Thursday 25 February 2016

The Awakening

Snowdrops have been nodding their heads for weeks in our gardens - finally mother nature has caste off her winter mantle and rubbed the dust out of her eyes. She has opened wide her paint box and splashed yellows, pinks and blues around our land.
Blue skies, brilliant sunshine, an early morning nip in the air all succeeded in tempting us out for our first picnic of the year to The Weir Garden, Herefordshire. 

A garden sitting high on a loop of the River Wye as it meanders from Wales through the Herefordshire countryside before journeying on to the Bristol Channel and out in to the Atlantic 
A musical cacophany of bird song filled the air, chirping Robins protecting their territory, the mewing of six large Buzzards as angry nesting Rooks chased them away from their tree top eries, whilst across the river two Bean geese honked at us before taking flight to breed in Scandinavia. 
The garden is managed in a natural way to create a varied habitat for wildlife. There is very little formality apart from some large topiary domes, and structures which give interesting walks, and steep steps to explore up and down the river bank. 

A garden of many pathways to explore




Ancient woodlands - excavations have shown that there once was a multi roomed Roman residence complete with columns and mosaics thought to have belonged to a Roman official from nearby Kenchester

Glades filled with naturalised flowers

but always acccompanied by tantalising glimpses of the River Wye as it merrily travels on its way


79 comments:

  1. I can see why that Roman Official chose that spot to live. I can almost feel the sun on my face, smell the flowers, hear the birds all while gazing at that beautiful river.

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    1. Unbelievably for February, we returned home with a touch of sunburn on our faces.

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  2. I love Spring here but seeing your pictures reminds me how fantastic the awakening from winter is in England.

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    1. I do think that our Spring takes some beating but may be it is to do with the strong contrasts between winter and now here. You have a much more amenable winter season than us.

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  3. You have some real spring already there, a beautiful area to have a picnic!

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    1. It really was Spring in this garden yesterday - we had sunshine from dawn to dusk and not a cloud in the sky.

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  4. Such beautiful photos, Rosemary. The Wye is lovely (at any time of year) but on a sunny day with the promise of spring it is a perfect place to be. That it interesting about the Roman residence. I wonder why later generations didn't also choose to live on that spot.

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    1. There is a large white Georgian house at the top of the bank which this garden belonged to. The garden is now NT and the house is now a convalesence home.

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  5. Hello Rosemary, You usually seem to get your share of the nice weather over there. I suppose that the spring buds are also coming out over here, but the weather is always so rainy and gloomy that one really doesn't notice--or at least see an opportunity for photos and picnics.

    My favorite picture here is the first one, the bucolic hillside with the silhouettes of huge trees. That topiary-looking shrubbery (if that's what it is) near the river somehow seems discordant, but the river itself is very sinuous and scenic.
    --Jim

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    1. Hello Jim - I really feel that I should show a post taken on a bad day, it is not all wall to wall sunshine here by any means. However, yesterday was a perfect day - warm and not a cloud in the sky.

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  6. Replies
    1. We were very happy yesterday, the weather and garden was so beautiful.

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  7. What absolutely gorgeous photos, thank you for the morning walk.

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    1. It was a perfect day in which to visit this lovely garden

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  8. Dear Rosemary, Now this is my kind of garden. Beautiful photos you are sharing with us. I have already picked several spots for my fishing rod to dip into the waters of the river Wye.

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    1. Dear Gina - fishing is good in the Wye and if you are lucky a salmon may be caught to take home for the pot.

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  9. Such a beautiful spring with blooming flowers and bushes I so far seen only in photographs. With me you have not. Regards.

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    1. Spring is very early here this year Giga following a very mild winter without snow.

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  10. It was a gorgeous day yesterday and that looks like a lovely place to have been. So peaceful.

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    1. This week has been lovely hasn't it Jessica - this is a garden that I am sure you would enjoy. The River Wye is a perfect backdrop - it is well worth a visit.

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  11. Beautiful photo's of the Wye valley Rosemary. A long time ago, when my daughters were still under ten, we spent a holiday near Ross on Wye. Your post brought back many happy memories of country walks along the river.

    Have a lovely evening!

    Madelief x

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    1. This garden is very near to Ross-on-Wye Madelief we past by there on our journey to the garden.

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  12. Thank you for this uplifting walk, Rosemary. Simply beautiful!

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    1. Thank you Teresa for your very kind and generous comment which I greatly appreciate.

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  13. Hello dear Rosemary!!
    What a beautiful garden!
    Gorgeous pictures!It's Spring already in your country and mine!
    I arrived yesterday in the Netherlands!
    Today it was snowing and very cold!
    Have a lovely evening!
    Dimi...

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    1. Have a happy time Dimi and enjoy your little grandson - imagine that it is snowing in the Netherlands!!!

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  14. So lovely to see the paintbox of colours,it looks an amazing garden. When I saw the first image of the river I immediately thought it was the River Wye! Sarah x

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    1. The location of this garden is wonderful Sarah - yes, the River Wye is very distinctive in the way it loops its way across this part of the country forming deep gorges.

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  15. What a beautiful place that has obviously been that way for a very long time! The Romans chose well didn't they! xx

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    1. The Romans rather like the aristocracy recognise a good spot when they find one.

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  16. What a beautiful garden. I know that I've said it before, but you are so fortunate in the number of beautiful gardens you can visit.
    A few of your photos have the quality of paintings. Exquisite light!

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    1. This week we have had some wonderful days, days that bring the feeling that winter has gone. On the day we visited Herefordshire the sun shone from dawn to dusk it was beautiful, a day to enjoy and savour.

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  17. Hello Rosemary,

    Looks like the perfect place to have a picnic and loved seeing your wonderful photos.
    Spring really is such a lovely season, with all the sweet crocus and snowdrops making an appearance.
    Have a lovely weekend
    hugs
    Carolyn

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    1. Hello Carolyn - as the quote goes "Spring has Sprung" and it feels good. It was lovely to be able to sit out of doors again and enjoy our lunch♡

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  18. The first photo is certainly a picture, the leaves awaiting to arrive.
    The daffodils are good to see in bloom.
    Tree roots are something nature made, all is magic and lovely.

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    1. It will be several weeks before the leaves arrive, that is something else to anticipate and look forward to.

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  19. Hi Rosemary,
    Really lovely photos, I enjoyed them a lot!
    Bea Cupcake

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    1. Thanks so much - we could take you there next time you are over. Lovely to hear from you♡

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    2. It looks like a lovely place! I've also started up my blog as well.
      Becky

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    3. Lovely - I will take a look

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  20. So spring seems a bit further in England - as your beautiful photos show. The daffofils are not blooming here (in the wildernis), nor prune or cherry. But it starts slowly now too - though these days February behaves like April - always changing from mild to very cold, from bright to snow to rain.

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    1. Dear Britta - Wednesday was so warm that we returned home with a flush of pink to our cheeks from the sun - today has been chilly.

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  21. Thanks for your visit to my blog. I certainly am happy I cam over to see your breathtaking photos! Wishing you a lovely weekend.

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    1. Thank you for visiting - hope that you will call by again.

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  22. What a lovely garden! This is my favorite type of garden. I’d be thrilled with which pathway to take, but I’d be most delighted closer to the river. Indeed, the earth is being awaken to the colors. Bare trees aglow with purplish color at their budding time are so beautiful. Thank you for sharing.

    Yoko

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    1. That is interesting Yoko - paths higher up for me, so that I can also take in the surrounding landscape.

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  23. Thanks for your comments on Hastings Battleaxe - for some reason it won't let me reply to you! Your piece about The Weir Garden is a beautiful, positive post, making us feel Spring-like even when the weather right now is cold and bleak!

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    1. The weather is fickle, but luckily we have escaped the snow all winter in this corner. Last Wednesday it was more like an early summers day, we even returned home with sunkissed cheeks.
      Don't worry about not being able to reply - there was a time when 'it' would not let me comment on your posts.

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  24. Glorious photos, a true manna for the eyes !

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  25. Beautiful uplifting photographs, spring has certainly arrived early this year and I am delighted as it's my favourite time of year.

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  26. Hi big sis,wonderful photos you have a real talent,in deepest derbyshire we are a long way behind with many signs of spring.Sometimes the Sun entices us out without a coat but we soon hurry indoors to pick one up.

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    1. I'm in shock - thanks and glad you liked the photos♡

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  27. Like always good collage and amazing bridge.

    Greetings,
    Filip

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    1. The garden is magical especially on a lovely warm sunny day

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  28. I came over on a recommendation from Mary from Oregon. How glad I am. Your photos are filled with light and colour - just what a soul craves during February.

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    1. Thank you for your kind comment Lorrie, it was nice to see you here, and hope that you will visit again.

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    2. Glad you folllowed up, Lorrie!

      Mary

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  29. Such beautiful spring pictures, so many daffodils and blossom on the trees - oh and the views of the river, you know my passion for water. A really lovely place to visit Rosemary, and sunshine as well, what more could you want.

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    1. This is a lovely garden to visit Elaine and especially on such a beautiful day - last wednesday the sun shone clearly from dawn to dusk - days such as this breed contentment.

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  30. I can feel Spring in your voice Rosemary.
    These are magical moments we all look forward to during the cold dreary winter days.
    The great English poets waxed lyrical about hosts of daffodils, the song of the Lark and so on.
    There's an excitement in the air for both humans and animals.
    There is nothing quite like a walk in the English countryside however it is taken to a new level in Spring!
    A wonderful post.
    Shane

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    1. Thank you Shane - at this time of year the senses seem heightened at the coming renewal that Spring brings - there is a freshness and a raw intensity.

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  31. What a beautiful place! I just love the colours of Spring - makes me feel so upbeat!!

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    1. It is good to have you back in the blog world - this garden sits in a magical location.

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  32. What a serene, beautiful place! :o)

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  33. Oh wow such beautiful photographs - a joy to look at, thank you.

    All the best Jan

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  34. Wonderful photos, and so beautiful. I can see you have a lovely spring there.

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  35. Gorgeous photos of a beautifully informal garden, Rosemary. Spring seems very advanced down on the Wye. I can quite see why that long-ago Roman official chose to build his villa there.

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    1. It's a delightful spot along the Wye Perpetua

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  36. More amazing woodland and even more surprsing? You have blue skies in your photos! :) Beautiful woodland trees there. They look like they grew right out of Narnia or something.

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    1. That was our first beautiful day of the spring and luckily we decided to make the most of it

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