Herefordshire - April Visit - Part 1: Herefordshire Trees and Tenbury Wells

 

We managed to return to Herefordshire last week and stayed four nights arriving at Tuesday lunch time.  

There was not much change in the Herefordshire Trees from when we visited the week before although leaves are now appearing on the Aspens at the site and Hawthorn is coming into leaf.

Herefordshire Oak

Octopus Tree

Constable Tree(s)

We used to have a lovely pink primula in the border under the hawthorn hedge which always seemed to be in flower when we visited. Sadly that seems to have disappeared but a tiny plant seems to have self seeded on the lawn!

Sorry about the blurred photo but we were so pleased to see that a pair of Blue Tits were investigating the nest box B had put up last year.

Garlic Mustard is nearly in flower.

My little bowl of succulents bought last year seems to be doing well.

It was good to watch birds while we were there especially the Buzzards and Red Kites. The bat detector was picking up bats every night and I could also see them swooping around the caravan.

On the Wednesday which was hot and sunny we went into Tenbury Wells to do some shopping. The verges of the country lanes were full of primroses, dandelions and lesser celandine. Blackthorn in the main is past its best flower wise but it won't be long before Hawthorn is flowering.

First we stocked up on bird food although I do realise that the latest advice from the RSPB and BTO is not to feed from May to September due to the risk of disease. I have certainly now stopped feeding birds at home.  

We walked to Mr Thoms as I wanted to buy some more of their apple chutney which is delicious. Sadly, they were out of stock so I bought some pear, apple and ginger chutney to try.

Blossom by the River Teme

On the  way back to Tesco. where we stocked up on food. I popped into the Tourist Information Centre to pick up the NGS booklets for Herefordshire, Shropshire and Worcestershire.  I would like to visit more of the NGS gardens this year. I have already highlighted a few to visit if we are in Herefordshire when they are open.  We saw our first Orange Tip butterfly of the year on the site when we returned.

On the Thursday I popped to St Leonards to look round the churchyard but I will write about that in the next post.

All photos taken by me with the Panasonic Lumix FZ330 bridge camera. (If anyone wishes to use one of my photos or one of my sons I would be grateful for an email first - thanks).

August Visit to Herefordshire - Part 1 : Hatfield and Tenbury Wells

 

Last week we returned to Herefordshire for four nights. The journey took longer than usual as the Worcester Road was closed at Bredenbury and the diversion took us out of our way by over 20 minutes!

Timothy back on his shelf.

I treated myself to this handmade ceramic arts and craft style tile showing the mistletoe that grows on trees around Tenbury Wells. It is heat resistant so I am using it as a tea pot stand at the moment although really it should be on display somewhere at the caravan as it is too nice to hide under a teapot!

There is not much change in the Herefordshire trees although I think I can detect a slight change in the leaf colour of the oak.  On the journey we noticed so many trees where the leaves were changing colour and falling from the trees presumably due to all the dry weather we have been having

Herefordshire Oak

Octopus Tree

Constable Tree(s)

Thankfully, most of the plants in the garden and in pots had survived while we were absent. Only the cranesbill geraniums looked a bit sorry for themselves but perked up after being watered.

Mini alliums in full flower now and attracting many bees, butterflies and hoverflies.

D has at least 12 chilli peppers forming on his chilli plant

The cherry tomatoes are starting to ripen.

The hedgerows are full of hawthorn berries and blackberries.

The cooking apple tree in the garden is full of apples this year and we have started to pick a few. We brought home a carrier bag full of them and blackberries!  I think I might try making an apple chutney this year.

We walked down to the hen house to buy eggs although unusually there were none for sale.

A rose in one of the gardens.

I picked a rose from our garden - the scent was beautiful.

A few weeks ago we picked some honesty seedheads from the garden and dried them. We have now put them in a jar to in front of the rather modern fire we have in the lounge.

I spotted a Grey Dagger moth on the bee hotel - a new species for the site.

D's rudbeckia's are in flower now.

Another two people have left the caravan site - B's friend and ex work colleague who had a caravan in the walled garden and the people in the caravan next to us.  I think a lot of people are feeling very uncertain about possible changes to the site next year.

The next day Wednesday we popped into Tenbury Wells mainly to buy a few items from Tesco but we went for a walk first.

One of the trees in the Burgage recreation ground.

We popped into Mr Thoms to buy some of their Bramley Apple chutney which is delicious.  I just hope I can make some as good.

The antiques gallery

The next day we visited Berrington Hall as we haven't been for ages and I will write about that in the next post.

All photos taken by me with the Panasonic Lumix FZ330 bridge camera. (I don't particularly rate my photos but if anyone wishes to use one of mine or my son's I would be grateful for an email first - thanks)

Another Herefordshire Visit - Part 1: Burford House Gardens

 

We managed to get away again to Herefordshire last week for four nights.  We arrived on Wednesday and Thursday decided to revisit Burford House Gardens as we hadn't been since toward the end of June when we also visited Ledwyche Meadow next to the gardens.

Again, it was very quiet and peaceful there and we didn't see any other visitors just a volunteer or two gardening.

George the Dragon is for sale at a reduced price because he has a cracked wing! A bargain if you have £2499.99 to spare!

Wild Arum or Lords and Ladies or Jack in the Pulpit berries. This plant has some wonderful names.

 

The roses are still looking beautiful.

Burford House has a large selection of different varieties of clematis throughout the gardens.

Michaelmas Daisies - we still have the purple variety in the garden at home although we lost the plants with deep pink and white flowers.

B was lucky enough to see a Kingfisher flying down the river. I missed it, of course, dawdling to take photos!  In past summers we have wonderful views of this species here.

Timothy happy to be out and about again :)

We bought icecreams in the Garden Centre tea room and then had a look round the nurseries as there was a plant sale on.  I finally managed to buy some house leeks (photo in the next post) and B spotted a Red Hot Poker which he bought.  The one I purchased from Stockton Bury Gardens was a Yellow Hot Poker and he  wanted a red one as well.

We stopped off briefly in Tenbury Wells to buy petrol and get a few items from Tesco.

All photos taken by me with the Panasonic Lumix FZ330 bridge camera. (I don't particularly rate my photos but if anyone wishes to use one of mine or my son's I would be grateful for an email first - thanks.