Garden Flowers, Theatre and Cake

A few photos from a walk around my garden in the sunshine last week - it finally feels as though Spring has arrived! :)


There are quite a few dandelions in flower and B is under strict instruction from me not to remove them as they are so good for pollinating insects at this time of year.

Honesty

We have a few clumps of Lungwort scattered around the garden.

Bumble bee on Grape Hyacinths

Violets

We have a lot of Bluebells in the garden - the Spanish bluebells were already here when we moved in but we also have some of the native variety.

Log pile in the woodland area at the top of the garden. We first created it years ago when we did have Hedgehogs in the garden although I am not sure if they ever used it but it is still good for beetles and other insects.

Several years ago I planted some Garlic Mustard seeds in the wild flower mini meadow hoping if they came up they would attract Orange Tip Butterflies as they are a larva food plant. I was thrilled when a few plants appeared but sadly after the first year they just disappeared. I was thrilled last week to find not a few but over 40 Garlic Mustard plants in the woodland area so I suspect those first few plants spread seed.

Interestingly, we also have Lady's Smock or Cuckoo Flower in the garden - another larval food plant for Orange Tips. However, they ignored these plants and a couple of years ago laid eggs on Honesty!

Wild Primroses

Flowering Currant

Nettles in the nettle patch - allowed to flourish again to attract butterflies although I have to admit we keep them in one or two areas only.

Wood Anemone or Wind Flower

Wood Sorrel - these first appeared last year and I really have no idea how they arrived as, as far as I can remember, we have never planted any but again I am thrilled to have this species in the garden.

Cowslips are spreading all round the garden.

Camellia

Last Saturday D and I went to Birmingham Rep to see "This House" - which was excellent and highly recommended if you live in England and it comes to a theatre near you.

Finally, a carrot cake I made recently. It is an ancient BBC Good Food recipe and I can't find it online to give you a link.

"Cromwell's Troops" Visit Castle Bromwich Hall Gardens

Last Sunday D and I went along to Castle Bromwich Hall Gardens where there were drills and demonstrations by Colonel John Pickering's Regiment of Foote - part of Cromwell's Brigade.

The Regiment is part of the Sealed Knot which is a re-enactment society dedicated to the remembrance of those who fought in the Civil War



It was good to see displays of Daffodils as we arrived at the Gardens.

The first demonstration had already started.

Drill over they departed for lunch.

As we had missed the start of the display and enjoyed what we did see so much D and I decided to have a wander round the gardens, have lunch and then return to see the demonstration in the afternoon

The Upper Wilderness with the Church of St Mary and St Margaret in the background.

One of the orchards

There will be a good display of tulips around the Gardens soon.

Then onto the tea-room - I was very good and resisted cake and had vegetable soup instead.

We then returned to the display which was just re-starting.

It really was an enjoyable event and a good way to end a lovely weekend.