Snowdrops and other signs of Spring
21 comments
On Sunday morning we visited Mitchmere Farm to see the Snowdrops and other early Spring flowers. A £4 entry fee helped to raise funds for The Sussex Snowdrop Trust.
This charity provides nursing care at home for local children with life threatening or terminal illnesses, so, a very worthwhile cause.
The sky was blue but it was so very, very cold walking slowly around the one and a half acre garden which was started in 1991. It is on chalk and gravel, within the South Downs to the North of Chichester and is briefly wet most years when the winterbourne (a stream or river that is dry through the Summer months) rises and flows through the garden.
Please join us on our garden visit …
Walk across the bridge, admiring the clear water, and take in the contrasting colours of the Dogwoods …
Our first sight of Snowdrops …
Bright Aconites with a few Crocus …
We liked the sculptures dotted around the garden …
More Snowdrops …
Very pleased to see this Mistletoe …
Fish sculptures were shimmering in the sun … these look similar to those in Dottydaisy2s garden
Pretty blue Iris …
Snowdrops everywhere! …
Close up of a very attractive variety … daughter didn’t have dirty finger nails … just black nail polish!
These chunky plant supports were lovely …
The farm has free range Bantams … bit of a surprise to see one up in a tree …
There were some interesting features in the farmhouse garden …
Leaving the farmhouse garden and back on the Snowdrop trail …
A pure white Vinca looked wonderful in the sunshine …
A good collection of terracotta pots …
Perhaps the owner of these boots simply forgot about them many moons ago!
Thanks for joining us on our ‘Snowdrop walk.’ Today (Tuesday) the weather is dreadful, howling winds with rain and hail so no walk to the beach or anywhere really today!
13 Feb, 2018
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Comments
Enjoyed the walk, ST. Snowdrops grouped together really are something.
13 Feb, 2018
I love that rusty bird statue! I think I saw this place that floods on the tv...possibly on countryfile. I have recently discovered that a branch of my family came from East Sussex. I have never been...now on my bucket list! Long old winter this one Shirley...snow forecast for here tomorrow.
14 Feb, 2018
Glad to chose Sunday, sunny if cold. Love that carpet of Aconites
14 Feb, 2018
Jen, there were pots of Snowdrops for sale at £5 but appeared to have just two or three per pot. I didn't bother to buy any!
I agree with you Eirlys ... we spotted some on a drive today ... :o)
That's interesting Karen, a cousin of mine has traced my maternal grandparents back to the Gunn clan and is positive we have a family tartan! I hope the snow stayed away for you. Seems like endless rain down here today ... :o(
Siris, thanks for looking in.
14 Feb, 2018
Sadly not Shirley....its snowed quite a lot today, but not cold enough to lie too much. Interesting geneology...we should do a house swap!
14 Feb, 2018
this is a lovely day out for you even if it was bitterly cold. the one a Burton Agnes is lovely too, must remind hubby to have a day out there this week.
14 Feb, 2018
I enjoyed taking a walk with you Shirley, it's a lovely place and £4 to me seemed very cheap, well worth that, you'd pay more for a piece of cake and a cuppa at some places, you picked the right day for your visit, never mind the cold as long as one is dry, I do love to see mass planting but at todays prices would cost a fortune to accomplish so one will add a few at a time, lol....Lovely photographs, thankyou for sharing Shirley.
15 Feb, 2018
Karen, not sure I could cope with your weather!
Go for it Sbg ... :o)
Lincs, thanks for looking in, glad you enjoyed the walk ... :o))
16 Feb, 2018
Nice Shirley thank you, some of the snowdrops look special, tall.
Do you remember what aspect the iris were enjoying, I wonder if they'd grow in my woodland under the deciduous trees?
16 Feb, 2018
Thanks for taking us on that "walkabout" with all the Snowdrops, Shirley! ? It's very nice to see so many naturalized like that! ?
16 Feb, 2018
Thank you for sharing this lovely garden with us. The snowdrops are beautiful. I love the moss growing on the abandoned boots and would love to see them planted up. The sculptures and other works of art are a great idea. I do like the Wren?
16 Feb, 2018
Dawn, those Iris unguicularis were growing beneath a huge tree and were facing East, so I guess they receive sunshine in the morning. Hope that helps! I can't name the Snowdrops for you, wish now I had photographed the list that was on display.
It is such a good show of Snowdrops, glad you like them too Balcony.
Scotsgran, I wonder if those glass sculptures were on loan to the farm for their open days as the sculptor lives locally!
Wren, that's just what we thought ... :o)
17 Feb, 2018
Good idea to promote local artists when making money for a charity. I did wonder if it was a Dipper, similar but bigger than a Wren. The box hedge circle looks like a pond to me.
17 Feb, 2018
Just what I needed Shirley, after my gardening afternoon, really enjoyed the snowdrop walk, it looks to be a very interesting place to visit, I did like those umbellifer plant supports!
I agree SBG, Burton Agnes Hall is a beautiful place to visit too, very similar to Doddington Hall near Lincoln, both Elizabethan manor houses...
17 Feb, 2018
Brilliant, thanks Shirley, that's good info, I will try some in that aspect.
17 Feb, 2018
Looks a great place in February to get out and about ...
Up to now looks like its going to be a good season for snowdrops ....
thanks for sharing
Gg
18 Feb, 2018
What a lovely walk you`ve taken us on the snowdrops are lovely and the bold blue of the iris were beautiful, much appreciated Shirley.
18 Feb, 2018
Thanks Janey, Gg and Stroller for looking in.
Phyl, how are you doing these days? Looking forward to some good gardening weather ahead?
18 Feb, 2018
Not too bad thank you Shirley, the fractured shoulder has healed nicely and I`m all set for some spring planting just got to wait for my plants to arrive and some good spring sunshine.
19 Feb, 2018
That's good to hear ... no chance of gardening today as it's cold and wet yet again. Oh well, all the housework is done and OH cleaned all the kitchen cupboard tops for me!
19 Feb, 2018
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What a lovely place to visit and such a good cause. Made me laugh about the black nail polish ?. I've only got a few snowdrops looking at this made me think that I really should get more.
13 Feb, 2018