I haven't really been out and about with my camera this month so just a few more photos from Harlow Carr and Golden Acre Park Trial And Display Garden, both of which we visited earlier this month.
There wasn't much colour left at Harlow Carr when we visited.
There were plenty of seasonal decorations cheering the place up though.
We managed to find a few flowers still hanging on and their splashes of colour really stood out.
The blackbirds were feasting on the dropped crab apples.
I'm sure the teasels will be attracting the goldfinches, though we didn't see any.
The plant centre was full of Christmas decorations for sale. I thought these wreaths were really pretty.
The knot garden at Golden Acre Park Trial and Display Garden had been planted up with primulas, they'll add some much welcome colour once they flower.
Honesty seed heads. I can never resist taking photos of these papery decorations.
We popped in to the greenhouse in the Blenheim Courtyard which houses a tropical display. The fish in the pond are always very active.
I hope you've all had a wonderful Christmas. We've still got Daniel and his girlfriend staying. They were supposed to be going back to uni in York either tomorrow or Wednesday as they've got exams starting next Monday but the areas where each of their houses are situated are under threat of flood. There's another storm on the way which won't help matters so we're just keeping our fingers crossed that we've seen the worst of it and that the forecasted storm doesn't bring more devastation. My heart goes out to those who have been affected all around the country.
I've been thinking of you up there in the thick of it so glad to hear all is well-ish. It seems to be about one storm a week.
ReplyDeleteThere's no flooding where we live but I don't think Leeds has ever seen flooding like it is at present. York is terrible, some of Daniel's friends' houses have been affected. He's staying put with us until we see what it's like later on in the week.
Deletebeautiful! The orange color is so striking!
ReplyDeleteThe orange really stood out against the greys and browns which are all around.
DeleteI must try to remember to plant teasels this coming year we get quite a lot of goldfinches.
ReplyDeleteHope you had a great Christmas and that you have a bumper year with your veg.
I hang niger seed for the goldfinches, they love them and they certainly attract them in to the garden. We had a wonderful Christmas, I hope you did too.
DeleteI haven't seen many goldfinches in the garden yet either and we usually have a whole flock of them.
ReplyDeleteI hope Daniel's and his girlfriend's houses survive the flooding. Has he many personal items left there?
We get plenty of goldfinches in our garden, though I always put out niger seed for them which they love. Daniel hasn't got many things left in York, mainly clothes and uni work. Some of his friends' houses have flooded already and his house and his girlfriend's house are in the danger zone.
DeleteA good selection of pictures to end the year. The floods have certainly caused heartache and problems. Flighty xx
ReplyDeleteThey have. It's so sad watching all the distraught people on the news, it must be absolutely terrible for them. It's so widespread this time, so many more people affected.
DeleteEach year I love orange flowers more and more. It's funny how our tastes change over the years. Fingers crossed that your son's house is spared.
ReplyDeleteIt is funny how tastes change. I love orange flowers too, and yellow. Daniel's house is safe so far but it isn't far from the River Foss and with another storm on the way who knows what's going to happen.
DeleteThe number of goldfinches visiting our garden has definitely gone down over the years. Maybe I need to plant some teasels again but they are prolific self seeders as I've previously found to my cost. I hope that Daniel and his girlfriend are able to return to York soon Jo and that their houses remain safe. The last few weeks have bought so much heartbreak and devastation :(
ReplyDeleteI love teasels but I've never grown them in the garden for the reason you state. I make do with putting out niger seed and that seems to attract goldfinches just as well. We've just got the beginnings of the next storm here now, the weather's supposed to get worse throughout the day.
DeleteDown here in the South we have got off very lightly where the weather is concerned. However, we do have to put up with David Cameron more than you lot in the North!!
ReplyDeleteHa ha, we've had David Cameron up here inspecting the floods over the Christmas period, which is more than the chief executive of the Environmental Agency has done. We're just bracing ourselves for today's storm, I'm hoping it doesn't cause any more misery for those already suffering.
DeleteA belated Happy New Year! Harlow Carr is most definitely on my list of places to go next year. We pass it on the way to family but never seem to have the time to stop by. It looks like a lot has changed since our last visit. Hasn't the weather been so miserable. Hope you've escaped the worst of it.
ReplyDeleteThank you, a happy new year to you too. Harlow Carr is definitely worth a visit, it's great at any time of the year, always something new to see. The weather has been terrible, I feel so sorry for all those who have been affected by the floods, and still the rain keeps falling.
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