Wednesday 17 April 2013

Thorpe Perrow Gardens.

My first visit of the year to Thorpe Perrow Gardens in Bedale, North Yorkshire, with friend W and her dog, Sophie.   At first we feared we would be unable to go as it was a wet morning but by eleven o'clock the sun had poked through and we decided to chance it.

This is the time of year to go in order to see the Spring flowers - in fact the King Alfred daffodils, the large, yellow, showy ones are not quite out yet.  But there was plenty to see and what a joy it was to see it.

The bog garden had a mass of marsh marigolds, which made my one solitary one on our beck seem rather feeble.   The skunk cabbage was also in bloom in the bog.  By the side of the bog two nice young men (young men get nicer when you get to our age!) were building a new climbing frame in the childrens' play area.

The witch-hazel was in full flower and there were patches of blue scilla everywhere.   On the lake two pairs of ducks were courting rather loudly while a quiet coot pecked along the grass and took absolutely no notice of us as we passed.

After an hour's gentle walk we went into the restaurant and had lunch of a bowl of soup (butternut squash and carrot) a plate of sandwiches and a piece of apple cake - together with two cups of coffee.   A lovely journey home as we noted how quickly the hawthorn hedges are coming into leaf.

At home the farmer was eager to tell me that the first swallow has arrived on the farm and that a pair of little owls look as though they are nesting in one of our barns.   It's all happening folks.  And thanks to W for taking me along.






11 comments:

Gwil W said...

. . . and a pair of jays, and a green woodpecker just appeared in my neck of the woods . . . no summer swallow yet though!

Arija said...

Pat, I would be thrilled to have a marsh marigold at my place. They were the sunshine of my childhood.
A lovely day out and so nice to have a friend to share it with.

Heather said...

There is a plant similar to marsh marigold in our pond but I cheated and bought it from a garden centre. I wait for it eagerly each spring. What a treat for you to have little owls nesting in your barn. We do have a couple of blackbirds, bluetits, great tits, robins and possibly hedge sparrows nesting in shrubs and nest boxes around our garden. It is a lovely time of year but I wish this wind would stop trying to blow my broad beans out of the soil.

JoAnn ( Scene Through My Eyes) said...

Our swallows returned last Sunday - oh the joy of spring! It sounds like a perfectly wonderful trip!!

mumasu said...

What a lovely day out, Pat. It's all so late it seems everything's making a made dash to flower at the moment.

Cloudia said...

What a tonic after your wintering!
Keep us apprised of the hen pH as well :-)


Aloha

Country Gal said...

Sounds like a lovely day you had ! Oh our Swallows are back now to saw them earlier today . Lovely photos ! Thanks for sharing with us . Have a good day !

angryparsnip said...

Lovely, lovely day out. I am so excited about the owls. I love owls and hope they nest were you can see and take a photo of them.
I am always on the lookout for a Pygmy Owl and Elf Owl, about 5inches tall. They nest in the saguaro and Organ Pipe cactus but are losing their habitat.

cheers, parsnip

Pete Thompson said...

It's great that you have swallows - we're still waiting for our house martins. I thought they were late but I'm told they're supposed to arrive on 18th April(not sure why) so I'm looking out for them today.

Gerry Snape said...

ohh what is that very pretty yellow tree? That looks grand.

Golden West said...

What a splendid day out and about!