St Giles, Baddesley and Packwood

I had a day out with a friend towards the end of last week - we were very lucky with the weather as heavy rain had been forecast and there were dark rain clouds constantly on the horizon but we escaped with just the odd drizzly rain shower.

We stopped off first at St Giles Church, Packwood, as I wanted to show my friend the primroses.

Yellow Archangel flowering amongst the ancient gravestones



A blue Wood Anemone - I would imagine this has been planted by someone - its difficult in churchyards to know which are truly wildflowers and which have been planted.



I think these are leaves of Wild Arum by the Primrose. Wild Arum has a range of descriptive names such as Lords and Ladies, Cuckoo Pint, Jack in the Pulpit, Parson and Clerk etc. and I will try and return to take photos later in the year showing the part of the plant which results in such names!



Bluebells are starting to flower



and, although the primrose display is not as stunning as a few weeks back, there are still plenty in flower.



I recently read an article in "Countryfile" Magazine on the wildlife to be found in churchyards and it mentioned this book. Sadly, as its a lovely informative book with charming illustrations, I think it is out of print but I managed to track down a secondhand copy for only 99p!



My friend has never been to Packwood House which was our main destination but, as they don't yet have a tearoom, we stopped off at Baddesley Clinton for lunch - a rather yummy vegetable soup with warm granary bread and, yes, I managed to avoid the temptation of a piece of cake!

There are always Mallard around the tearoom.



After lunch onto Packwood House - I know I have already done several posts on this garden this year so I have tried, where possible, to include some photos of different areas.

This flower bed in the Carolean Garden was full of lemon Tulips and Wallflowers, interspersed with a few Crown Imperials and Forget-me-Nots and looked beautiful.















These Hellebores have been flowering since my first visit a few months ago!



Violets (and Ladybird)



Sunken Garden installed by Baron Ash (who owned the property then) in the 1930's









If anyone has any idea what this gorgeous plant is I would love to know





View towards the Yew Garden from the steps leading to the Raised Terrace



Raised Terrace







The South face of the Terrace Wall contains 20 niches which were built to house bee-skeps



The first yew trees in the Yew Garden were planted in the 1650's when the lower part also contained an orchard but the "Sermon on the Mount" tradition for this garden apparently evolved towards the end of the nineteenth century following the planting of more yews. The lower part of the garden represents "The Multitude" with 12 big yews known as "The Apostles". Four even larger yews in the middle are known as "The Evangelists".

You can climb the "Mount" via a spiral path wending through box and get to the top where "The Master" or "Pinnacle of the Temple" - see photo below - has been planted.











Two metre deep bath in the North Court





Snowflake



These double Primulas were rather pretty



Cold Plunge bath originally built in 1680



It was a lovely day out in great company. Thanks J.