The reason we went to
Hardwick Hall
at the weekend was for daffodils. Since they are blooming all around
where I live I assumed that elsewhere in the country it would be the
same. A quick search for 'National Trust daffodils' and on the top
ten list was Hardwick Hall so off we trooped over the county border.
Despite the bright sunshine there was a definite lack of daffodils
flowering but I was not left disappointed.
I thought I would be too
late for snowdrops but instead we found this beautiful carpet of
them.
Interspersed in the
snowdrops were the most glorious purple crocuses.
In this part of the gardens
is a new section planted with irises. Have ever seen such an unusual
blue coloured variety like 'Katharine Hodgkin'?
Over in the orchard the
yellow coloured hit was provided not by daffodils but by aconites (thank you to Rosie for the plant identification!)
Further down in the orchard
the pollen heavy white crocuses proved to be irresistible to one
drone bee.
There's a splash of pink in
the herbaceous borders. A teaser before the other plants wake up.
Behind the Hall in the East
Court lies promise of what the year at Hardwick Hall has to offer.
Neatly pruned roses basking in the spring sunshine waiting to display
their fabulous summer colours.
Now living nearer to Hardwick than we did before I can confirm that the daffodils are usually a bit later coming out than the town centre. Which means they're still there after the others have gone!
ReplyDeleteI've always said my corner of Sheffield was tropical! My daffodils were flowering before Christmas. It does mean there must be a lovely Easter display.
DeleteSo lovely! That blue iris is stunning - I've not seen one that colour before, really striking. I love how many small pretties are growing at the moment, it's rolling us into Spring nicely. Looks like we might be having another mild start to the Spring again like last year.
ReplyDeleteBlimey I hope that didn't jinx us!
Thank you for joining in again - and I hope you find your daffodil blankets soon x
I've already spotted some more potential daffodil sites!
DeleteThose blue irises are quite stunning. Isn't it wonderful seeing the splashes of colour after winter!
ReplyDeleteI've never seen irises of such colour before. They are in a new section.
Deleteoh lordy your snow drop picture just tops all i have seen all year so far wonderful
ReplyDeleteI thought they would all be gone by now but they were still in full bloom.
DeleteThose irises are gorgeous, such a delicate powdery blue. Although I've been to Hardwick Hall twice now, neither time we've had a chance to explore the gardens there. Well I guess that means I'll have to go back at some point, and it means I get another blast of Bess of Hardwick admiration too :) #hdygg
ReplyDeleteBess was quite a woman! There's so much to Hardwick to explore beyond the hall.
DeleteLovely pictures and you still have your daffodils to come.
ReplyDeletePS your buttercups are in fact aconites - hope you don't mind me mentioning it ;)
I knew they couldn't be buttercups at this time of year!
DeleteWe nearly went there last weekend, and now I wish we had! Right, add it to the list for next month!
ReplyDeletei am so in love with the snowdrops this year! i guess i am late looking for them, but i am hoping to find some for next spring.
ReplyDelete