Westonbirt Arboretum

 I guess the bonus of not uploading my photos for two years is being able to remember lovely times with Finn and having all these wonderful memories.   

Finn and I had an anxiety-provoking visit to Westonbirt - we had a week down at the caravan in the August school holidays and it was heaving.  Trying to get Finn through the entry gates made me wonder about the sense of taking him somewhere there were so many people, but, once through the gate, there was so much space to walk around in, that things soon improved. 

We had a wonderful day and Finn was able to run around like a mad thing and he played with other dogs too which was always lovely to see.   I think it must have been a really hot summer - the grass looks so brown and dry.   

Another fab day with my boy.  We met a lovely lady as we went in who was walking her dog and she told me I should go back out of school holidays as it was so much quieter - she certainly made me feel better about trying to get Finn through the gates when he was making such a fuss!   That, I DON'T miss!  

Seeds and Stuff - September 2020

These Nicotiana (tobacco plants) just keep coming and coming and they are beautiful.  I love that they're so pale in colour but really stand out at night.

Despite being so late in the summer, there's still plenty of colour to be found.   My Hedychium densiflorum (ginger lily) flowered for the first time this year on three stalks.  Apparently this plant is clump forming so I'm hoping for at least another flower stalk next year.   It's a much softer orange than I'd imagined, but looks stunning against the lime green colour of the leaves and looks fab against the Passiflora caerulea fruit.

The Dahlias were grown from seed - which I'm very proud of - but all the flowers have been munched by the bloody snails.  Gggrrrr!

Odds and Sods - September 2020

 

September was all about holidays and knitting!  The decision about which knitting to pack for my holiday is always so much easier than knowing what clothes to pack!   

I've been making a few Christmas presents and finishing off this spotty birthday scarf for Jessica - and she clearly loves it which is fab.   I'm never really sure whether my makes are appreciated, but this one certainly seems to have hit the mark!

These photos have been sent to me - I've yet to see our new awning at the caravan and am very excited!

This photo was taken a few years ago when Finn and I walked the Pennine Way.  I always like to get 1,000 miles walked each year and, back in the day, when Finn and I were younger and fitter, we generally got it done by about July.  Now it takes me a bit longer and I finally got there on 20 September this year.   Sadly, of course, Finn wasn't able to walk them all with me, although he contributed quite a few up until we said goodbye to him in July.   Lovely to have these memories of Finn and our walks together.