The Gardens at Charlecote Park

 I had a little time to myself on Sunday, a little calm before the madness of my eldest's 19th birthday the next day. It was not really madness but I knew it would be a busy day so a walk and a little fresh air was 'just the ticket' as they say. The sun was out so of I popped down the Fossway.

It is amazing how in one week so much can change. There are so many beautiful colours everywhere. Lilac along the roadside, rolling yellow fields and all set with a perfect blue sky as a backdrop. I moan a little that some of the best views which would look lovely as a photo, are the ones where you can not stop to take a photo or worse still, you can but you don't have your camera with you.

Sunday was different as I knew where I was going and I had my camera with me. I was intending to go Bluebell hunting but the Sun was too bright so of to Charlecote I went as it is just down the road from my favourite Bluebell wood.

I spend so much time watching the animals at Charlecote Park that I decided it would be a flower day this day. It was the right decision to make. Everything is growing beautifully. It is amazing how a little Sun, warmth and water makes plants grow so quickly. The gardeners have worked so hard on the gardens and everything looks beautiful. I see them every time I go there, always working on something like bizzy bees going from one plant to the other, keeping everything looking so splendid.

Here is the 'Syringa Vulgaris' or as most of us know it, the 'Lilac'. It  is everywhere at the moment and it smells amazing. It fills the air with a sweet perfumed fragrance that you can not miss as you pass by. It comes in white and many shaded of pinks, lilac and purple and grows well throughout central Europe.

We have a white and lilac bush at the front of our house. One of my mother's favourite flowers. You can find it in the garden near the Victorian kitchen at Charlecote Park.

 I loved the colours on these tulips.So unusual.

                               

The beautiful Wisteria and Red lobster claw (Clianthus puniceus). Climbers on the front and back of the house.

Talking about bizzy Bees......

I watched the Bees move from one flower to another collecting their pollen. They were very busy.

Flowers are never the best to photograph on a sunny day as the sun makes them look harsh but as I knew much of my time would be spent in the shaded Woodland Garden, that did not worry me too much.

    This next flower is called Erythronium or more commonly 'dogs tooth violet' It is a lovely plant and looks delicate.

 The Orangery is looking colourful at the moment. The Wisteria is flowering beautifully up the front wall and the pots are full of lovely colourful flowers. I love this pink tree at the moment, so pretty. It is a Cercis Siliquastrum.

The same tree as above but a week later.

It is so nice to see different types of the same flower. I really like tulips and wish they lasted long.

                           The Spring green tulips in the pots outside the Orangery.

Another two toned tulip. I really like this one.

In the woodland Garden I found not just Bluebells but pink and white bells too. Guess my bluebell hunting day didn't end in complete failure.

 I love the woodland garden, there is always so much going on in there from the fluttering Robins and other wildlife to the carpet of beautiful mixed flowers. It is a place you need to take time to walk through or you might miss something. Saying that, the children love to run through it, along the twisting path or over the wooden stepping stones.

The wooden stepping stones.

One of my favourite places for Bluebells has to be Oakley wood, just outside Wellsbourne. If you go at the right time, it really is a pretty sight to see.

http://janaruzena.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/Oakley%20Wood%20and%20Blue%20Bells

Another National Trust property for  you that always has a lovely display of Bluebells is Coughton Court.

http://janaruzena.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/National%20Trust%20%20-%20Coughton%20Court

After the Winter and all signs of frost has gone, the fountain in the garden is uncovered and working again. I sat on one of the benches around the fountain watching the water drops hit the pebbles below with a splash.

This next plant I used to have a lot of in my old garden. It is called Aqulegia or Granny's bonnet.

Lots more flowers soon to open.

Forget-me-nots, one my grandmother used to like.

Granny's bonnet.

                             

 This pretty plant is called 'Dicentra'  also known as 'Love lies bleeding' and 'The lady in the bath'. This plant is Rabbit and Deer resistant so it won't have any problems in a deer park!

The Camassia quamash 'Blue'

This is just a small sample of the flowers growing at Charlecote and every time I go I find something new to admire. 

 I hope you enjoyed this blog as much as I did going through the photos. I think the gardeners are doing a brilliant job. Can't wait for the Summer display.


                             Photos Copyright Jana Eastwood

Losing antlers, growing lambs, a social robin and sleepy pigs.

I can't believe it is May already! How did that happen? Where did that part of the year go? Time rushes by so quickly which is why I believe you should enjoy life as much as life allows. Life throws so many obstacles in your path and sometimes it feels like one long battle after another but at the end of the day. It's what you make of it.
Now with two of my children home full time, life has become a little more fun to juggle things around but I believe everyone needs their 'Me' time. These times have become even more important to me and keep me going for the rest of the week. I wish I could escape more often but I am happy with what I can take.
I also I love the fact that the photos I take get used by Charlecote Park and I love spending time there. Yes I volunteer at the park but you can't really call it work when it is your pleasure also. It is a good combination I can tell you that.

I have to admit that there is nowhere else I would rather be than outdoors with nature. I love it.

           
This weeks escape/chill out zone was watching the animals at Charlecote Park last weekend. Rain has never bothered me, it just bothers my camera which is why I end up wet but my coat keeps my camera dry.

  I spent ages sat under a tree in Hill Park watching the bucks relaxing by the Lake. If you move slowly, sit down somewhere with no sudden movements, they don't mind you being there and sometimes walk closer to where you are sitting. I find it so relaxing to watch them, too relaxing sometimes that I lose time.
                                                           

It is the time of year that the Bucks lose their antlers and when they first come off, it looks a little sore but it amazes me how quick the stumps appear and they start to grow again. If you think about it, natures does do some amazing things. This might be strange but I think of the bucks losing their antlers just now as a way of making them more approachable when the new fawns come along next month. I wonder if nature planned it that way or it was just a coincidence.
Here are the bucks coming to have a nose at me and bowing their heads to show me their stumps. The one on the right looked like he had just lost his antlers that day. Click on the picture and you will see. I felt so sorry for him but it is all part of how they are.

They do look strange without their antlers. They look younger, smaller and their heads are not held so high as they are when they stand proud with their crowns.

I know this one very well, I know those ears which were like that after the rutting season last October.

Here he is from from last Autumn. The white buck looks even stranger without his antlers.

I spent so long watching the deer and it seemed to be a bit of a grooming day today.

If you have been to Charlecote Park over the last few weeks, you might have seen some cattle on the other side of the river in Camp Ground. They are from one of the neighbouring farms and are allowed to graze on the land during the Spring and Summer months. This does one of two things. It feeds the cattle but also helps Charlecote keep the grass cut on that side of the river. You can't miss them as they walk along the riverbank in a row like follow the leader. 

Enjoying their new home and the grass.

  From what I have seen, it looks like there is one very big Bull, two calves of different sizes and around five cows. The cattle are 'Red poll cattle' and they are a very British cow which originally came from Norfolk and Suffolk.They are a cross between the 'Norfolk Red' which were known for their excellent beef and the 'Suffolk Dun' which were excellent dairy cows. This makes this cattle a dual purpose breed. Both of the original breeds are now extinct.

How to fold a cow in half!

Enjoying a spot of lunch. I thought this was the deer's trick. Have you ever noticed how all the trees in the  Summer look very evenly trimmed along the bottom branches? It just happens to be the height the deer can reach. Take a look in the summer months down the avenue in West Park or even in the main park. You will see what I mean.

     Here you can see the smallest of the calves licking his lips after a good feed.

And of course I had to check out the other new additions to the park while I was there . The three little pigs which I have to say are rather cute even though they do seems to be asleep most of the time.

One of the lovely Robins that have made the woodland garden behind the Orangery their home.

Even children know what a Robin looks like with their lovely red breast but I have to tell you, Robins are not around only at Christmas like some people seems to think :)

 Last but not least the lambs one week on. All the lambs have been born now and when I last saw them, most of them were already in the field with the others and running around like playful puppies or kittens and quite mischievously.  It was lovely to watch them running around in their little gangs and how they can move. There is no stopping them now.

I think this poor ewe had been nominated as the baby sitter.

These lambs did make me laugh, even being so small and new as they are, they still went around head butting each other.

No stopping them now!

                                       The new born lambs from last Sunday.

The very popular lamb walks which were a guided walk through West Park up to Polo to see the lambing area and a very interesting talk explaining what happens there. You were also able to see some of the new born beautiful Jacob lambs.

These walks were very popular but to be honest who could resist seeing newborn lambs? I followed this walk myself and really enjoyed it. There are a few other organised walks/events around the estate listed on their Facebook page. Here is the link in case you are interested in some of them. https://www.facebook.com/CharlecoteNT/events?ref=ts There are also other walks and talks around the estate most days. Check the chalk boards in front of the Gatehouse and near the kitchen for anything going on the day you visit.

I can't wait for the does to have their fawns next month. I am really looking forward to it.

                         Thanks for reading my blog, Hope you enjoyed it.

http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/charlecote-park/

Photos Copyright Jana Eastwood