Belton daffodils

I've been to Belton many times over the years, but I've never seen the daffodils looking this stunning

.

In part, this was heading there when the daffodils were in full bloom,instead of in the past heading there just because we were going away to Norfolk; this isn't the best way of catching flowers at their best. I think another thing was that stopping en route to somewhere else limits the time you can spend at any one property, so maybe we never got to see them. 

Whatever the daffodils were just stunning. Stretching as far as the eye can see!

We wandered beyond the pleasure grounds up to the lakes where there were still daffodils growing everywhere.

And even back along the main driveway to the house.These were by far the best daffodils we'd seen.

 

Kedleston daffodils

Another gorgeous day and another walk amongst the daffodils

 

Kedleston Snowdrops

Having visited the winter garden at Dunham Massey, I decided local snowdrops would be flowering too, so the first sunny day we headed to Kedleston Hall to see how things were advancing there.

The path snaking through trees from visitor reception to the Pleasure Grounds was lined with clumps of flowers, and walking across the lawns a bank covered in snowdrops came into view. 

Elsewhere we found a really early flowering rhododendron - now at its pea yet but with its first blooms opening. 

Round on the front parkland, sheep obligingly stood to have their photos taken with the bridge and lakes in the background..

 

Dunham Massey winter garden

It's odd perhaps to think of  garden as a place to visit in winter, but Dunham Massey is one of those lucky places that have flowers, shrubs, and trees planted to look good in what you might consider a 'dead season'.

There are snowdrops, of course, hellebores, and aconites but also early flowering daffodils (though these were a little too far from the path to photograph with my phone).

Some of the trees have been deliberately picked for the appearance of their bark - cherry and dogwoods. 

There are scented shrubs like daphne and witch hazel, splendidly flowering camellias on the brink of breaking into blossom, and striking heads of hydrangeas.

All in all a lovely place to spend a (fortunately dry) January afternoon.