Stunning Stirling

The hedgerows are now in full fresh green leaf. This week we have had rain and cold winds.
We have had several rainbows. 

A rainbow promise

Yesterday we had the helm wind blowing. As I drove up Hartside when I got out of the car I had difficulty shutting the car door against the force of the wind.

The band between the clouds and the land is known as the Helm bar

Cowslips are in flower on the roadside.

Cowslips on the verge outside Langwathby

Dainty trumpet bells

Early morning sunrise with the mist floating across the river.

Drifting mist

The sun has risen higher in the sky.

Atmospheric

Last week I visited Stirling Castle. The castle entrance.

Friend or foe

A statue to Robert the Bruce.

A brave warrior

The Chapel Royal.

The Royal Palace in the background is painted in 'Kings Gold' a sign of wealth

 Stirling Heads on the ceiling of the Royal Palace.

Hi

A fresco.

The unicorn a symbol of purity

A tapestry.

A captured unicorn

A tree illuminated by the sun setting.

Actual colours

Spring and Scotland

What a difference a week makes. Over the weekend there was several inches of snow, hail and cold winds. The severity of the frost has killed many of the newly opened leaves on the beech hedge and various plants have suffered from the cold.

I took these photos in the Artful Garden last Saturday before the bad weather.

The spirea looks beautiful a frothy cloud of white.

White  fireworks

The forgetmenots and tulips decorate the garden path.

Bonny blues

The delicate plum blossom has just appeared.

Blossom beauty

The damson blossom looks very fragile.

 A delicate shade of white

A two toned daffodil.

A washed out daffodil

I visited The Bridge of Allan near Stirling in Scotland on Monday. The Post office looks like something out of the wild west.

Tie up your horse and enter

We climbing up through Mine Wood. The mine entrance where copper was once mined and used for the mint at Stirling.

No entry

The rock face.

Can you see any traces of copper?

Fern fronds just about to open.

Ready to uncurl

A view north from the top of the hill.

Looking towards Dunblane

Looking over towards Stirling.

Looking towards the rivers Forth and Clyde

Moss on the tree and the dry stone walls.

A woolly jacket of moss

Amazing Kelpie horses. They are 30 metres high and situated next to a new extension to the Forth and Clyde canals.

Neigh

The horses were designed by Andy Scott.

Viewing highly recommended

A closer view of the metal panels.

Look at the shape of the cutouts

Rapeseed growing in the local fields.

Acid yellow rapeseed

At an antique fair I saw this South African pheasant, stunning plumage.

What a show off said one parrot to the other. Just go with the glow replied the pheasant.

Skiddaw Summit

Last Saturday we rose at 5am to set off to climb Skiddaw in the Lake District. We started our walk at 7am as we like the tranquility of walking in peace and quiet and to be able to fully appreciate nature at its best.

A clear blue sky

The walk started at Mirehouse and it was a climb from the first step. The route took us through Dodd Wood. The sunshine over this last week has brought  the trees into leaf. 

Dodd Wood

 A sycamore tree.

Fresh spring leaves

This felled spruce tree is about 55 years old. I calculated this by counting the annual growth rings.

Can you count the rings?

The beech trees were just showing a few tender green leaves.

The beech hedge at home is just bursting with leaf

Delicate wood sorrel was growing in the forest floor. 

Dainty white bells

We came out of the wood at White Stones and started a steep ascent. The rocks were glistening as though they had been sprinkled with fairy dust.

Twinkle twinkle

The lichen patterns are intriguing.

Bubbly effect lichen. A sign of clean air.

As you climbed, more and more of the stunning Lakeland hills and lakes were revealed. Early in the morning there is little activity to disturb the birdsong and the larks that were ascending but not singing.

Looking towards Derwent Water. Keswick on the left and Braithwaite on the right 

Looking towards Bassenthwaite Lake.

Stunning hill formation

The climb took us past these pleated hills as we climbed Allerdale Ramble.

Beauty unfolded

The final climb was extremely steep climbing up scree like a mountain goat. We were glad to have reached the summit.

A route not for the faint hearted

Almost at the top.

The end is in sight, phew

Trig point at the summit 931 metres.

Wow

A dial showing the direction and distance to points of interest.

How far away is?

The view was stunning, so crystal clear and you could see for miles. As far as Scotland and the Isle of Man.

Dramatic

A view to die for

After a slight rest we made the descent back on the same route. By now other walkers were on the climb and we exchanged good crack with them all.


A beautiful sunset to complete the day.

Spring sunset

Spring Forward

What a week of variable weather. On Sunday the temperature dropped to 1C and we had sleet and snow, a whiteout. Thursday it was glorious sunshine after a misty morning and the temperature was 17C.

I have been busy weeding the back flowerbed in the Artful Garden. Against the fence is a mass of ground elder and nettles and I had to crawl under the blackthorn hedge to weed. Blackthorn has very sharp spikes and the ivy sharp branches so it was not an easy task. We have also put up rabbit netting along the fence as last year rabbits invaded the garden and ate a lot of the young seedlings. 

A cleared back border

The gooseberry and red and blackcurrant bushes have come into leaf and I have applied a good amount of manure at the base of the plants.

Gooseberry bush

The daffodils are starting to wilt as the tulips come into flower.

The white daffodils in the rose bed are still in bloom

The leaves on the apple trees are just beginning to open.

Leaf buds

The onions I planted a few weeks ago are beginning to grow.

Garlic on the right tiny green onion shoots

The jonquils and grape hyacinths make a lovely combination.

Sunny faced jonquils

The little pink saxifrage is in full bloom.

Deep pink flowers. The Egyptian head I made last year.

At this time of the year you get amazing sunrises and sunsets.

Rich tones and shades