Six on Saturday

Bit of cheating really as I had a Yorkshire in Bloom training day at RHS Harlow Carr in Harrogate and snapped this attractive spring planter at the entrance.

The Propagator generously hosts Six on Saturday.  Click on the link to his blog to see what he and his followers are growing and doing in their gardens this week.  Perhaps you feel you could add your own six too.

Six on Saturday

The weather doesn’t entice us to spend time in the garden but, even through the window, we can see signs of Spring. 

I didn't venture far from the house to snap these six.

 1. Erysimum Bowles's Mauve, the perennial wallflower which is a good doer as it flowers most of the year.  I would like the orange one too although I understand it doesn't do as well.  It is important to keep taking cuttings before it gets woody

2.  I haven't had the heart to plant out this polyanthus in this weather

 

3.  The Crocuses are not standing up to the windy weather too well

 4.  Euonymus brightens up a corner on a grey day 

 

5.  I could only buy packs of  mixed colours of wallflowers, but I seem to have managed to fill this pot with the same colour of what looks like dark red.

6.  We've had a frenzy of frogs in the pond with up to twelve of them doing what they do at this time of the year.

The Propagator generously hosts Six on Saturday.  Click on the link to his blog to see what he and his followers are growing and doing in their gardens this week.  Perhaps you feel you could add your own six too.

In a vase on Monday

A combination of slim pickings and gale force winds has resulted in today's meagre offering of Eucalyptus, Senecio and foliage from a shrub "borrowed" from a neighbour, perhaps begins with P? 

Six on Saturday February brings the rain - and wind

The weather has really been showing off its abilities recently but our region has been fairly fortunate compared to some.

1.   Snowdrops in the park with a promise of more bulbs to come

2.  Bought a few more seeds just in case I don't have enough ….

 

 3.  Marsh Marigolds by the pond

4.  Potentilla showing new growth for which I'm glad as I gave it a haircut

 5.  Bergenia which has lots of foliage but few flowers

6.  Lovely selection of Hellebores beautifully displayed (courtesy of a member of our gardening club https://gardenersfridayforum.blogspot.com/)

The Propagator generously hosts Six on Saturday.  Click on the link to his blog to see what he and his followers are growing and doing in their gardens this week.  Perhaps you feel you could add your own six too.

Liverpool

Our whistle stop tour of Liverpool began with a stop off at Stockport to visit Bramall Hall, https://www.stockport.gov.uk/topic/bramall-hall a wonderfully preserved example of aTudor Manor House dating back to Mediaeval times.

We left the car the long stay car park of the modern shopping mall, Liverpool One.  Hotel guests were given a discount and it was only a few minutes’ walk away.  We found that we wouldn’t need the car again until we were ready to leave.

The Heywood House Hotel in Fenwick Street was built in 1799 and was Liverpool’s oldest bank.  Founded by two brothers Benjamin and Arthur Heywood.  Looking into their history, the trading they were involved is considered non-PC today. 

Everywhere we wanted to visit was within easy walking distance of the hotel.

  The Beatles statue in the forefront of the illuminated buildings on the Pier Head; the Grade 1 listed building of the Royal Liver Building which, along with the Cunard Building and Port of Liverpool Building  are known as the Three Graces lining the waterfront and are part of Liverpool's UNESCO-designated World Heritage Maritime Mercantile City. 

We enjoyed our visit to the British Music Experience exhibition in Cunard House. The multi-media exhibition chronicled all the artists and memorabilia from the forties up to present day which was matched up with the news at the time.  Every so often a presentation was staged with holograms of musicians and there was plenty of opportunities for hands on activities in the recording studios for dancing, playing instrument and singing.  Well worth a visit.

 

Statue of Billy Fury

We also visited the Tate gallery on Albert Dock


China Town

Before we left, we drove through the tunnel under the Mersey to the seaside resort of New Brighton 

 

There are plenty of interesting spots in UK.  The weather isn’t always favourable, but you just want a mild and dry day rather than high temperatures to sightsee.
Any recommendations?

In a Vase on Monday

Each Monday Cathy at Rambling In The Garden encourages us to share a vase highlighting what is growing in our gardens.



There are very few flowers in bloom in the garden at the moment but plenty of promise.

Perhaps it would be easier to show the individual plants before arranging.
In the vase today:  Snowdrops (yet to open) polyanthus, hebe, abelia, mature ivy, flowering blackcurrant and a couple of sprigs of fennel for scent.


Thanks to Cathy at Rambling In The Garden for hosting and giving us an opportunity to share flower-filled vases across the world. Visit her blog to discover what she and others found to place In A Vase On Monday.