Alnwick Garden

We visited the Alnwick Garden last Saturday, as it's free until the end of March. Sadly, the fountains weren't switched on, but the garden was as beautiful as ever...and mostly deserted.

The cherry orchard. The bulbs are just starting to poke their leaves above the ground - in a month or so, it'll be gorgeous.

The walled garden was very peaceful, and surprisingly warm in the sunshine. I loved these tiny irises, which were nestled in close to the box hedges:

Spring is here! (part 9,487)

As you can tell, I get pretty excited by gardens in spring. It's all about bright lime green colours, an abundance of foliage and beautiful bulbs.

Here's my patently-not-very-abundant-as-yet new herb bed (rosemary, lemon balm, bay, sage, mint, curry plant and lavender). I got fed up of trogging down the back steps in the rain to the back yard to pick slug-ravaged plants, so I've installed them all in the front garden instead.


In fact, the slugs are going to have to make do with raspberry canes (which they don't appear to like), and mint (ditto). Sorry, chaps.

Spring is here (part 4)

Which means it's time to plant some seeds. Here we have courgette, tomato, chillis and sugar snap peas, plus an unidentified bulb that I found at the bottom of my gardening box. Egg boxes are definitely the way forward...

Spring is here (part 3)

One of the best things about a sunny day in March is that it's finally warm enough to go outside and blow some bubbles...

Spring's a comin'

In the last three days we've:

• had a picnic in the woods (after hunting for gruffalo - sadly, none were to be found)
• eaten ice cream in the sunshine, after cycling along the Quayside
• seen the hyacinths grow really long roots in their vases
  
• acquired a theremin

It's definitely spring.

Lambs, daffodils, you get the picture?

Oh, spring has sprung, tra la laaaaaaa. Yes, it's been officially sunny for three days up here in the frozen north, so I think we can safely say it's spring. Yay! Lots more time outdoors (what do we have a balcony for, if not for swigging gin and tonics on?), and fewer cardigans. No bad thing, in my book. (Check out the link, and you'll see the most embarrassed male model ever, who is having to wear some delightful zip-up versions.)

Anyway, as you can tell, not much happening here today. A brief excursion into the delights of Newcastle to have M's feet measured (thankfully, the cute green boots still fit) and to purchase silly pink spotty sunglasses (thank you Primark for making my day when my small child stuck sunglasses on her head and said "coooool"). And that was about it. Bar a bit of meandering about outside on the balcony, drinking tea, tidying up and watering the plants. Oh, and making some fish chowder (sounds better than it actually tasted, although given that I've got the umpteenth cold of the year, most things are like cardboard at the moment). So not exactly high-flying, but rather satisfying none the less.

But don't worry, pop-pickers. I'm sure the obscure cultural adventures and terrible film reviews will continue in due course. I'm off to find an Easter egg...