Coombe Hill Nature Reserve

So yesturday was Father's Day.  

For many people I know there Father's are now no longer here so it's not always an easy day.

My Dad always loved being out and about, discovering new places was great to him, but equally he loved to visit places he loved too.

I have been meaning to visit a nature reserve that is literally 10 minutes drive from my home.  Partly because it is nice to not have to go far to find some peace and with the ever increasing cost of fuel you need to be mindful of spending.

Coombe Hill Nature reserve is run by Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust.  It became a reserve in 2000 and has slowly expanded over the years.  The reserve has a canal that you can walk along, a meadow which at this time of year is full of meadow flowers. There are varies ponds and a bird hide that you can sit in which is a good size along with various seats placed in perfect spots to just sit and watch and listen to the wildlife around you.

Please enjoy my visual diary of my trip.

I always have knitting with me, it is just a given.

 

I do love going on Google maps and just seeing where I am.

I hope you enjoyed, until next time ......

Ashton Under Hill open gardens

So those who follow my blog will know I do love a good garden, anything flower related really!!

So when Peter from Thorncroft Clematis told me about the Open Garden weekend at Ashton Under Hill I knew it would be worth visiting.

I came across the stunning Clematis that are grown by Peter's nursery when I had a great day out at Malvern Flower Show and after some research discovered that there nursery was literally 20 minutes from home.  The nursery is only open to the public a few date's in the year so what better way to see it then when the rest of the beautiful village has 25 other gardens open too.

So I started my tour by heading firstly to see Peter. 

What absolutely lovely guy and wow sooooo knowledgeable.  I don't profess to be an expert in any way!  My blog just shares with you my photographic diary of places I go. 

So please enjoy Part 1 of my trip in pictures and videos..... 

These are just a snap shot of what is available and I can confirm that my plant I bought at Malvern is growing brilliantly and has an abundance of flowers. 

After my time at the nursery I didn't just want to go straight to the garden's. I love being out surrounded by nature, so I headed off down a country lane to have an explore and wow I was not disappointed!!

I also as always took knitting with me and sat just taking in my surroundings. 

Until next time...... 

David Austin Rose Garden

After staying with my dear friend last week and as always admiring her incredible garden we got talking about the Rose's she has. 

She is a huge fan of David Austin Rose's.  On Rosy's (what a perfectly apt name!) coffee table was the special edition 60th anniversary brochure.  It is just beautiful and I have ordered my own copy if nothing else just to get inspiration for now!  

You can order your own booklet here, it is full of photographs, facts and story telling.

When you order online or purchase directly from the gardens they guarantee the Rose for five years should if fail to grow or be damaged in any way they will replace free of charge.  I have never come across this kind of care and attention to detail before.

All the Rose's are grown in the UK in Shropshire and the variety for every single situation is just breath taking.  Like many nursery's it is a family run company of three generations.  Amazingly they have breed over 200 varieties.

The first Rose they bread was called Constance Spry back in 1961 a climbing Rose reaching heights of up to 20ft!  The most recent edition is the glorious Pink Rose called Elizabeth to mark the Platinum Jubilee. 

You can visit the garden's for free you just need to pick a day and time slot and off you go link here.I can not recommend it highly enough.

Now please enjoy my trip out in photographs.

After you have looked around the gardens you can visit the area where you can purchase a little bit of magic.  Alongside the Rose's you can buy they also sell stunning plants to accompany them.

I also (as always) took my knitting!

I hope you have enjoyed my visual day out and would love to hear your comments in the box below.

Until next time..........