RHS Harlow Carr Gardens in Lent

On a recent Sunday the weather seemed bright enough to go to the gardens after Mass, so we went to our old standby, RHS Harlow Carr. They had some seasonally colored flowers and an orchid show on in one of the buildings.

We are still amazed by all the hearty flowers that can survive in this Yorkshire "springtime" which includes plenty of snowy days. The flowers are perfect for Lent since they are mostly purple, just like the liturgical vestments the priest wore at Mass earlier in the day!

Field of purple

Ericaceae (known as heather or heath!)

Some white flowers anticipating Easter

In the Bramall Learning Centre and Library was an exhibit of orchids. The organizers looked like they were gearing up for a lecture so we only stayed briefly to admire the sights and smells.

Epidendrum stanfordianum and friend

Beallara Tahoma (white on top) and unidentified (below)

Lots of orchids

We managed to see some wildlife while we were at the garden, including some real ducks and some unreal rabbits (or possibly hares).

If a duck crosses your path, does it mean anything?

At first I thought these were deer, but clearly those are ears, not antlers!

No trip would be complete without a visit to the playground and the tree house. I took the obligatory tree house shot.

Would anyone notice if I kept using the same photo?!?

We had a fun visit to the gardens, even if we did have to wear winter jackets and gloves. Come on, Spring, we are waiting for you!

RHS Harlow Carr Garden in the Almost Spring

We had a bit of not so cold and damp weather here in Yorkshire and decided to take advantage by visiting our old favorite, RHS Garden Harlow Carr. The vegetation is just starting to show (we went at the beginning of March).  Some early bloomers include this Rhododendron praevernum.

Rhododendron in early March

Primula vulgaris is a yellow blooming flower that was found among the Galanthus nivalis, or snowbells.

Primula vulgaris

Primula with snowbells

No visit would be complete without visits to the kid-friendly parts of the gardens. We are sad to report that the outdoor musical instruments are gone. J was quite upset. Luckily, we still had the playground and the tree house (with its obstacle course) to visit, so his mood improved quite a bit.

J jumps off the climber

J on a roll

The now required picture of J looking out the top of the tree house

On our way out we saw a silly sight. Apparently, if you are desperate enough, you'll brew tea with any old leaves you can find.

We keep adding water, but the tea never brews!

We also bought some seeds and some potting soil to start growing some plants at home. They will be sure to show up soon enough on the blog if they grow anywhere near half-decently.

Halloween Trail at Harlow Carr Garden

Since the children are off school this week (it's half term), we have been having adventures in the mornings. On the eve of Halloween, we went to RHS Harlow Carr Garden for their monster trail and spooky story time.

We arrived just after opening, so not many people were wandering around the gardens yet. We found the display of activities and picked up a map so we could find all the scary monsters in their various hiding spots. The map had a spot for stamping as we discovered each monster.

Lucy poses in front of the display

Initially, Jacob wanted to wander all over the gardens and not go hunting monsters. So we wandered on paths and grass, admiring the plants and the waterfalls.

The gardens with fall foliage

Gooseberry plants (hopefully the berries will be here soon!)

A small waterfall

A satisfyingly larger waterfall

Finally I got him back on task and we went after the monsters. The first monster was hiding in the Alpine Zone, which is named after the sort of plants there, not for the fabulous mountains. Jacob was the first to spot this three-eyed critter. The stamp for the map was on the little red post on the right of the picture.

Monster #1 and Jacob looking down the slopes of the Alpine Zone

The next clue on our sheet took us to the Scented Garden, where a thirsty bug who, according to the clue, is "Drinking nectar, or is it blood..glug glug?" Lucy said she thought he was drinking blood. He does have those hypnotic Dracula eyes.

Jacob, Bug, and Lucy who is perilously close to the blood-sucker

The scented gardens

We continued on the trail to the Kitchen Garden, where we not only discovered Monster #3 but also a little yard for hens. All the birds were hiding under a tree, maybe because it is warmer there.

Monster #3

Hen in good camouflage

The next set of monsters was across the gardens by the tree house and the log maze. Unfortunately, the log maze area still had a lot of the rain water from the past seven or eight days, which made it very muddy and very slippery.

We're all happy right now to find Monster #5 (who came before #4 through a geographical goof)

Jacob did slip here and got a little upset at being a mess, especially since his trousers were dirty and a bit wet. We had to go find the toilet to clean up. Fortune favors the prepared and I had the backpack with the spare outfits in it. We were able to change him to clean trousers. We went back to get our stamp from the one-eyed purple monster. Fortune changed her mind pretty quickly because Jacob slipped again and had to soldier on with dirty, damp pants. He wasn't as upset. He wanted to find the last monsters so we went faster but also more cautiously.

We found Monster #4 by the tree house. The ground was especially muddy and yucky here. We had to choose our path carefully. Unfortunately the picture did not come out. We then searched out Monster #5 who was just beyond the log maze. Jacob didn't want to go that way. We made a bit of a detour around the side and made it to the last monster.

Monster #6 poses with Lucy

Jacob asked to go home at this point and I agreed. We skipped the spooky story time in favor of our warm home and dry jeans. We had fun anyway, though I promised Jacob that future trips to the gardens would be after some dry weather.

And, of course, I had to do laundry when we got home:

Pantspocalypse, or mudpocalypse

RHS Harlow Carr with New Non-Floral Items!

On a recent visit to RHS Harlow Carr Gardens we wandered through the usual assortment of flowers before discovering some more interesting and unusual stuff. Here are the assorted flowers, scroll down to see the other new stuff.

Rhododendron Rossatum

Pink flowers

Purple flowers

White flowers

Ravish red flower

Whispy white flowers

Gunnera Manicata (doesn't really look like a flower, eh?)

Jacob found some new bridges and their little creeks. He always hopes for a waterfall nearby.

The waterfall is the other way!

Chillin' by the woodland bridge

Jacob also discovered a fairy ring. A fairy ring is a ring of mushrooms that appear on a lawn or other grassy area. The story goes like this: An elf or fairy appeared there and it may be a portal to the elf/fairy kingdom. They only last a couple of days. Someone could catch the elf or fairy there as they try to return home. Then he or she must grant a favor. Unfortunately, one of the criteria for a proper fairy ring is that it is made of real mushrooms. These mushrooms, as any clever observer would see, are metal.

Jacob awaits the return of the mecha-elf

The nearby bee house had a rather interesting decoration on the roof.

I don't have to say it, do I? Okay, I will...Bee-ware! And you thought I'd refer to a mecha-bee.

Nearby, the Wetherby Silver Band was setting up for the final concert in the Summer Sunday Afternoon Concert series.

Wetherby Silver Band

They weren't ready to play yet, so we walked further into the woods. One section of the gardens has some Doric Columns. The kids enjoyed the spot more than I thought they would.

Doric Columns, guarded by lions

Lucy Lionrider

More fun than that was the musical instrument display. The display actually had only one type of instrument, the xylophone. I suppose that is the most durable musical instrument that can be left out doors in English weather.

Jacob on one

Lucy on another

Tall tubes

Nearby were a bunch of woven teepee-style tents that somehow have been associated with the Three Little Pigs by the children. Only one home in the story is built of sticks and in Harlow Carr there are no hay or bricks anywhere nearby.

They look hard to blow down

As the fall season comes, I'm sure we'll have some more visits. Hopefully they have some Halloween or Christmas activities!