Our May Garden

The day dawns and wherever we look there's something new to see in the garden whether it's in the vegetable plot, the flower beds or the covered areas.  The red peonies and the rose bushes come to mind when I look around.  Our garden is relatively small so everything is crammed together especially in the flower beds.

 

a selection of roses

a geum "Totally Tangerine"

 a clematis and a grape vine

white allium heads

"London Pride"

Next to the greenhouse that's full of tomato plants and pots of plants ready to plant out a raised bed is planted up with potatoes, sweetcorn, garlic and cauliflower.

A water butt provides rainwater collected from a down pipe and the birds will appreciate the new bird bath.

a sparrow

olive tree fruiting

developing apples and pears

cut-and-come-again mixed lettuce and rocket

It's good to see pollinators flying around. Ladybugs - in the UK they're called ladybirds - feed on the aphids that could potentially damage tender flower buds.

The amaryllis "Dancing Queen" has flowered for the fifth year.

This orange lily is putting on a bright display of flowers,

The covered yard is where I've hung the mirror on the storage cupboard door.

My favourite flowers are the foxgloves - especially the white ones - in the front garden.

In the back garden the rambling rose "White Star" which is full of flower buds will also be in bloom  very soon.

Thank you for your visit.  Have a nice day!

Castleton and Winnat's Pass

After a week of sunny weather it was not to be on my birthday, but nevertheless Mr P drove us over to Castleton in the Peak District of Derbyshire.  Being the weekend everyone seemed to be of the same mind about getting out into the countryside so it was difficult to find a parking space.  We tried further out near Winnat's Pass (a deep ravine that gives cars access to other areas of Derbyshire). 

We tried finding a space in the pay and display car park, but to no avail.  Finally we did find one parking space and I took a short walk along a country lane passed the mill bridge, cottages, farms and barns.

A millstone set in the wall of Mill Bridge Farm.

  

the former candle maker's house

Groups of walkers were heading in the direction of the hills and moors. I retraced my steps back to the village and Mr P who was waiting in the car.

the back of a barn......

and the front

The inn restaurant where we had lunch near Ladybower Reservoir.

The brass was gleaming - always a good sign of a well presented place to eat I think. There was a table for two in a quiet corner so in the end everything turned out well and the lunch was an enjoyable one.

fishing at Ladybower Reservoir Fisheries

During the day the children and grandchildren phoned. On the Sunday afternoon we went to daughter M's for refreshments, tea and cake and I was given some pretty cards and useful presents, some garden related, which I'll share with you another time.  Thank you for your kind comments on my last blog and

for your visit today.  Have a good day.