After the rains

Showers and sunshine!

An awful lot of plants had to be cut back last weekend due to the rain spoiling the flowers. This week with warmer temperatures and a fair bit more sunshine, the plants are beginning to bounce back. A couple of the bedding plants might be beyond help, but we'll see.

Roses and peonies. Definitely worth the wait!

And finally, I spotted this tiny wee fella. I planted three aubretia a couple of years ago here at the top of the dry stone wall that hides my work area. They all died...or at least I thought they had!  I shall wait and see if anything comes of it.

Rose on a Ramble

This weekend we visited a village in the Peak District that had around 30 gardens open to the public for charity.

It took us a little longer to reach Bonsall due to there being a cycle fun race in and around Bakewell. 

One garden in particular I have to admit to being quite partial to. We were warmly greeted at the entrance by the owner and the gardener was around for a chat about any of the plants or design.

Herbert Lodge included a grotto decorated floor to ceiling with shells and features a couple of mermaids.

A gently sloping trail took us through a shaded area with masses of hostas without barely a nibble from any marauding slugs or snails. This I think is a relatively new area, other than the trees as the plants were all still quite young, but another year or two will have great swathes of shaded planting that I would love to return to admire once more.

The route took us higher into rocky outcrops and vantage points to take in the scenic views.

Before opening out into a lush green lawn, with secret tunnels.

And a large pond with water lilies in bud.

Across the lawn and past a trompe l'oeil decorated temple, the path led us to the Italian style courtyard and Rose gardens.

I have to find this plant...the bees loved it!

There was also the greenhouse to explore before bidding farewell and moving onto the next gardens.

In all we managed to visit (or look at the 'peep over' gardens) around 8 gardens and visit a tea room.  I would love to go next year and maybe find a little b&b so we can do both open days...there were so many more to check out!

If you haven't already visited, I can thoroughly recommend it, and at just £4 per adult (kids free) for over 30 gardens, what's not to love?

Bees-a-buzzing

We've had heavy showers for 4 full days now.  The short dry spells that intersperse the rain see all the birds and insects busy searching for food (and TMTC and I reaching for the camera).

I love this shot by the pond.

The one below is a bee sheltering in the rhododendron in the front garden.

Plenty of flowers still coming into flower

Two peonies continue to swell.

This Alpina clematis above has gone completely rampant. No little blue nodding bells yet but the plant has more than covered it's alloted space.  I may have pruned it at the wrong time actually, but it was necessary to separate this one from the other later flowering clematis to assist pruning in future.

Below a neighbour's rose has mingled with the apple tree lending a further scent

It feels like the calm before the storm.  There are so many plants that are about to flower.  It could be quite spectacular if we get the right weather conditions.