I seem to be getting behind with blog posts! So a few details of Days 10 -16 of 30 Days Wild.
I potted up my Green Man patio pot - with pollinator friendly plants. Photo to follow when it becomes more established.
Pressing common wildflowers (mainly from the garden) - when fully dried I plan to make some bookmarks.
Family chauffeuring on Tuesday evening meant I had two plus hours to spare in the village of Dickens Heath. I don't mind sitting reading in the car for an hour but not any longer so I went exploring.
I knew there was a canal where I planned to walk along the tow path but
then I spotted this sign. It is always good to explore a new nature reserve. So over the canal bridge
and onto the reserve.
Lots of bramble
and buttercups in flower.
It was a great little reserve
with a lovely place to sit and watch nature at the end of the path.
An interesting looking path into the woods but I didn't explore further as I have to admit at times I feel nervous when walking on my own.
I returned to the canal and followed the tow path for a while. There were plenty of mallard about and I also spotted a Pied Wagtail.
Cow Parsley and hogweed were flowering in the hedgerow and plenty of yellow flags at the side of the canal.
You can always tell when June has arrived due to the Dog Roses in flower.
A delight to see and smell Honeysuckle.
Rooms with a view! :)
Ichneumon Wasp species checking out the bee "hotel" in the garden.
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Watching Mute Swans on the River Avon in Stratford-upon-Avon
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I finally got round to persuading B to put up the Butterfly House I had for Christmas.
Walking round a wildflower and woodland trail at Maxstoke Castle (I will do a full post on the Open Day later next week).
Ox-eye Daisies in the wildflower meadow at Packwood House (again I will do a full separate post on my visit next week).
A trip to Stratford
D had bought tickets for us to see Macbeth at the RSC Stratford - it has been too long since we have been. I didn't take my camera as I couldn't face taking it into the theatre or leaving it in the car so all the photos were taken by my son.
We arrived about 5.00 p.m. so had an hour to walk around the town first. It was the quietest I have ever seen Stratford presumably the day-time tourists had departed and those who come for the evening had not yet arrived!
Hall's Croft - the home of William Shakespeare's daughter Susannah Hall and her husband Dr John Wall who she married in 1607. I have visited this house and garden several times and it is superb.
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The Other Place - a few years ago when the main RSC theatre was being renovated the company performed their plays here when it was known as the Courtyard Theatre. D and I spent many many happy hours attending performances here (in those days he got free tickets through his job!) and it had a very special atmosphere so I have many happy memories.
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The RSC
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A "ghost" sign
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New Place - once Shakespeare's Home. This was closed and being renovated in the year D and I visited the Shakespeare properties. One day I will return.
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We found a super pub for a meal - The Windmill. The food was excellent and very reasonable and the service superb.
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Pudding!
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The play we went to see - Macbeth - was excellent and we both thoroughly enjoyed the performance. The decision to use child actors as the witches was an excellent one - it added a very creepy and unsettling element and the "ghost scene" was superb.
*D Photos taken by D with the Canon SX50 Bridge Camera
Rest of photos taken by me with the Panasonic FX330 bridge camera.
