Nature

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Over the last few years vacations for me and my husband have often been a bit of what is referred to locally as a 'busman's holiday'; we have often shuttled to and fro sorting out an elderly/poorly family member on either my side or my husband's side of the family.

We were fortunate enough, or maybe just plain selfish, to sneak off for a break in August without telling anyone, thus neatly avoiding helping with sorting out their gardens/repairing houses/dealing with tradesmen/picking up bills/cleaning/cooking/nursing....

We rented a small house just for us (and the little gardener of course), withing spitting distance of a massive nature reserve. Our prime concern was outside space for the little gardener to roam and play, great scenery, good walks on our doorstep, comfort when we returned.

Kelmarsh Hall in Early May

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Drawn by the Hardy Plant Fair (and the chickens which live in the kitchen garden), I returned to Kelmarsh Hall last weekend, little gardener in tow.

 

Spring at Easton Walled Gardens

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This is a belated Easter post when I had a chance to see Easton Walled Gardens. I had hoped for some fine sunny weather but to no avail. At least we were spared the rain that has been blessing us for nearly a week and which stops me with finally moving sweet peas and broad beans from the cold frame to their spot in the garden.

Golden Spider Silk

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If you find yourself in London before 5 June 2012 with an hour to spare and are prepared to be amazed, then consider heading to the V&A for the Golden Spider Silk exhibition.

Anglesey Abbey Gardens - Shrubs & Trees

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This simple but effective planting of silver birches (betula utilis var. jaquemontii) nearly made it as my weekend feature but in the end I decided that Anglesey Abbey Gardens in winter deserved a second post.

Anglesey Abbey Gardens - Snowdrops

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Galanthus 'John Gray'

Getting into the spirit of Christmas

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The last few weeks have been busier than anticipated. Due to illness in the family, the little gardener and I made hasty arrangements to fly to Germany. As there was not much time to lose we ended up having different airports for all our departures and arrivals, meaning extra help from friends to take and collect us.

This was no time for a scarf extravaganza and I wore my Brazil GM every single day, the GM's are fine in foul weather.

Cashmere & Candles

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Cashmere/silk week:

Apologies for the poor picture, the drizzly weather is spoiling any attempt to take a flattering photograph.

If I had to choose my favourite cashmere/silk scarf, it would be this one:

Pierres d'Orient et d'Occident

 

Paris - Hothouses

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Another post dating back to last Wednesday's visit to the JdP, this time focussing on the hothouses/tropical greenhouses. Look out for today's scarf matching the travel theme...

Whilst entrance to the garden is free, a small fee is payable for entrance to the greenhouses. Having been to Kew Gardens and the Eden project before, these were much smaller but worthwhile nonetheless. 

 

The little gardener was very taken with these houses, especially one that reminded her of pirates hiding their treasure in caves.

Paris - Jardin des Plantes

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As the gardening year comes to an end for me, I long to have a break. This year proved no exception: I have been pushing myself for the best part of the year and after a particularly nasty bout of backache (thankfully finally sorted by a lovely osteopath), I was very much looking forward to a short trip to Paris.

The Hunt for Red October

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or better the hunt for golden October continued with a perfect walk in Clumber Park, Nottinghamshire.

 
The current mild weather surely has nature confused and the first flower that greeted me was this tiny bellflower (?)

Hardwick Hall, Derbyshire

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The exceptionally fine and mild autumn weather plus the fact that today school was closed for the little gardener meant an opportunity for us to explore Hardwick Hall at autumn time.

There are two Hardwick Halls to be precise. The old one is now a ruin which can still be visited (the above photo shows the view from it) and the "new" one, a fine Elizabethan mansion complete with extensive grounds.

Sent to Coventry ! Ryton Gardens

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The sunny weather tempted the little gardener and me to visit Ryton Gardens, the home of Garden Organic, on Sunday.

Kelmarsh Hall with Mrs Privet

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Thursday evening was lovely: the weather was warm despite being overcast. It was my "date" with Mrs Privet and after a day's work in showery weather and some more moth exorcism I was very much looking forward to strolling through the gardens of a country house and we set off to Kelmarsh Hall