A Cabin in the Woods (well. orchard)

For Christmas we treated ourselves to a Canopy and Stars gift voucher and received a bonus voucher to spend early this year. The holiday didn't HAVE to be taken this early but the weather was sunny and it seemed too good an opportunity to miss.

We picked the Damson Cabin, nestled amongst the orchards of Worcestershire. It wasn't far from the main 'A' road from Droitwich to Tenbury Wells but felt lost in the countryside.

 We approached along a drive lined with daffodils, anemones, and primroses, past the main farm and outbuildings, through one orchard to our own private spot with only sheep for company. It's hard to imagine a more tranquil spot.

We didn't do much over the couple of days we were there - walked to the nearby Oldfields cider farm, with orchards lining the sides of the road, and otherwise just chilled on the cabin verandah or by the stove.

I'd hoped the trees, presumably damsons, would have been in flower - last year at Lichen Cabin near Tintern we were too late in the season, this time too early. It's an incentive to return though. 


 

Back to Chatsworth

As I mentioned back in last December, we decided to take out 'Friends' membership (effectively an annual pass) at Chatsworth again. We went to see the indoor and outdoor decorations before Christmas, but the main reason for joining is to be able to visit the gardens numerous times throughout summer.

The new season opened mid-March and we went along on the first week.

The sun was warm, the skies blue - a perfect day for wandering round the grounds.

The sun was shining in just the right direction to cause rainbows in the fountain. I've visited many times before but don't think I've ever seen them this large.

Meandering through the gardens was like saying hello to old acquaintances. There were some changes but at heart it's the same old, familiar friend.

 

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.