Monday, April 02, 2007
2nd April. A Walk in Tilgate Park.
Today we will pause in our look at the beauty of Phuket and turn our eyes to the glories of Crawley.
In this town we are blessed with superb parks and open spaces. Tilgate Park has grown from the original grounds of a Victorian mansion. There are lakes and woodland, which are managed and yet retain the air of natural countryside.
At this time of year the Spring flowers burst open in abundance creating a gaudy display.
This morning Bill and I went for a walk.
It was good for me (good for both of us) to get out in the wonderful sunshine. We had dressed to protect against a slightly chilly wind - but soon we were warm and didn't need the extra clothes.
Naturally we enjoyed seeing the world through the camera viewfinder. Below are a selection of photographs taken by both of us.
The rich red rhododendrons are spectacular.
Delicate blossoms against a vivid blue sky.
Daffodils are everywhere just now. Many bloomed very early this year and so are already well past their best.
These yellow flowers on a tree are like catkins.
These fantastic plants are to be seen in the Peace Garden. They are like an arum lily (or cuckoo pint), but I presume they are a specially grown ornamental variety, for I found nothing the same in our wild flower books
Thanks to Maggie who has found the name of this interesting plant - an interesting name for it too! It is the yellow skunk cabbage.
I have looked it up and see it is the plant of the month on the Royal Horticultural Society page....
http://www.rhs.org.uk/WhatsOn/gardens/harlowcarr/archive/harlowcarrpomapril.asp
In this town we are blessed with superb parks and open spaces. Tilgate Park has grown from the original grounds of a Victorian mansion. There are lakes and woodland, which are managed and yet retain the air of natural countryside.
At this time of year the Spring flowers burst open in abundance creating a gaudy display.
This morning Bill and I went for a walk.
It was good for me (good for both of us) to get out in the wonderful sunshine. We had dressed to protect against a slightly chilly wind - but soon we were warm and didn't need the extra clothes.
Naturally we enjoyed seeing the world through the camera viewfinder. Below are a selection of photographs taken by both of us.
The rich red rhododendrons are spectacular.
Delicate blossoms against a vivid blue sky.
Daffodils are everywhere just now. Many bloomed very early this year and so are already well past their best.
These yellow flowers on a tree are like catkins.
These fantastic plants are to be seen in the Peace Garden. They are like an arum lily (or cuckoo pint), but I presume they are a specially grown ornamental variety, for I found nothing the same in our wild flower books
Thanks to Maggie who has found the name of this interesting plant - an interesting name for it too! It is the yellow skunk cabbage.
I have looked it up and see it is the plant of the month on the Royal Horticultural Society page....
http://www.rhs.org.uk/WhatsOn/gardens/harlowcarr/archive/harlowcarrpomapril.asp
The yellow lily type flowers grew along the edge of the little stream.
The Peace Garden is beautiful - dedicated in hope for world peace. Sadly it is close to the more recently built Motorway and the traffic noise does disturb the peace a bit.
This is the largest of the lakes - the focal point for most visitors. There are several other lakes and we were pleased to see that one which had been drained for some while is now filled and ready to get re-established.
And now a snap shot of Bill by the lake.
Magnolias - I have long thought that this flowering tree is supremely beautiful with those delicate pink waxy petals.
Next time we should take a picnic to enjoy under the magnolia tree. There are very many seats in the park; people who have lost loved ones like to have a seat placed somewhere beautiful so that others may enjoy what their own dear departed had enjoyed so much.
