Wales at Easter

Wild Flowers -

Steam Trains

and Mountains - Wales had shed its winter shroud of mists - turbulent storms and heavy snow and we saw a glimpse of a gentler Wales

- silence only broken by bird song  and the calling of sheep and lambs in the fields and of course the movement of steam trains up the valley.

We spent the week - us two - two teenage grandsons and two dogs - chilling out - the crew we have stayed in this house before - fantastic views (for us ) WiFi for the younger ones - playing on gadgets way into the night and getting up late - us getting up early  catching the sunrise

 and walking the dogs - seeing the countryside waking up.

We took a trip on the Blaenau Ffestiniog Railway which is a fabulous trip

- steaming through the Welsh Mountains and a visit to Portmeirion Village

- renowned for its fabulous pottery and incredible architecture. The grounds are extensive - us two returned in the evening

to walk up into the woods

and view the age old shrubs and trees - some hundred years old and more- rhododendrons

and camellias towered to the sky -we also saw evidence of the recent terrible storms - Portmerion lost total 98 trees,

 Returning home and taking a walk out at our local park

and strolling around its walled kitchen garden and admiring the flowers

and veggies - as we approached the old brick buildings suddenly a swallow swooped past - the first one for me this year - what a wonderful surprise - of course as they say over here in the UK "one swallow does not make a summer" but it did it for me ! enjoy your week - Jane x

Somewhere in Shropshire

Hello - thought you might like to come with me on the dog walk today - quite a nice day - a little misty - still plenty of puddles in the fields but even so very refreshing and good for the soul.

I haven't taken this route for a while - and was amazed how the crop had grown - the last time I came down here this crop was showing as quite small plants - today the plants were shoulder high with me and I guess in a few weeks they  will tower above - it is oil seed rape (I think) - the pollen from the flowerheads can be quite powerful- but the colour  is so bright.

The dogs were excited lots of new smells and new pathways -  the field had long stretches of walkway from one end to the other - made by the farmer and his tractors while cultivating the crop - so we were able to extend our walk to and fro.

I stood and looked across the fields to the hills beyond  - on the horizon the hills of Wales

This old tree stretches out to the sky - that brings thoughts to me of a favourite tree up on Lyth Hill that I visit from time to time and give it a hug I know I can feel the vibrations from deep in its trunk

Not many people about today down here - maybe they don't like the pollen from the rape - perhaps I will regret strolling through the field 

 

 The hedgerows were covered in white blackthorn blossom - one of my favourites -  encouraging a few bees to stray from their flight path -  but alas no butterflies perhaps it is a bit to early

 Dogs were a bit muddy and so was I when we reached home - so it was time to get the dogs scrubbed up on the decking - yes a refreshing walk  - bye

Gardening and other things

This post is for  all you bloggers out there who like me   annually get bitten by the gardening bug - the Spring flowers never cease to amaze me and stir me into action everyyear.I have bought a few bits from here and there - some Pleonie bulbs and Polianthus Tuberosa bulbs from a catalogue and a white poppy (again!)from the Garden Centre - white poppies don't seem to like my garden so I will try this one in a pot- and a primula burmanica from the Gardening Club in the village.

The blue himalayan poppy (kept in a pot!) has shown new leaves surprisingly - this will be its third year - first year it did not flower but last year it was so beautiful - fingers crossed for another bloom.

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                                                 The Primula Sieboldii has white buds showing

  I bought a pink one last year from Malvern Show so I am hoping that one of these pots is pink

The battle has commenced again  to protect the sweetpeas from the mice - first batch needs now to come out of the covered propagator - so I have put them in the conservatory - for the moment.

No luck for me at camera club this month subject was signs - OH came third - the shot was taken at Blists Hill Victorian Museum

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Just a few shots of my favourite plants in the garden at the moment - through all the upheaval in the garden the flowers bravely push through and do their best

                                                  Magnolia Stellata

                                              Ribes     (Red Currant)
                                    

Buddlea Davidii

Primula Gighi

 

 

Circles - Squares -  Kites - yes apparently these are the technical terms for the paving slabs needed to complete the circle - I am hoping to put my sundial here - the plan is not to have to much clutter in the garden in future !!

 

The allotment is taking a second place at the moment  - but a trailer load of best matured muck was collected after hours this week from a relative at Church Stretton (no picture!!) and shallots and seed potatoes are at the ready.- enjoy your week - Jane
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North Wales

Trefriw - Fairy Falls - Llyn Crafnant - Conwy - special places from our walking break up North Wales -not to far to drive approximately 60 miles and after a hectic start amd leaving our gardening project in the lurch- a perfect escape

I am posting a few pics just for the record and also to relive my memories - yes it did rain on and off - and yes the mists came down - but yes the sun did shine through in equal measure and we had a great time.

Click on the pics for a decent view - I  only seem to be able to post this size on my blogs - if anyone has any suggestions as to what I need to do to get a larger pic I would appreciate your comment.

Wales never ceases to come through with unexpected places and special moments.
 I booked with a local agency - so here is a little plug for them I have added a link - the house Llwyn-y-coed Isaf http://dioni.co.uk/llwyn-y-coed/ was adequate in comforts and the views were great - not so much for the camera though because every which way there was a huge pylon - in this pic - just on the horizon to the right !!

in the way - but after a while we adjusted to that and gazed beyond these modern day necessities - adjusting our lenses accordingly!!

The house looked out onto what appeared to be reed beds

- and when we asked we were told yes it was reeds and they were sold for thatching - apparently the ground used to be used for summer grazing but  it had become unproductive because it was a flood plain - you can see in the pic  where a patch has been cut

First day off was a tour round the little village of Trifriw - parking up and asking directions for the local walks - after a few false turns we arrived at the Fairy Falls - aptly named by the Victorians who were fascinated by these mythical creatures

- it was all very slippy and care was needed not to end up belly up in the falls below!! but even so cameras were  at the ready for a few pics of course - we continued on and the rain did its best to soak us but spirits  high and hoods up we continued the walk and ended up in Ship Inn for a spot of lunch and I must say a good day was had by all !!


What do you think of this - I think it is so pretty - I am hoping OH will make one for me he is good at working metal  this one was on the hearth in the Ship Inn in Trefriw

Up and ready for another session - and to breath in the vigorous welsh air we decided on a visit to Conway - we have touched on this area before - but never spent a great deal of time in the actual town - the castle is not that big .. see below in the distance through the arch in the town walls

and here is a pic taken on a previous visit just to give you a better look

but the town walls stretch right around the existing town - they date back to the castle era - are very picturesque and a must for a walkaround

We sat and ate icecreams and soaked up the views

Day three - again going out with a blank canvas so to speak - with definite purpose in mind - we called in at a small garden centre and bought a couple of plants and just mentioned to the owner that we were out for a nice walk - so he pointed us in the direction of Llyn Crafnant - so that was that decision made - here is the result

 

 

 how beautiful is that!

 

we walked right round the lake - quite a way  but so worth it

bye for now - have a good week - Jane x

 

Spring Flowers and a Greenhouse Skeleton

Well Spring is here - and a greenhouse takes shape - still more clutter to shift  - but things are on the up  - the garden has survived the winter deluge and the demolition remarkably well  - so I have posted a few of my favourite pics - and also a few shots of the greenhouse coming to life.

It is pretty much 4 weeks since I last posted - seems to me that this house has been flat out - with garden affairs - family affairs and general living - the fields and country walkways have been so wet and muddy until recently and so have been out of bounds for a black and white collie who loves to race back and two through  very mucky pools - also Blue has been restricted on her exercise - she has had  an operation  which left her with a wound with stitches on her side - but now things have healed up nicely and so she is able to exercise in her usual fashion - a tearaway collie.!!

Here are a few pics of our mammoth task - please say it looks better - mind there is still a way to go - staging is being made by a friend - before the plants can be moved in - yes they are all crammed into the old cedar wood house - which in its turn is coming down to make way for new paving - a line of trellis for clematis and some garden furniture - all in the distant  future me thinks - well there you are you see - now for a few pics for a clearer picture.
                   
                     Take one - corner bricks in place

   
                     Wow the bricks are down !!

 

 

Up she goes - looking good  - what do you think

 

 

glass going in - not to many breakages! 

Blue inspects the new space  ( thinks plenty of ball playing area)!

 

and this is Fred !- a garden gift from a neighbour - made locally - love him

 

 

 

 So there we are - getting there - and now just a few pics from round the garden

 

No doubt that the colours of Spring really give a lift to the garden and certainly give me a boost!!

 

 

Japonica

 

 I thought I had lost my primula sieboldii  - so sent for replacements - and then see below my plants were just a bit slow off the mark but here they are pushing through - now I had white and pink plants so now I am waiting to see if both have survived - I love primulas and intend to have more

 

 

 

 

Note the empty looking pots scattered around - I am just waiting to see what is going to shoot next  

 

Primula Gigha

 

 

 

 

 Help your self to a scone if there is not enough to go around I will make some more!!

 

 Bye until next time - Jane x