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!).

Allo Lola!

Spring is coming and we are all feeling it out on the pond, there is a lot if 'pairing off' with the mallards and even my "white" (am I allowed to say this?) duck friends are starting to move into groups rather than sticking with the larger group.  At this time of year it is very dangerous if you don't keep your wits about you -- the mallards are particularly daft when they are 'in love' and they will keep heading off into the field to 'be alone'... this is very silly with the number of dogs, foxes and humans that are walking the fields!!  Paddy -- the golden lab who lives next door gets quite beside himself when he see them in the field just waiting to be chased!

Many of the females ducks are now laying eggs and the sadly the crows are already moving in however, Mick the Site Manager, has rescued the first batch this week and is setting them in the incubator to hatch so we will have ducklings this year all being well.  Hanbury First school are also going to try an hatch us a few too so I am sure we will have the pitter patter of tiny webbed feet in a few weeks.....watch this space.

Lola meeting the crowd (with Linda her new handler)

We had a new visitor this week - Lola -- she is working for the Guide Dogs for the Blind and is designated to be a brood bitch.  Linda Atkins (who has been puppy training for GDs for years) will look after her and will be helping with the pups and Linda will get to keep her as a pet she has "done her bit", so she is a lucky girl as Linda is a great "Mum".   Lola had only just arrived to her new home when she was invited up to the Jinney Ring along with Marley (who is going to be a Guide Dog when he has been fully trained) to help promote the "Go Walkies " event that is being run from the Craft Centre gardens on 1st April.   We are expecting to keep up with Lola's antics and life and will keep you up to date too.

Marley (the lab) and Lola with posing with Lyndsey and Polly from the gift shop.

Around the Craft Centre, activity is generally increasing as the weather improves -- the new pergola/rose arch is has been stained and is finished ready for planting which should happen in the next couple of weeks.  There are lots of other garden preparations going on too, ready for the Olympics and Diamond Jubilee, but that will have to wait a little until next weekend is finished, as Mother's Day is always very popular here and we are expecting to see a lot of people in the gardens next Sunday.  There is a special Mother's day breakfast in the morning and then an all day carvery with flowers for all mums. 

Love was in the air!

Last night the conservatory was full of couples intent on romance for St Valentine's night.  The restaurant was set up with hearts and roses ready for the 4 course meal and the live music from father and daughter Jazz duo "Blue2".

The conservatory set up for a romantic dinner

Scrummy home-made trio of desserts - something for everyone !

"Blue2" -- In a serious moment!  They made a lovely sound

It must be half term, as there are certainly a lot of children about this week -- good news for us ducks as we are getting loads of corn! There is lots going on with Pottery activities and Mosaic sessions for all.

Despite the recent cold weather the garden has warmed up and is not too bad at all at the moment, makes us feel that spring is around the corner - let's hope so!  The craft units are starting to get a bit busier here too with lots of new work going on -- as an example when I put my head into the glass blowing unit today I find that are currently making some fantastic large glass swirls for a chandelier (a commission), they have to make 90 of them!  (I don't often look in this unit as it does remind me of the oven!).

The Framer (Freebird) is working hard on a new range of bespoke vinyl products too -- he is putting together memorable items for special years (say birthday, engagement or wedding years) as keepsakes.  He is framing photographs alongside things like concert tickets or vinyl records from a particular year with some relevant quotations.  They make great gifts and are brilliant for a bedroom or study wall  -- for all age groups and ideal for the person who has everything.......I am planning to order a Vinyl 45 of the "Birdie Song" by the Tweets alongside a ticket for the 2009 Game Fair at Ragley (where my Dad came from, I think!) and of course a picture of me, only problem is not sure where I would hang it as the duck house is a bit small!

Getting Cold Feet!

Bruhh, it chilly.  -9 degrees Celsius last night and the bottom pond is fully frozen over -- there is some free water on the top pond by the waterfall but even this is frozen at the edges (see above).  We have all been practising our skating and the Mallards have had some interesting landings on the ice, not what you would call "controlled"!
The ground is also really hard now -- this is however better to feed on as we don't loss the corn in the ground.
Still lots of people coming to feed us I am glad to say but they are not staying outside long, they prefer watching us from the windows holding a cup of hot chocolate. It has just started to snow now too -- the grit is ready to go down in the car park.

Valentine's day is coming up shortly, Chef is working on lots of lovely ideas for the daytime and the evening and there are lots of "hearts" and valentine gifts in the shops now, the glass blower has some lovely heart shaped glass again this year.

The early bird catches the fish....

Most mornings on the pond we have a rather large visitor  -- a Heron, today he must have had a 'lay-in' as he showed up at about 10am.  He is very camera shy and spooks at the slightest movement of people.  We are not fond of him as he expects us to vacate our comfortable places just so he can walk into the water!

We are getting well out of his way!

A blowy day here in the gardens, but pretty mild, so we will have plenty of fun on the water today.

Oh, what a giggle!

Talulah came to visit us this weekend -- and we all got just a bit excited as she fed us and we pushed forward until she fell backwards over the small wall into the flower bed!! This little girl was not one to cry and shout -- no, she got up and dusted herself off and carried on feeding us, and giggling -- we like her and her mum and sister -- they all giggled!

We have had lots of young couples visiting the gardens and the restaurant over the last week or two -- all planning their weddings, I heard the lady showing them round telling them that we ducks are always guests at the wedding - 'invited or not' -- not sure how to take this!

Anyway may be a few more coming up as Valentines day is nearly upon us - there is a lovely evening planned in the restaurant with music from Blues2Jazz and a lovely menu (no duck!).  also don't forget ladies -- it is a leap year!

Carols in the Conservatory

It is Christmas Eve and there are a number of folk wandering about with red and white hats on.  Everyone seems cheerful and we are getting plenty of corn!

There is music coming from the conservatory from the "Grafton Singers" as they entertain the customers with some Christmas carols, it is really lovely!

The Grafton Singers 

While everyone else is off enjoying their turkey dinners I hope we are not forgotten -- the only days in the year that we don't have visitors here (the craft centre is closed) are Christmas day and the following day, we see people every other day so it is a bit of a shock to us, but no doubt we will get fed in the morning as normal by the owners.  

The Craft Centre is closed 25th and 26th December and then reopens 27th at 11am.  For opening times please click here