Elvaston

It's a while since I've been to Elvaston Park (last November) so I thought it would be a good idea to go and see how far Spring was advancing there. 

We started at the Walled Garden where various bulbs and primroses were flowering, and the red flowers of a quince brightening a wall.

Then through the grounds towards the house, past an early rhododendron 




 

A more circuitous route than usual took us to the nature reserve, where we spotted herons in the tree tops, then back along the showground past this carved statue of bear and owl. 

Crocuses at Markeaton

A lovely sunny day near the beginning of the month tempted me out for a walk round Markeaton Park.

I was expecting to find daffodils but they were a little slow in flowering, but the crocuses were lovely. more so for being unexpected.

 

February

After January's slowness, February was a busy, jam-packed month when it began to feel like Spring was just around the corner.

The first snowdrops and hellebores started to flower in the garden, and with a bit of sunshine here and there, I wanted to get out and about to spot more signs of Spring. Mid-month brought a drop in temperatures for a while, but once it's started Spring can't be held back for long. At Calke, Kedleston, Shipley, Markeaton Park, and Hopton. and on (almost) daily walks near home flowers were appearing. I not only love seeking out early flowers but it increases my step-count in a way that I find interesting.

February is also a busy month with two family birthdays, including a 'landmark' one for my husband, so there was cake, dinner out at Lorentes tapas bar at Darley Mills, bowling with all the family, and more cake. It's probably as well that I've been out walking so much!

The last of this year's snowdrop adventures - back to Kedleston

I visited Kedleston in search of snowdrops back at the beginning of February, and it seems a good place to round off the month and my snowdrop adventures. Time is moving on and the lovely sunny weather mans daffodils, crocus and other Spring flowers are appearing to take their place.

This time, after seeing the snowdrops in the Pleasure Grounds, we headed up the short walk - only as far as the viewpoint, mainly because the return through the parkland looked extremely muddy, and the seats at the viewpoint make a convenient pace to stop, rest, and turn round.

The sun shone brightly casting shadows of the trees lining the walk, the cherry plum was in full blossom, and alongside the path snowdrops, daffodils, and primroses were in flower. A perfect early Spring day with a wonderful view at the halfway point.

To make things perfect the cafe opening hours had changed so the day could be rounded off with tea and cake.

 

Snowdrop adventures - back to Calke

More sunny days means more trips out; after so many wet weeks it's good to get out and about. 

We last visited Calke at the end of January and were a bit early to catch the snowdrops in full flower, so it felt like time to return.

Now the snowdrop were fully in flower, lining the path up to the church and carpeting the woodland by the walled garden.

On the auricula theatre, pots of various varieties showed how diverse snowdrops can actually be - flecked with green or pure white, some short, others taller, the flowers double or single. In all, many more than I would imagine

Further along irises and crocus were displayed in a similar way.

I particularly love irises as I've had no luc in growing them myself.

The sky above was blue, and under the apple trees daffodils were beginning to appear. Soon it will be time to come and sit here under the blossom.

Out of the garden then and through the woodland where snowdrops were covering the ground, before heading back to the car.