Monday 30 May 2011

Our Northern climate










One of the interesting things about going South on holiday is the difference in climate. We may only be a small island but going into Essex from here in North Yorkshire meant that the May blossom was fully out, that the roses were in bloom, that the gardens were full of Summer flowers. We came home to none of these.

Now, a fortnight later, everything is beginning to burgeon in the garden - yes we are a fortnight behind. It is said that in this country you can add two days for every hundred feet. Well Essex is more or less sea level and we are seven hundred feet above it, so that would be about right.

Every hedge down there was covered in wild roses; on our walk after lunch today with Tess I saw my first wild rose. Anyway, I have taken a few photographs of flowers coming into bloom in the garden - the herbaceous geraniums, the iris sibirica, the aquelegia, the lovely little yellow pacific hybrid iris. We even have roses in bud and a forecast for warmer weather by the weekend - so things are definitely looking up.

And to add to the joy they are getting ready to bring the racehorse brood mares into the field by our house. I always look forward to that - they are such elegant animals even if they do remain rather snooty and aloof. Photo as soon as they arrive.

11 comments:

Heather said...

Your garden must be a picture Pat. I am looking forward to feeling warm again! I refuse to have the heating on in May and am wearing a fleece over a jumper to keep warm. All that heat in April did us no favours at all. We have had steady soft rain for most of the day today and the garden is so grateful. Sad for those who planned outdoor activities though.

Titus said...

Oh no Weaver, you're making me homesick! Essex! Lovely, warm, dry, Essex. When I go home now it feels like the South of France.
And you're a little more advanced than we are. That said, everything that has come out has been bashed to bit by the rain.
Lovely photos, thank you.

angryparsnip said...

Lovely post today !
Your photos are wonderful what a treat to it must be walk outside and see such beauty.

cheers, parsnip

Leilani Schuck Weatherington said...

Once upon a time we happened to go a botanical garden just when the local fuchsia society was having a flower show. Sitting amidst all the amazing colors "petticoats" of the entrants was the original "progenitor" of the modern-day fuchsia, a tiny little reddish flower from South America. Quite amazing to see what plant enthusiasts have been able to create from that one flower.

John Going Gently said...

granney's bonnet
fill my garden
lovely

steven said...

my goodness - well, your goodness! steven

Bovey Belle said...

Even here in Wales we are a bit behind, but we're officially "hill farmer" country where we are, though I don't know our height above sea-level (must check the bench mark on the little fally-down barn opposite our driveway). I think we're a good week behind the south of England, as our Elders have only just started flowering. Time for Elderflower Syrup I think!

Gerry Snape said...

i couldn't agree more! We are just back from herts. and getting a second look at spring flowers as ours are at least a week behind.

I love the photos!!

The Weaver of Grass said...

Gradually it is getting a bit warmer - but this means the aquelegia are going to seed and I must get out there and take out the ones that I don't want so that next year we are not overrun! Thanks for leaving a comment.

Reena said...

Beautiful ... we're pretty much done with spring blooms. :-(

Cloudia said...

bounty!





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