Helping in the Gardens!

It has been so dry lately that there is not much going on in the grassed areas of the gardens so we are all delighted when the gardeners have been working and turning the soil for us to have a good old root around!  Normally at this time of year we are still making nice puddles of mud on the lawn and looking for slugs and worms there but now we have some fresh plants and new shoots in the main beds we could not be happier. Oddly, the Gardeners are not happy -- they keep shooing us off and have started putting wire mesh around the more tasty plants!  There has even been talk of 'cooking pots' but we know they are joking!

The gardens have started to look quite nice, with a bit of help from us!

This year the Gardeners have built a new pergola/arch way (you can see the edge of it above), it is really a framework for some rambling roses and some scented clematis which will be planted shortly - should look and smell lovely when it is all grown up.

We had a really busy weekend last weekend with a children's Pottery party on Saturday and then Mother's Day on Sunday.  We are expecting to be busy again this weekend too as it is so lovely weather wise and it is so pleasant in the garden -  the view is great today.   The next public event on the agenda seems to be Easter. On Good Friday we are having a visit from West Midlands Search and Rescue who are bring a boat into the garden - should be fun!

DON'T forget to join us for Go Walkies event for Guide Dogs for the Blind on 1st April (no joke!).

Blue it was not!

After much activity in the garden late last week, we found out what was going on on Saturday - it was time for the, now annual, music "Blues" festival -- and, amazingly, it was not even raining!

The garden gradually filled up and so did the field next door (with tents and cars), then the smell of home-made burgers cooking on the BBQ and real ale being poured pervaded the garden.  Oddly, we beginning to think that we were not to be the centre of attention in the garden for the large amount of visitors arriving, but fortunately we were not left out - two lovely little lads,  who must have spent all their pocket money on duck food for us, arrived just in time (we were very grateful and kept them company for most of the day!)

The music started playing at around 2pm, very gently with Maz Mitrenko. It gradually increased in tempo as styles changed, from the moody Mumbo Jumbo through the Cohen Brothers (who moved on to play at the Worcester Beer Festival after being here!). Then The Outwoods County Riders with their country feel and raunchy sound.  The Trevor Burton band started to play as it was getting dark - brilliant, and finally, our old favourites, The Big Blues Tribe finished the evening on a high -  the music as all terrific (even for us ducks - although the ducklings did give up early and went back to their pen!).

The event had been billed a a "chilled out" day - have a look at some of the sights we saw and see what you think!

A hot weekend

Last weekend we had another bride and groom and their party spend the afternoon with us in the gardens.  The sky was not blue but is was hot and the rain held off for them.  They looked fantastic, especially the Bride Lynsey who was radiant, and they had some lovely photos taken with us too!

Arriving at the Centre

Lynsey and her "MC" brother

The party arrived about 2:30pm and had sandwiches and drinks with many guests exploring the craft units but as usual the Falconry was the favourite attraction and we lost some of the guests for quite a while to the thrills of the  new owl and falcon.  They disappeared for dinner at about 6pm and then we watched them through the conservatory windows.   They had a lovely menu which the Bride and Groom chose -- it included a pie (Grooms choice) which although it is unusual for a wedding was very popular!

Speech time 

In the evening the party all danced in the marquee far into the night -  we had regular bulletins as many of the guests came to cool off in the garden.   The Bride and Groom had chosen a complete playlist to ensure maximum dancing -- a really good mix!

The marquee all lit up ready to dance the night away

The marquee has gone again now and we are getting ready for our next excitement which is the "Experience Chocolate" weekend on 9th/10th July.  Chocolate Deli have all sorts of chocolately treats in store for visitors all weekend and the shop and restaurant are joining in too!