Sunday I had my first garden visit of this year - my annual trip to Hodsock Priory.  The weather was perfect with crisp blue sky and lots of sunshine but with a cold wind too.  However, we were wrapped up warmly, so managed the walk around the woodland with no problems.  It was incredibly busy though, probably due to the decent weather, a craft fair in the grounds and the last day of half term too.
Above is a view of the Priory across the small lake, seen through the brilliant red stems of a Cornus (possibly Sibirica, but I'm not sure).

This is what Hodsock is famous for; the drifts of naturalised snowdrops all around the wood.  Despite there being so many people, there were quieter areas and we were able to enjoy the peace and listen to the birdsong, which was magical.

There were also areas full of Cyclamen coum with their delicate pink and white (and many shades in between) flowers.  They always give a lovely splash of colour.

The elongated flowers of Garrya Elliptica (Silk Tassel Bush) are beautiful, especially when you get close to them. A very appropriate common name, I think, as they do look like they are made from silk. It was a lovely visit.