"In green old gardens hidden away
From sight of revel, and sound of strife......"
Violet Fane
1843 - 1905
April Visit
Bleeding Heart - I love this plant and managed to obtain a few for more my own garden last year.
Daffodil
Crown Imperial - Fritillaria imperialis
My Lady's Border
Fruit Blossom
Cowslip
Bluebell
Orange Tip
Tulips
Snakeshead Fritillary
Primrose
I visited again a few days later as Brian wanted to have a look round. I took the macro lens this time but we were only able to stay a short while as the heavens opened and we got soaked!
May Visit
I saw my first ever Tree Bumble Bee
After this first sighting I saw Tree Bumbles everywhere I went and had to release several from the garage at home
Back at the Gardens there was still plenty of blossom
and Marsh Marigolds were blooming
June Visit
Lower Wilderness
I spent ages trying to get a record shot of this Chimney Sweeper Moth found in the Extra Gardens
Visit to a Medieval Market Town - Henley-in-Arden
Not only is it very pretty there with lots of old buildings, there is also an icecream parlour and tearoom well worth a visit
White Swan - 16th century coaching inn
Remains of a fifeenth century market cross which was once 17 feet tall
George House - a timber framed building possibly sixteenth century
Guild Hall
Millennium Wood - another visit in April. Not many birds on this visit but a pleasant walk
Fairy Door with the latest adornments - sadly I think the decorations have now gone rather over the top.
Brandon Marsh
A visit to my favourite Nature Reserve in April resulted in several new species for the year - Peacock butterfly, Redshank, Little Ringed Plover, Swallow and Chiffchaff
Fungi - I now think these are Turkeytail having identified some at CBHG
Coots and nest
St Giles, Baddesley Clinton and Packwood
In April I had a day out with a friend. I took her to see St Giles churchyard at Packwood and there were still plenty of Primroses in flower plus this Yellow Archangel
We had lunch at Baddesley and then looked round the gardens at Packwood House with its famous Yew Garden said to represent the Sermon on the Mount.
In May I paid a couple of visits to places connected with JRR Tolkien - author of "The Hobbit" and "Lord of the Rings" trilogy - again some of my favourite books.
Tolkien spend the years between 1896 and 1900 (when he was aged 4-8) at 5 Gracewell Cottages (now 264 Wake Green Road), Sarehole, and often used to play at the Mill. It has been suggested that this area which was then rural and a village provided him with inspiration for the Shire and The Great Mill.
Sarehole Mill
Tolkien also lived for a while in nearby Edgbaston where two towers can be found which may have provided inspiration for Minas Morgul and Minas Tirith (the Two Towers)
Victorian Tower part of Edgbaston Water Works
and a few hundred yards away can be found Perrott's Folly
Next year I plan to visit Moseley Bog - another place said to have provided Tolkien with inspiration.
