The last few days

 We've been away for a few days.  The weather wasn't as bad as we thought it might be.

Wales always delights.  Below, a few of the things we saw and places we visited.  

Bodnant Gardens near Conwy.

We've visited many times but this is the first time we've caught the famous Laburnum arch in flower.  I think it will be spectacular next week.

Llandudno - too cold and windy to walk any further along the Promenade or pier that day so we retreated into bookshops and art galleries.

Mostyn Gallery, Llandudno

The White Rabbit was one of the sculptures on the Alice in Wonderland trail around the town.

Conwy Castle taken from a bird hide at the RSPB nature reserve near Conwy later the same afternoon it was warm enough to sit outside with an ice cream.  

A new sculpture on the seafront at Colwyn Bay is of actor and comedian Terry Jones by Nick Elphick. It was unveiled only a couple of weeks before.  The event was attended  by two of his Monty Python colleagues Sir Michael Palin and Terry Gilliam. 

Conwy Castle.  We visited the day before it closed for a week.  Apparently it is being used as one of the settings for a new film.  

No one knew what film it was only that it was something similar to Game of Thrones or perhaps about dragons.  Cranes were hoisting equipment into place as we looked around.

Above and below the kitchen at Plas Mawr house in Conwy

I'm always drawn to the kitchens in historic houses.

Below beautiful painted windows designed by Alf Fisher MBE in the small but fascinating museum in Corwen.

  All the downstairs windows were decorated like this, each with different themes to represent the history, heritage and nature of the area.

Puppets in the Corwen museum created by local people and children to tell the story of national hero Owain Glyndwr.

All for now.  I'll be back next week with more on Bodnant Gardens and Plas Mawr house.

Mostly Pink and Blue

 Around the garden the colours are mostly pink and blue.  

The Tamarisk tree will fade to the palest, softest pink.

Whilst the Rhododendron will fade from dark pink, to pale pink then white.

Clematis Montana

and Bistort carry on the colour theme.

Blue is represented by the perennial Cornflower

and Forget-me-Not which has spread all over the garden as well as the paths.  Bluebells have faded now but they too shone blue in parts of the garden.

Long sticky stems of Cleavers or goosegrass are winding their way up into the shrubs and hedges.  Wood avens has also taken hold in some areas.  Dandelions are all over adding bright yellow to the mix until their soft downy clocks appear.

 

There is much to do.

 All for now. Take care.

Shrewsbury

 We spent a lovely day in Shrewsbury on Tuesday.  It's not too far from here probably about fifty minutes drive to the park and ride at Harlescott and then a ten minute bus ride into the centre.

It's a place I'm quite familiar with. I often used to get the bus there and back for shopping when we lived near Market Drayton.  I also used to meet a friend at the station and we would travel on the train to Llandrindod Wells (Llandod as it was known locally) to visit a retired work colleague.

 I love the old streets, quaint alleyways and old buildings.  The names of the streets like Wyle Cop and Dogpole that conjure up times gone by. We'd decided we wanted to visit the Museum to see how it had changed since our last visit and also walk along the riverside to The Dingle, Percy Thrower's garden.

Above The Bear Steps

The Old Market Hall

The Museum and Art Gallery

Wyle Cop

The English Bridge, the Welsh Bridge is on the other side of the town.

The walk through The Quarry towards The Dingle.

Along the Riverside.

Shrewsbury School Boat Club near the Kingsland Bridge.

In The Dingle

I loved the water features in the middle of the lake.

I liked the steel sculpture of a Heron below.  Apparently it is 8ft tall.

Below the more formal gardens.

After our walk we had a lovely lunch at the Museum café and a good look around the displays before catching the bus and heading home.  I did take a few photos in the Museum but it was difficult due to the lighting and reflections

All for now.

Blossom

Glorious pink Blossom and blue skies, you'd be forgiven for thinking all is well with the world.  It's so wonderful to see.  I look forward to this display each year along the bank the River Trent by the Trentham Garden Centre.

The Magnolias across the river in the gardens are looking lovely too.

Although still chilly in the mornings the days have been glorious.  Walks have been taken.  Gardening done, washing has dried outside.  Days are filled with ordinary things and routine tasks, I'm trying to savour these days as they pass by so quickly.  

All for now.