Sunday 1 May 2011

English Bluebells

I am sure that everyone was totally entranced by the Royal Wedding on Friday. What a joyous occasion it was and it made me so proud to be British. We certainly put on a very fine show staging these events and the day lived up to all our expectations. Even the weather behaved and the threatened showers never materialised. Kate's dress was inspired, the service and 2 kisses on the balcony sealed the day as one never to forget. The joy on their faces told the world that they really have found a deep love and friendship. It appears the Prince has found his soulmate.

The exceptional warm weather we have recently enjoyed has brought many of our plants into flower weeks earlier than normal. The bluebell is no exception. The native English Bluebell is a favourite of mine and near where we live in Surrey, at Hatchlands Park, is display of bluebells which each year  is quite breathtaking.

Here is the UK we actually have 3 types of Bluebell. Our native English variety, the Spanish and a hybrid of the 2 species. Most people are unaware of the difference but there is quite a lot between them. Our native bluebell tends to grow in woods and not in gardens.




It has flowers only on one side and this gives the graceful curve of the stalk, as shown here.















The Spanish and hybrid varieties are upright, larger and produce flowers all around. I took this photo on the right in my parents' garden.





Next to my dear daffodils nothing epitomises my spring time more than the sight of drifts of bluebells in the woods.







Last week during the Easter holidays my Hb and I paid a visit to the Bluebell wood at Hatchlands Park. Hatchlands is owned by the National Trust. I have visited the house many times so often we just visit the gardens. The wisteria was also out in full bloom.





It was the most glorious day and the house looked more like it does in July and August than at Easter time. Everyone was dressed in their summer clothes and we stopped to have lunch in the courtyard restaurant first.





After lunch we took the walk through the woods







to the Bluebell Wood and the sight did not disappoint us at all.
Ahead of us were drifts upon drifts of bluebells and the air was heavy with their scent......













Everywhere we looked was the thickest carpet of bluebells. The sight was even more beautiful with the sun streaming in through the tree branches. It was nature at it's very best.
I hope you enjoyed coming on my bluebell walk and that you are also enjoying a wonderful weekend. Today is the first day of May and the cold winds of winter seem like a very long time ago. Warm spring sunshine has brought everything to life.

I think that the celebrations on Friday gave me a chance to reflect. Life, despite its peaks and troughs, is good and nature is very generous. There were a few lines in the reading at Kate and William's wedding which I found very moving....

"Let Love be genuine, hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; love one another with mutual affection, outdo one another in showing honour."

Powerful words - I wish the new Duke and Duchess of Cambridge a long, happy, loving life together.

Bye for now.

Jane x

18 comments:

  1. Hello Jane! What a wonderful place! Thank you for taking us with you for a walk!
    Wedding was so beautiful and like a fairytail!
    Have a lovely month! xxx Teje

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  2. Hi Teye, what great memories to start May with. Have a lovely month too,
    Jane x

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  3. A lovely post Jane - and I so loved your photos of those wonderful drifts of bluebells. Happy May!
    Helen x

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  4. Happy May to you too Helen, I am just loving this weather and another bank holiday tomorrow, perfect!
    Jane x

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  5. Happy May, dear Jane!

    Thank you for sharing these beautiful images, they really got me on May-mood! And the wedding was fantastic, lovely couple and beautiful weather, just what we all hoped for.

    I wish you a sunny and bright first week of May!

    Yours,
    Mia

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  6. beautiful!!

    a stunning post Jane!

    wishing you a very lovely, happy and magical May Day xxx

    hugs

    millie

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  7. Happy May day dear Mia...and still the sun shines here. I loved every minute of that magical day.
    Sending you some sunshine. We have been eating out in our garden again with Billy..bliss!
    Jane x

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  8. Thanks Millie and a happy, sunny May Day to you too.
    Jane x

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  9. What a lovely bluebell walk Jane, I think this has been a very good year for the bluebells!
    Wasn't the wedding wonderful, I so enjoyed every second of it. I hope they have a very happy life together, they certainly have got off to a great start. Those words from the reading (which was so well read by Kate's brother)are lovely.
    Have a great week and enjoy the bank holiday Monday. :)
    Vivienne x

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  10. Hi Vivienne, everything is so early this year isn't it and yes I think the bluebells were at their best. I loved the wedding, they used the same words as my Hb and I had, that brought back such lovely memories, and yes her brother read the lesson so well. Happy May Day, enjoy the break.
    Jane x

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  11. Hi Jane, thanks for sharing your bluebell forest walks. We are having a perfectly beautiful sunny day here in Oregon and I will get some photos of the flowers in bloom on the farm. Hugs from Oregon, Teresa

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  12. I'm so glad the sun is shining again in your garden Teresa, I shall look forward to seeing the photos,
    Jane x

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  13. Beautiful photos! I love bluebells. They grow in the woods by me too. My favorite job was for a park district, and I loved it when I got a call every spring telling me when the bluebells were blooming, go take pictures. Yay!!

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  14. I'm glad you're another bluebell fan Linda, they (and daffs) really are spring aren't they!
    Jane x

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  15. Hi Jane, thanks for explaining the difference in bluebells as I have always wondered. I love a good walk in a Bluebell wood, there is one (a bluebell wood that is!) amongst the fields of the family farm in Yorkshire and it is always a spectacular sight. Have a lovely week. Bethx

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  16. Hi Beth, it was my Dad who pointed this out to me some years ago; it is interesting to spot the different types, have a sunny week,
    Jane x

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  17. Hello Jane! It was a lovely royal wedding (from our vantage point way out west)...
    But these bluebells are spectacular! What a beautiful spot to linger! I ran across a patch of California Bluebells on one of my recent morning hikes- I might post a few pics to share with you, too! :o)

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  18. Michele it would be lovely to see your bluebells, then I could "hike" across to visit too!
    Take care, always good to see you here,
    Jane x

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