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.

 

Snowdrop adventures - Kedleston

The weather at the beginning of February continued mild and occasionally sunny so I thought I'd take the opportunity for another snowdrop adventure. 

This time we headed to Kedleston Hall pleasure grounds where there's a huge bank of snowdrops at the western end of the gardens and others scattered around. They weren't in full flower but still looking better than my garden snowdrops which are always very late. 

The mild weather had also encouraged the first flowers to appear on this rhododendron. It's such a lovely sight this early in the year that I'm surprised it's not positioned more prominently. As it is you need to leave the paths to see it.

The surrounding parkland still looked bleak and wintry but the sun was warm enough for me to sit a little while by the summer house and take in the view.

Heading from the pleasure grounds towards the church, we came across another clump of snowdrops, not quite as far open yet but will look delightful in a couple of weeks.

 

Snowdrop adventures - Calke

I love spotting the first snowdrops - always anxiously watching for the early signs in my garden, and visiting as many local gardens and woodland as possible. A sunny day towards the end of January seemed like an ideal time to head out on the first of hopefully many snowdrop adventures. I wasn't sure how open they'd be yet ( my garden snowdrops are still a way from full flower) but being National Trust members there's no extra charge to go to Calke several times.

As it was, although they weren't at their fullest, there were still a lot of snowdrops to be found - under the trees, in the auricula theatre, on the walk up to the church.

There are just snowdrops to be seen though - the witch hazels were cheering up the woodland walks -

and in front the house was a different sort of attraction - sheep! They're not usually seen here but were doing a good job of keeping the grass mown.

Back at the cafe, with about five minutes to spare before closing, there was tea and cakes, and on the way home an amazing red sunset.

 

More snowdrops? Yes, please

I don't think it's possible to have too many snowdrops, so on a rare sunny day I headed out in search of more. 

Hopton Hall, near Carsington Water in Derbyshire, is a private estate open to the general public for just two periods of the year - in February for the snowdrop display, and in July when the rose garden is at its best. 

To one side of the entrance drive lies a woodland and in early spring it's carpeted in white flowers with the occasional splash of yellow from aconites.

The path winds back and forth between trees to give a view of this amazing sight from almost every angle, but really I want to just stand, whirl round, and say Wow!

It's just totally enchanting to see snowdrops spreading like this. I assume they cannot all have been planted individually but, like the smaller display in my own garden, have colonised an ever-increasing area over the years, by seed dispersed by the wind or with help from birds. The result is stunning.

From the woodland, the visitor trail leads behind the Hall to the rose garden. Empty of flowers at this time of year, it still has a charm derived from the formal clipped hedges and trees.

 

Paths then wind down towards a small lake where it was warm enough to sit and admire the view for a few minutes. Not for long, but to be able to sit outside in February is marvelous.

 It was even pleasant enough that we sat outside for tea and cake. Spring certainly feels like it's arrived