Waxwing

Waxwing
"To see a world in a grain of sand,
And a heaven in a wild flower,
Hold infinity in the palm of your hand
And eternity in an hour."

From "Auguries of Innocence"

by William Blake

Thursday 5 March 2015

Signs of Spring at Castle Bromwich Hall Gardens






B and I made a brief visit this afternoon to Castle Bromwich Hall Gardens - it was such a lovely day it seemed a shame not to go out. The 10 acre Gardens are a rare example of an English Baroque Garden and are being restored by the Castle Bromwich Hall and Gardens Trust as near as possible to the period 1680 - 1762 when the Gardens were in their prime. 600 plants from the Period can be found around the gardens.

Looking towards the Melon Ground.





Holly Walk with the Summer House in the far distance.


The Green House built around 1729.



There will soon be blossom along the hedgerow surrounding the North Orchard.


The Snowdrops and Winter Aconites were still looking lovely in the Lower Wilderness although perhaps a little past their best.




Snowflakes and Winter Aconites and my first bee (honey, I think) sighting of the year.



Lungwort is coming into flower.



Witch Hazel - tiny but covered in flowers.


There was a wonderful display of Hellebores.




This Black Hellebore was particularly beautiful.



A miniature "bee hotel"


The first daffodil I've seen in flower this year - found in the Nut Ground


The North Pond (in the Extra Gardens)


The recently restored Mirror Pool


The South Kitchen Garden based on a plan by Batty Langley in his book "New Principles of Gardening" published in 1728.



The Summer House



Castle Bromwich Hall - now a hotel.

8 comments:

Margaret Birding For Pleasure said...

I love it when you go to visit these lovely places and bring back all these wonderful photographs. Yes I can see spring is on its way. Lovely reflections in some of the shots as well.

Anonymous said...

So good to see all the plants, and of course the bee. We've had a few out here this week too, mainly on the Daphne which usually does a good job for them :o)

Ragged Robin said...

Margaret Adamson - Thanks very much Margaret - I am so glad you enjoyed the post :) It feels very Spring-like again today.

Countryside Tales - Thanks so much. I've been keeping an eye on my neighbour's red camelia which attracts far more bees than our white one but no bees yet!

Simon Douglas Thompson said...

Snowdrops hanging on here, but the aconites are very past their sell by date now. Yesterday was decided by the National Bee Association as being the first buzzy day of spring by the looks of things

Amanda Peters said...

I feel we need a few weeks and everything is just going to burst into life... The Mirror pool looks lovely.
Amanda xx

Ragged Robin said...

Simon Douglas Thompson - Thank you Simon - similar situation here re: snowdrops and aconites. Great to see bees are starting to appear - have missed their buzzing :)

Amanda Peters - Thanks Amanda - yes I think you are right. This weekend looks promising weatherwise though :)

Deb said...

You do visit some lovely places Robin. Great shots. I love the Black Hellebore and the mirror pool. :-)

Ragged Robin said...

Deb - Thanks so much - so pleased you enjoyed the Gardens.