Water Orton Carnival

 

On Saturday 17th June we went along to the Carnival at Water Orton.

To be honest it wasn't my cup of tea - it was so hot and humid and there were far too many people milling around and loud music! But it was nice to see E's flat again and get away from the builders' thumping and banging!!!!

We left the car at E's and walked to the park where the Carnival was being held. We'd missed the procession which was in the morning but there were plenty of stalls and a few very good ones selling craft and vintage type items.

There were a few fairground rides. You wouldn't get me on this!  I nearly had a hissy fit at Alton Towers on the Runaway Mine train and please don't mention that huge swinging pirate boat it was a dreadful experience!

Two postboxes to add to my collection - there is a hashtag on Twitter called #Postbox Saturday.

I only made one purchase a vintage style blue flowery jug but when I got home the handle fell off the paper carrier bag and the jug smashed onto the stone step in the porch :(  B thinks he may be able to superglue the handle, which is in several pieces!, back on. I'd bought it for the caravan to use as a vase!)

All photos taken by me with the Panasonic Lumix FZ330 bridge camera. (I don't particularly rate my photos but if anyone wants to use one I would be grateful for an email first - thanks).

National Herb Centre

 

I've been promising D for ages that we would make our annual "pilgrimage" to the National Herb Centre at Warmington, near Banbury. We go there to buy herbs and walk the nature trails.

The centre was established in 1997 by Peter Turner with the aim of providing a place where people could see, enjoy and learn about herbs. Research projects have also taken place here.

We later bought the yellow Calibrachoa for a little watering can plant container we have at home.

It was very hot already when we arrived so we decided to walk the nature trails first before it got even hotter.

At the start are 6 lovely demonstration gardens full of herbs.

The downhill walk to the fields.  When we first visited it was August and wild marjoram was in flower here and the plants were covered in Common Blue butterflies - I have never seen so many in one area. This visit we only saw a Red Admiral and an unidentified skipper that whizzed past.

So many different grasses - I would have loved to try and identify some and have since bought a Field Studies Council guide (one of those fold out charts that are so good) to help with id.

There are many paths you can follow on the nature trails and we usually do a circular walk but this time to be honest it was just too hot to walk up and down slopes in full sun

so we sought shelter in the woods where it was much cooler.

Walking back - a mental note has been made not to visit in future when its 30 degrees centigrade!

We sat in the car for a while to eat our sandwiches and have a cup of tea although we have eaten in the bistro there in the past and the food is very good.

Then we had a good look round the nursery area.

The stone dragon they had there last year has disappeared and I don't like this one quite as much.

They sell all sorts of plants and shrubs and there is an amazing variety of herbs. We did look for a "lemon curd" thyme we had seen in one of the demonstration gardens but failed to find one so bought a lemon scented one instead.  Parsley was also added to the basket. We already have majoram, chives, sage, rosemary and mint at home.

We already have Ragged Robin at home by the pond but I did buy a Fox and Cubs plant as its one of my favourites. I also bought a pot marigold and some borage.

Apart from the heat it was a lovely day out and my plan that going on a Sunday would mean there wouldn't be a rush hour on the M42 roadworks went well!  We did the return journey in 55 minutes even with the 50mph speed restriction for miles.  

I do love that part of South Warwickshire/Northern Oxfordshire and. although we've explored the area several times, one day we will visit more of the picuresque villages and churches there.

All photos taken by me with the Panasonic Lumix FZ330 bridge camera. (I don't particularly rate my photos but if anyone wishes to use one I would be grateful for an email first - thanks).