Sunday 24 May 2015

York Museum Gardens In May

We had a trip to York yesterday so while we were there we popped in to the Museum Gardens. We last visited in November last year, you can read about that trip in my Garden Visiting In November post.

The weather was lovely yesterday and many people were taking advantage of it, the gardens were packed. It's such a great idea to have green spaces in the middle of cities for people to make use of.


I think some people were there to visit the birds of prey exhibition, I can never resist a look at these beautiful birds myself.


A lot of the colour in the garden was provided by tulips, however, some of them are just starting to go over now. They're much later than the ones in my own garden which finished blooming quite a while ago.


Some tulips were still going strong though. I love this variety.



Autumn was in full swing when we last visited the garden so it was nice to see such a contrast yesterday with borders filled with colour.


I'd love to know what the red plant is which is providing the backdrop to these tulips, it's so pretty.


There's a lot of naturalistic planting around the gardens, I thought the poppy and aquilegia pairing was really beautiful.




There must be a secret to keeping hostas slug free, such fabulous specimens.


We were being serenaded by the sound of bagpipes while we were looking around the gardens. It turned out that there was a wedding taking place in the Hospitium, I couldn't resist snapping a photo of the piper.


I don't know very much about trees at all but there's some real beauties in the gardens, all shapes and sizes. I liked this spiky form.


Tulips and alliums look good together, I might try a similar display next year.




This is such a well kept garden and it's obviously well used. How lovely for people who work in York city centre to have such a beautiful place to spend their lunch hours, especially when the weather's so nice as it was yesterday.

28 comments:

  1. What a lovely place to visit Jo. Like you, I was wondering what the small red flowers are, they look so lovely.

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    1. It's a really lovely garden in the former grounds of St Mary's Abbey, the ruins give an atmospheric backdrop. I'm hoping that someone might come up with a suggestion as to what the red flowers could be, they're so pretty.

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  2. Martyn and I had a turn at flying a barn owl at Settle Falconry Centre. For their size they are so light that you hardly know they are on your hand, Beautiful birds.

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    1. They are beautiful birds. I recognised the man who was with them, I think they were the same ones who were at Harlow Carr earlier in the month.

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  3. Some beautiful flower beds...you are very lucky that your hubby will go to these places with you!!

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    1. Mick's really good and will trail around most places with me that I ask him to. Actually, he's quite interested these days, he wouldn't have been just ten years ago but I think my enthusiasm must have rubbed off on him.

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  4. It's lovely, and you've photographed it beautifully. Let me know if you find out the secret to slug/snail free hostas, mine are in ribbons! CJ xx

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    1. It's obviously a very well used space and I'm not surprised, it's such a lovely green space in the middle of the city. I have to confess that I've got rid of my hostas. To be honest, I had them in pots and they didn't suffer too much slug damage, but they were past their best so they had to go.

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  5. Maintenance is key in a place like that - and maintenance is something that gets done much less often in these days of austerity!

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    1. I suppose that's true but you wouldn't know it in the Museum Gardens, they're beautifully kept.

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    2. Skilled maintenance is the key to beautiful gardens Mark. And it is sadly lacking as you suggest in public places.
      There are not many parklands as well maintained as the Museum Gardens

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    3. I agree, there are some places where more maintenance is required but there's lots of parkland around here which is beautifully kept. I think we're very lucky.

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  6. That frilly yellow tulip is gorgeous, especially with the occasional splash of green. What also struck me is the tree on the left in the first photo - simply beautiful.

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    1. I like that tulip too and as you say, the splash of green adds something to it, that caught my eye too. There's some really fabulous trees in the garden but I couldn't do justice to the scale of them, some majestic specimens.

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  7. Lovely photos Jo. I think the red plant might be red broom, it certainly appears to have pea like flowers on it.

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    1. I've just had a look at red broom and it certainly looks like it, thanks for that. I really liked the look of it when I saw it.

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  8. Lovely photo's, I have tulip envy, we are off out today to Corfe Castle anther ruin.

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    1. I've seen lots of really lovely tulips this year, they've given me lots of inspiration for when tulip buying time comes round again. Enjoy your day.

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  9. Looks like it was a lovely day. The flowers are stunning. Nothing nicer that a stroll around a beautiful place.

    X x

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    1. I agree, we had a lovely day. It's nice to look around a place which we don't visit very often.

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  10. It is a beautiful garden, such lovely planting combinations. Those tulips in your first pictures are stunning aren't they!!! xx

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    1. It's a really tranquil place, even though the gardens were filled with lots of people, there was a sense of calm. I loved the tulip combinations.

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  11. AnonymousMay 25, 2015

    A lovely post and wonderful pictures. I find owls such fascinating birds. It's been a terrific year for tulips.
    Flighty xx

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    1. I love owls, they had different types with them on Saturday but I do love barn owls. I agree, it's been a great year for tulips.

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  12. Great post Jo and I do agree with you it is such a great idea to have green spaces in the middle of cities for people to make use of. Of course some do still need encouragement to get out and about... but we are so fortunate to have the opportunity.

    Loved all your pictures, thank you .

    All the best Jan

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    1. There were so many people making use of the gardens on Saturday, it was lovely to see. It's such a wonderful place for a stroll, or even for a picnic with the family.

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  13. Gosh, that owl is gorgeous! I love the tulips and alliums too, are they purple sensations, I have some and they are really striking.xxx

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    1. I love birds of prey, they're such beautiful birds. I think the alliums are Purple Sensation though they weren't labelled. The ones I had in my garden have all disappeared so I shall have to get some more.

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