Grape vines which will start into the new season's growth soon
This is a 'folly' that was built out on the lake. The materials were taken from part of the older church that stood in the grounds (a more recent one was built in its place). The folly is lit up in the evenings.
I couldn't resist taking this close-up of a Rhododendron flower while walking in the woodland gardens
.......... and here is the woodland walk. You can see the church in the background. This is the church where family members of Whitworth Hall attended.
The church and its grounds deserve a post of its own. There are beautiful old gravestones and vaults covered in lichens and mosses and wildflowers growing amongst the grass. The grounds of the church aren't neglected and overgrown though, but well-managed with wildlife in mind, as are the woodland gardens.
In the walled garden, where the orchard is, the bees were buzzing round clumps of Pulmonaria (Lungwort). The gardeners knew what they were doing when they planted it there, attracting all those bees which will, in turn, pollinate the fruit trees. Sometimes a bee will linger in a particular flower and you can easily get a good close-up photograph but they were flitting in and out of the pulmonaria flowers in the blink of an eye and it wasn't to be. Forgive the pun! It was amusing to see them with their backs brushed with grains of pollen. I like bees. :)
The church and its grounds deserve a post of its own. There are beautiful old gravestones and vaults covered in lichens and mosses and wildflowers growing amongst the grass. The grounds of the church aren't neglected and overgrown though, but well-managed with wildlife in mind, as are the woodland gardens.
In the walled garden, where the orchard is, the bees were buzzing round clumps of Pulmonaria (Lungwort). The gardeners knew what they were doing when they planted it there, attracting all those bees which will, in turn, pollinate the fruit trees. Sometimes a bee will linger in a particular flower and you can easily get a good close-up photograph but they were flitting in and out of the pulmonaria flowers in the blink of an eye and it wasn't to be. Forgive the pun! It was amusing to see them with their backs brushed with grains of pollen. I like bees. :)
It does look lovely Lesley. Great photos to.
ReplyDeleteHi Gf ~ thank you! :)
ReplyDeleteBeautiful! And you take fantastic pictures!
ReplyDeleteThanks Petra. :) I'm just a person who enjoys taking photos with my digital camera but for a professional photographer, Whitworth Hall and its grounds is a dream. :D
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful area ... I'll bet it was wonderful to walk around and take everything in. Your pictures are lovely ... I especially like the one of the rhododendron blossom. I am taking a drawing class called nature's notebook and it's teaching me to see every detail of a plant ... and that's what you caught in your picture!
ReplyDeleteBTW ... I've featured one of your comments on my blog today. Here's the direct link:
http://reducefootprints.blogspot.com/2009/04/comments-of-note.html
Have a wonderful weekend!
Small Footprints
Hi Sf. :) We're so lucky in that Whitworth Hall is only a couple of miles away from us and we're able to visit regularly. I know it sounds corny but it's so beautiful that every visit feels like the first one. I never tire of it. (There are more photos in earlier posts).
ReplyDeleteOh I hope you're enjoying your drawing class. Botanical illustration is something that appeals to me also.
I'm off to look at your blog where my comment is featured. :D
Hope you have a great weekend also. :)