Author: Ashley

A short holiday by Strangford Lough

~ Ashley ~ 45 Comments

Our short holiday should have been taken earlier this year, but had to be delayed.  The owner of the property we stayed at (Stay on the Bay, in Kircubbin) was really helpful and it was rearranged for August.

1view through the upstair lounge

The ‘upside-down’ cottage was brilliant and waking up in the mornings to the sound of the waves was wonderful.  The weather hasn’t been the best this year, especially August, but a change is as good as a rest, as they say!  Without stress or pressure, we just took each day as it came.

A short drive took us to Greyabbey.

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4greyabbey from the physic garden

Greyabbey was delightful.  The village has few shops but there is enough to keep one occupied, exploring the craft and antique shops before lunch.  Of course, a visit to the ruins of the abbey, a Cistercian monastery, is a must.  It was founded in 1193 by Affreca, the daughter of Gofraid, the king of Man and the Isles.  She was the wife of John de Courcy, the Anglo-Norman adventurer.

On another day, we visited the National Trust property of Mount Stewart.

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4the lake mount stewart 2023

The house, gardens and the estate are amazing!  We have visited here many, many times and never tire of this special place on the Ards peninsula.

Ashley

Early Autumn

~ Ashley ~ 45 Comments

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The bee,
Steadies herself on the windblown flower;
Sipping nectar.

This photograph shows a shrub that looks like ‘Rose of Sharon’ (Hypericum calycinum) but it is the shrub Hypericum Hidcote, sometimes known colloquially as St. John’s Wort.  Whatever its correct name, I love it because it has such bright yellow flowers, bringing the sun into the garden (the sun is certainly lacking here these days).

Also, today the wind is blustery and fresh, a reminder that the season has changed.  Still, I’m hoping for some warm days ahead, especially as we will be heading to the coast for a few days holiday towards the end of the month.

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Ashley.

Where are all the butterflies?

~ Ashley ~ 62 Comments

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Blooming buddleia,
At the height of summer;
No butterflies!

As a recorder of butterflies in our little garden I am happy to see that my wonderful buddleia* is enjoying some afternoon sunshine.  Unfortunately, I have not recorded any butterflies in the garden since late May.  I am advised by the County Recorder that the lack of butterflies may be due to the mild and wet winter, followed by a dull, mild and wet spring!  The weather!!!  The climate???

 My geraniums are still flowering but here are some daisies** that have burst into flower over the last few days.

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*The buddleia, Buzz Velvet Red, has shot up this year.  It was supposed to be a dwarf variety.  All buddleia usually known as ‘butterfly bush’.

**The daisies are actually Leucanthemum superbum white.  We also have them in yellow but they are just not as far forward. 

Ashley

 

Summer Solstice 2024

~ Ashley ~ 58 Comments

Oh my goodness!  Here we are at the Summer Solstice, the longest day of the year and still it doesn’t feel like summer!  Whilst we’ve had a few sunny days, the skies have mostly been overcast.  Still, the cycle of nature continues to turn and here in our little garden, some of my favourite flowers are blooming, even with overcast skies.  Geraniums are relatively easy to grow and there are many hardy varieties to choose from which flower throughout the summer months.

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With longer days,
Summer flowers open;
Oh my, geraniums!


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Unfortunately, I’ve lost most of their names but I think the 2nd photo shows Johnson’s Blue, and the 3rd photo shows Bob’s Blunder.

Finally, here is a picture from our small garden, under a grey sky:

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In the northern hemisphere, the sun is at its highest point and the wheel of the year begins again. I hope that we do get some warmer days even as each day passes it is a little shorter than the previous one.

Happy Summer Solstice 🧡🌞

Ashley

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Rowallane Walled Garden

~ Ashley ~ 65 Comments

In the walled garden - Rowallane

This photograph was taken towards the end of May and with all the greenery it looks like the summer has arrived. We were in Rowallane Gardens, a favourite haunt of ours when we don’t have to travel too far from home.

There weren’t many people visiting and anyway the gardens are big enough to absorb the crowds. We arrived early and brought a box full of books for their used book shop. That’s at least 40 books we’ve donated this year (only another couple of hundred to go).

I’m a terrible one for plant names and writing them down just makes matters worse!  Here they are, from left to right:

Chaerophyllum hirsutum ‘Roseum’ – Marrubium vulgare Horehound – Ranunculus constantinoplitanus ‘Plenus’

Personally, I prefer hardy geraniums and here is a cracker:

Geranium hybrid 'Ann Folkard'

Geranium hybrid ‘Ann Folkard’

We did have some lovely warm sunny days at the end of May and the first day of June was a scorcher. However, temperatures have dropped back (10c feels like 8c) and today I actually put the heating on for an hour. It’s supposed to be the summer and in a few weeks time it will be the summer solstice, the longest day! Are you ready to celebrate?

Ashley

Ballyedmond Castle gardens

~ Ashley ~ 71 Comments

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Looking north into the Mourne Mountains shrouded in cloud

Just before May Day, we were able to visit these gardens.  They are private gardens and are only open to the public about half a dozen times per year.  Even then one probably only finds out about opening via membership of a gardening club, or as in my case, through a local wildlife group member who is also an RHS (Royal Horticultural Society) member.  Many thanks Lee!  Only 30 people can visit at any one time and no photographs are allowed to be taken of the house (castle).

The castle is situated on the north shore of Carlingford Lough in County Down, Northern Ireland.

I will add a link at the end of this post if you are interested in the house and gardens, as they have a varied history.

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Their own temple, where even the Gods can’t get a signal.

Their own harbour and possibly a heli-pad

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Their own bandstand

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Entrance to the Orangery where we had afternoon tea

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“Hurry up, chaps!  Tea is served”

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“Hoping you have had a pleasant visit”

By the way, it rained almost all of the time we were there!  Typical, as the following day the sun shone!  Au Contraire!

Ashley

https://lordbelmontinnorthernireland.blogspot.com/2012/11/ballyedmond-castle.html

Beltain 2024

~ Ashley ~ 59 Comments

Hawthorn tree beltain


Beltain,
Welcome to summer;
Rain!

After weeks of grey skies and rain, we’re now seeing a change in the weather.  Of course, change is never straightforward and whilst warmer days are on their way, there are sure to be some surprises!  On the last day of April, it rained constantly, and today the first day of May, the sun is shining!

In the ancient agricultural calendar, Beltain, or the Festival of Fertility, is usually celebrated at the end of April and the beginning of May and marked as the beginning of summer.  It is a time to celebrate the power of the life force; everything is growing and showing!  The energy of unions, whether spiritual or physical is alive!  The picture of the hawthorn tree, Crataegus monogyna, is relevant to this festival as it brings the spirit of wild places into our lives.  The haunt of fairies makes it a magical tree!

The hawthorn is tolerant of strong winds, dry and wet conditions.  A small , thorny deciduous tree with small white fragrant flowers; hermaphrodite (both male and female) reinforcing the association with balance and unions.  It is also known as the Maythorn or May Tree.  Its wood is tough and fine grained sometimes used as a veneer.

 Midges,
Dancing above the May tree;
Summer.
 

I’m a bit late with this post as I was out all day yesterday on a garden visit.  More of that soon!  That is as long as my photos have come out; it was a very overcast day!

Happy May Day.

Ashley

A dull, wet day…

~ Ashley ~ 40 Comments

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First blossoms;
Flowers before leaves,
Blackthorn.

The Blackthorn (Prunus spinosa) that grows through the hedge in my garden is flowering and on this dull wet day, the flowers shine brightly.  It’s only a few days since the Spring Equinox!

Blackthorn is the fourteenth tree in the Celtic Tree Ogham, STRAIPH.  It is symbolised in the balance between light and dark.  Physically, the tree is challenging as it grows into an impenetrable thicket.  Its thorns being very sharp, the tree is a safe haven for nesting birds.

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Ashley