Spring time at Audley End

Yesterday we went to Audley End - we haven't been for a few months so it was nice to go back and see what was happening now Spring is here. 

The gardens were gorgeous so we were not disappointed.

The tulips were magnificent - such lovely colours.

These looked ever so pretty in the glass house.

I liked this - wouldn't mind putting something up like this in our garden.

The waterfall was flowing well too.

One thing that is great about going to Audley End is there is a big expanse of space for Percy to play 'races' up the top of the hill above the house.  Not only is the view lovely there, but it is one of the highlights of Percy's visit too.

He just loves racing Mark.  Guess who always wins?!

A Walk in the Park

Yesterday before I tackled the garden we went for a walk round our local park.

It was the perfect day for a walk, warm with the sun shining.

The magnolia was looking pretty.

We went in part to see if the rhododendrons had started to flower

To our delight they have just started to.

Percy enjoyed the walk as well...but the attraction of a squirrel was too much for him so he had to go back on a lead!

Bright yellow blossoms

What was once a bright yellow flower! ;-)

Some insect life.

Having a snooze

Cute little gosling.

A good day.

Thankful Thursday : Working Hard in the Garden.

Lots to be thankful for - blue sky and warm weather always good!

Our Cherry Trees are looking spectacular against the blue sky.

I have been working hard in the garden again today - my muscles can certainly feel it!

I have dug over the rose garden, weeded it and laid down a terracotta bark mulch.

The front garden is starting to look a lot better now.

Still a way to go with the rest of it, but good progress made.

I made up the new bird table feeder that we picked up today and I am really pleased with it.

It needs to be moved into its permanent place but I wanted to get it set up.

A good days work.

Working on Wednesday

I have had a busy afternoon in the garden today.  I certainly ache now, but at least it is aching from some hard and successful work.

Three hanging baskets have been planted up.

30 pots have been planted - some of these with self-seeded foxglove that I needed to remove from my rose garden ready for the bark mulch that I hope to put down tomorrow.

This beautiful plant Senetti, Blue Bicolour,  has been potted up.  Apparently it will flower right through until November - so I have high hopes for it!

Some of the pots have marigolds in them.

This lovely plant keeps flowering year after year.

Some more pots planted up - they don't look much yet but hopefully in a few weeks time...

Love the colour of this pansy.

I also re-potted a rose - it was in a terracotta pot that had cracked and broken up.

My gorgeous fuchsia is also in a lovely big pot.  

Hopefully we should have a lot of colour this summer.

Tomorrow's jobs will be picking up a new wooden bird feeder that we saw today but couldn't fit in the car.  My MIL had given me some money for my birthday and I have finally decided what I would like to spend it on.  I also  hope to finish weeding the rose garden and start getting the bark mulch down.  

Finishing the post with another picture of this lovely flower.

Simply beautiful!

It was a bright sunny morning.

Our Cherry tree is looking gorgeous.

We decided it as the perfect day to go and see the Bluebells again over at Ashridge Estate.

The rest are just pictures - it was so beautiful, although the blue sky had become a bit cloudier.

The lambs have grown!

Percy enjoyed himself.

A lovely morning indeed.