In the Garden

 It's been far too hot to work or even sit in the garden this last few days.  The pop up gazebo was put up last Saturday but was only used until Monday when it became far too hot even in the shade to be outside until about eight o'clock in the evening. 

The warmer weather has encouraged everything to flower.  We are inundated with foxgloves.

Bees love them.

The yellow rose bush we inherited when we first moved here has had more flowers on it than I have ever seen before.  I'm not sure what type it is but the flowers have a lovely scent and progress from dark yellow to almost white as they mature.

Yellow Flag Iris in the pond.  They have taken over again this May.  Each year they get thinned out.  These too were inherited from the previous owners.

They and the other plants are draining the pond so we have had to top it up from the rainwater butts.

Also in the pond we've had Damselflies flitting around.  Two pairs.  

I think these are the more common Large Red Damselflies.

It was interesting to see them using the pond over several days.

There are loads of little apples forming on the apple tree.  I guess a lot of these will drop but it's good to see them after all the lovely blossom.

Strawberries, gooseberries, elder flower and sweet peas are on the way.  

Last but not least my very favourite plant the Philadelphus  Belle Etoile or 'Mock Orange'.  I'd wanted one for ages and we bought this last year.  Many years ago I worked in a 15th century hall and behind our museum office was a herb garden bordered by a mock orange hedge. The scent in the air as we made our way across the courtyard to the museum stores was wonderful.  I looked forward to it flowering each year.

There is so much to enjoy and  look forward to in the garden.  Much needed to calm the mind and lift the spirits in this very uncertain world.

All for now.

Peter at the Factory

Beatrix Potter's Peter Rabbit that is, at the Emma Bridgewater factory and shop.  We popped in yesterday morning for a coffee in the café and a look around the hidden garden which is looking wonderful.

Beautiful  purple Alliums 

Blue Delphiniums

 Pink Lupins and Poppies.

Peter was in the courtyard in front of the café. 

The statue of Peter Rabbit was made in collaboration by Wild in Art artist Jina Gelder and Emma Bridgewater Head of Design, Sophie Gilmour using the sponge ware patterns for the new pottery designs celebrating the birth of Beatrix Potter 160 years ago.  More information - here.

Peter Rabbit is to move to the North East as part of the Tales on the Tyne sculpture trail in aid of the St Oswald Hospice.

Peter Rabbit is an enduring character who is always popular with all ages.  He and all the others will be auctioned on October 13th in aid of the hospice.

More of Bodnant Gardens.

 Luckily on our visit to the National Trust's Bodnant Gardens the afternoon weather was quite dry, sunny and warm.  No sudden downpours of rain like there had been in the morning.

There are lots of interesting nooks and crannies to explore as you work your way down to the Mill via the terraces and ponds.

First we wanted to see the huge Laburnum Arch that Bodnant is noted for.  It was looking lovely but I suspect it would be at its zenith this week and possibly next.

Rhododendrons and Azaleas added lots of colour to the garden. 

It was one of those times where there were so many photo opportunities.  In the end I decided just to enjoy the atmosphere, colours and textures of the garden.

Above one of the many gardeners and volunteers who keep the garden looking so wonderful.

Wisteria on the Edwardian Italianate terraces.

The Pin Mill is a Grade II listed 18th century building. I can remember visiting one summer and this pond was alive with Dragonflies and Damselflies skimming all over.  

The Old Mill built c 1827 and the way down to the arboretum where there are many unusual trees.

Down in the Dell, the bridge over the River Hiraethlyn.

We only had a certain amount of time before we needed to move on and check into our accommodation for the next three nights.

Time to make our way back to the courtyard, plant centre and car park.

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.