Kedleston daffodils

Another gorgeous day and another walk amongst the daffodils

 

Easton Walled Garden

Easron Walled Garden is a new place for us to visit. I learned of it, rather unusually, through a Sawdays advert for garden properties and decided that it would make a good place to visit. Then I discovered that it was one of the properties covered by our Historic Houses membership so off we went.

It's known in early Spring for its snowdrops. It was too wet to be worth visiting then but the snowdrop walk was still open and we could see where they were meant to be. There were daffodils around the place bringing sunshine and cheer. 

We followed the path round the snowdrop walk, along side the river Wensum, which flows on to Grantham.

Then across this magnificent bridge which led to the walled garden.

This was mainly laid to orchard, with bulbs underneath

Then back down to the bridge, and over and up to the terraced gardens.

 

Shipley daffodils

Sunny weather at the beginning of March found me heading out to my favorite local daffodil spot - Shipley Park, near Ilkeston.

Earlier in the year it;s also a good place for snowdrops but February had been too wet to entice me out. There were still some flowering but not in the profusion I would have expected a month ago.

We wandered up the hill and around the flatter area by the old haha where daffodils spread under the trees.

Then looping back round to fallow the road back downhill

 

February - lethargy

 By February I'd normally be hoping to see the end of winter, and every year I anxiously watch the weather on the second of the month, Candlemas, when rain predicts an end to cold and damp, and conversely sunshine indicates a return to winter. Then once the snowdrops start to appear, I'd be off out to walk round gardens to see displays of them.

This year didn't work out like that.

February 2nd was a gloriously sunny morning - so not a good sign - and by afternoon rain had returned. And stayed, seemingly for the whole month.

We haven't had dreadful weather - no snowdrifts or flooding issues. It stayed comparatively mild. The snowdrops appeared as they should, and crocuses a little later, daffodils appeared by the end of the month, and hedgerow sloes began to blossom.. But winter seems to have gone on forever, and I've been unable to work up enthusiasm to go out - or even really no anything beyond the absolutely necessary.

I've spent a lot of time playing 368Chickens on the phone (it's very addictive) and good old fashioned board games with grandson at half term. I've tried to keep up me daily walks near to home (on dry days) but I've not found enthusiasm for anything more.

The last week turned sunny -and I grabbed the opportunity to head out and about. A little late for snowdrops but later spring flowers are on the way.