Pensthorpe Natural Park

On a scorchingly hot day in August, Mum and I went to Pensthorpe, just a five or six mile journey from Mum and Dad's house, and somewhere we've been meaning to visit for ages, but had never got around to. 

 The day started off cool and overcast so Mum sent me back to the car to get our coats which I then carried around in my rucksack all day - the cloud burned off and then we burnt too!

After spending some time watching (and trying to identify from the information boards) the birds, we headed off to the Wave and Sculpture Garden.  Pensthorpe is massive and you could easily spend a whole day here, but Mum and I were really here for the gardens, of which there are three main cultivated gardens, but with numerous other areas to visit too - wildflower meadow, wetlands, etc. 

Mum and I loved these seats - they were exactly bum-shaped!

From the wave garden which I loved incidentally - all those ferns! - we headed around to theHabitat Garden which we both loved - lots of insect and bee friendly plants that you could grow in your own garden - with loads of beautifully muted colours.

We spent ages in the Habitat Garden, and, in fact, I think we did this one twice!  Next stop was the Wader Aviary to get a bit of shade, a bit of cool and to check out more birdies!

I love this photo - you can't see too clearly, but both the duck and Mum are balancing on one leg!

This is a very active red squirrel who refused to stop and pose for a photograph!

Our next stop was the Millennium Garden which was my absolute favourite - it's absolutely beautiful.  Pensthorpe very helpfully provided a guide to the plants in this area, so I have a very comprehensive list if I decide I'm going to try and replicate this one.  It was just beautiful and we were so lucky to see it on such a beautiful day. 

I left Mum to sit under a shady tree while I headed off to the Wildflower Meadow - it was miles away!  And so hot! 

I had to cross the River Wensum to get there.

According to the guide, the Millennium Garden is best seen in June and July, and then September and October for the autumn colours.  Of course, I've missed that for this year, but must remember to put it in the diary again for next year.

An absolutely beautiful place, very well worth a few visits to try and catch everything we missed this time.

Seeds and Stuff - October 2016

October has been very quiet for me on the seeds and stuff front.  I've become very busy in other ways - ironically with studying RHS qualifications in Horticulture, so I need to be much less quiet on that front going forward.  

This is the only photo I have filed for October's seedy matters - these are the remains of the carrots that I sowed earlier in the year, this is what I'm left with after Finn decided to dig them up!  And actually, while they look a bit pathetic, this is the most successful I've ever been with carrots!  Hurrah!

I promise I will try and be more productive going forward - especially as this constitutes some of the work I hope to be doing and getting paid for in the future.  Must try harder!

Odds and Sods - October 2016

October has whizzed by in a blur, along with the rest of the year.  I've changed my non-work day which is probably the biggest bit of news - and I'm trying to get used to having Fridays off, rather than Mondays.  My brain is scrambled - I don't know where I am!  The change was primarily to have a dedicated gardening day, but on my first Friday off, I went for a girlie day out with Shannon, for brunch, shopping and to the cinema!

I've been on holiday with Mum and Dad, and Finn enjoyed a week with Andy, lots of male bonding going on I think!   (Post to follow.)

Mary and Jim came up for a weekend which was fab and we managed to get a huge family get together organised for Sunday lunch which was brilliant.

Poor Finn is back on his tranquilisers.  Bloody fireworks have been going off for weeks now, so I'm trying my best to keep him calm.   Good long walks over the park to try and wear him out, etc.  As it's darker now, we can legitimately shut the curtains really early anyway, to try and shelter him from the noise a bit.  I hate that he gets so anxious - it's upsetting for all of us.  Finn is never usually allowed in the bed, but he has taken himself up there a couple of times and snuggled under the blankets - given all the firework upset, I haven't the heart to hoick him out of there.

 

Sid, of course, doesn't seem bothered by it at all!

I'm loving my college course and am now doing some practical gardening too.  Oh, and I've had all my hair cut off so I can get it under a hat in this cold weather.

Lastly, I love this photo - this was taken pre-haircut - of our little family.  Love it!