PODcast

Ponies, bluebells & fairies at Hatchlands

Bank Holiday Monday saw us head over to National Trust owned Hatchlands Park. We last visited earlier this month but were enticed back by the prospect of ponies, bluebells and fairies!

Located in Surrey, the mansion is a family home containing paintings, fine furniture and keyboard instruments associated with famous composers. What we love about Hatchlands is the vast expanse of woodland – some 400 acres of parkland to be precise.

There are way-marked walks, a parterre garden, a quiet garden and a natural play area for children. With it being the Easter holiday, there was even more happening today including archery – a sport I used to play at school!

Once we’d collected our Eggsplorer Passport and journal for the Easter Egg Trail, first stop were the pony rides. POD hasn’t been on one before so it was an interesting wait in the queue watching them. We didn’t have to wait long before it was POD’s turn though.

She loved having a ride on Dotty the pony.

We continued the excitement with the Easter Egg Trail which involved looking for items for the Mad Hatter’s Tea Party. There was the clock that tells you when you are late and the Queen of Hearts,

a red cup, a cupcake with an orange cherry, a white rabbit and a golden frog.

There was lots of fun to be had along the way

and POD was rewarded with a Cadbury’s Easter Egg at the end.

We had a picnic next to the cowslips in the wildflower meadow before we devoured the egg. The sun was shining so it was a wonderful place to sit – or in POD’s case climb nearby trees!

Hatchlands Park is always a great place to visit but Spring is particularly special with all the bluebells in the Little Wix Wood.

The fairies were back which pleased POD and lots of other children no end. Spotting them in trees is even more exciting that seeing the bluebells if you’re three. Daddy ran out of names for them though so one did get called Bernard!

It was a great day with so many highlights. Top picks would have to be POD’s first pony ride and of course the blue carpet.

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What’s The Story? | 28th April 2014

Hello everyone, welcome to What’s The Story? for w/c 28th April 2014. Thank you very much if you joined in last week, there were so many brilliant posts again. Always such a joy to read.

In case you missed the news, there are three new photography projects kicking off on PODcast from next month. The Macro Photography Project, the B&W Photography Project and Alphabet Photography Project will focus on improving our skills as a collective. You can read more here and the start dates will be confirmed shortly.

If you’re new to What’s The Story? it’s a photography based Linky which enables you to share the stories behind your photographs. It’s open from 6.30am every Monday through to the following Sunday.

To join in all you have to do is share a photograph and the story behind it. You can write as little or much as you like and your photo/s can be from any time – old or new. You can link up a old post too if it’s relevant.

Feel free to use the What’s The Story? badge or include a link to PODcast in your post – I’m happy to share it in return. Please do take the time to comment on some of your fellow bloggers posts when you can. It’s always worthwhile checking back later in the week too.

There’s a #whatsthestory community on Google Plus too so do pop over if you haven’t already. You can find me at Charly Dove or PODcast.

Have a great week everyone #whatsthestory

Project 365: Week #17

It’s a post of two halves this week. We spent a couple of days over the Easter weekend in Devon then returned to Surrey for ponies, bluebells and fairies. It was business as usual after that with a bit of garden wandering thrown in for good measure.

Welcome to Project 365: Week #17.

Day 109

Saturday was the most gloriously sunny day. We headed to Devon for POD to see her Granddad and after lunch we all hit the beach. There we skimmed stones, ate ice-cream and took in the views.

This is POD showing Daddy how to skim with a stone almost as large as her head. She may not have picked the best outfit but she certainly knows how to throw!

Day 110

We attempted another trip to the beach but bailed when the rain appeared and the wind broke the umbrella! We took cover in a coffee shop where we shared cake while our coats dried. POD was given her first babychino.

Day 111

On Bank Holiday Monday we headed over to National Trust owned Hatchlands Park which is local to us in Surrey. There POD got to ride on a pony for the first time – just look at that happy face! We also did the Easter Egg Trail and had a picnic near a cowslip meadow.

We then followed the fairies hidden in the trees to the spectacular bluebell wood.

Day 112

We have two of these Lavender Beetles in our herb garden. They’re quite pretty under a macro lens but they are in fact pests. We need to re-home them before they eat everything!

Day 113

Not convinced this photograph works but it was a bit of an experiment!

Day 114

This beautiful tulip has mysteriously appeared in one of our beds. I managed to capture it just after a shower before the light faded.

We’re off to Butlins on Friday for the weekend so week #17 is a short one. Next time you’ll have photographs from Friday to Saturday so we’re back in sync again.

Spring at RHS Wisley

We recently had the most fabulous time at RHS Wisley with Annie from Mammasaurus, Kitty and Ozzy. The day started well with the discovery of fish under one of the bridges – POD has not quite mastered disguising her excitement!

We visited the wonderful Orchid display first which took place in the state-of-the-art Glasshouse. It really is as impressive as it looks with dry, moist and tropical temperature zones housing beautiful and exotic species.

After the Glasshouse and a picnic by the Alpine Meadow we ventured into the Wild Garden. POD loves this area and spent a time peering into one of the streams.

At Seven Aces we admired the view,

said hello the ducks and watched a few more fish.

There were many pretties to see along the way

but we stopped for an ice-cream. Sitting on a bench, our view was a blossom tree with Grape Hyacinth beneath it.

We then made our way back past the canal and loggia to the walled garden. There we saw these wonderful Crown Imperials and an array of colourful blooms.

We even had the adjacent garden to ourselves for a little while

although a couple of ducks dropped by.

The Top Terrace was awash with hundreds of daffodils.

A great photo opportunity had POD faced the camera!

From there we headed to the Alpine Houses and Centenary Crevice Garden. Having only discovered the alpine area last month, it was a treat to return so soon. With miniature displays from all over the World, there’s a huge variety of alpines to see.

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These hairy Pasque flowers are just lovely

and these were amazing.

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There are many succulents to see as well.

The nearby Rock Garden was our next stop, the children enticed by its waterfalls and rocky steps,

but we did stop for a few minutes to watch a duck.

Beneath us the bridge beckoned

and there was just enough time to look at the fish again before we left. It was a great day which saw POD asleep before we’d even left the car park!

Linking up with #HDYGG at Mammasaurus and #CountryKids at Coombe Mill.

Bank Holiday fun

Bluebells, fairies and a beach were just a few of our Bank Holiday highlights. POD also rode on a pony for the first time. It was a leisurely weekend spent hanging out.

Good Friday saw Daddy hide Easter eggs in flowerbeds, bushes and shrubs around the garden for POD to find.

Having located her eggs, she sat outside her playhouse savouring the first. Mummy and Daddy sampled a couple too.

On Saturday we headed to Devon where we spent the afternoon at the beach. It was the most glorious day!

We skimmed stones, ate ice-cream and admired the views.

The weather took a turn for the worse on Easter Sunday. We took cover from the downpours in a local coffee shop and shared cake. POD had her first babychino too. Then after lunch we headed back home.

On Bank Holiday Monday we visited National Trust owned Hatchlands Park in Surrey. POD did us proud when she took to her first pony ride with aplomb.

After saying goodbye to Dotty the pony, we followed the Easter egg trail

looking for items required for the Mad Hatter’s Tea Party.

Once we’d located them, POD received a Cadbury’s Easter Egg. We enjoyed a picnic beside a meadow of cowslips before we devoured it!

After lunch we hit the bluebell wood keeping an eye out for fairies hidden in the trees. Daddy had clearly run out of names when he called one Bernard!

So that was our Easter weekend, how was your break?

Linking up with The Gallery at Sticky Fingers where this week’s prompt is Easter.

The Easter Egg Hunt

Good Friday saw POD partake in her first Easter Egg Hunt after Daddy hid foil covered eggs in flowerbeds and bushes around the garden. The first couple were more visible to get her started – a look of joy spread across her face when she found them.

After launching herself off the decking (she’s jumping off everything at the moment), she continued in her quest to find eggs.

She found eggs in flowerbeds, bushes and in the grass. One even slid down her slide!

When POD spotted this golden egg above her head, she wondered how she was going to get it.

But after taking instruction from Daddy, the egg dropped to the ground and POD added it to her collection. She nearly missed one Daddy had camouflaged in the magnolia tree!

Once all ten eggs had been found, POD sat outside her playhouse enjoying every mouthful of her first chocolate egg. Mummy and Daddy ‘helped’ by eating a couple of eggs themselves.

But the fun didn’t end there, we scoured the garden for dandelion clocks and blew what we found.

The swing then became the focus with POD wanting to be pushed “high, high up in the sky”. Raucous giggles followed until the swing slowed and the process began once again.

It was a lazy Good Friday spent mostly in the garden enjoying the simple things in life. What more could you ask for?

Linking up with #CountryKids at Coombe Mill and #WhatsTheStory here on PODcast.

What’s The Story? | 21st April 2014

Hello everyone, welcome to What’s The Story? for w/c 21st April 2014.

Thank you for joining in last week, there were so many incredible posts. Such a mixture too which is what makes What’s The Story? so much fun.

There are three new photography projects kicking off on PODcast next month. The Macro Photography Project, the B&W Photography Project and Alphabet Photography Project will focus on improving our skills as a collective. You can read more here.

There’s a #whatsthestory community on Google Plus too so do pop over if you haven’t already. You can find me at Charly Dove or PODcast.

Have a great week everyone #whatsthestory

Silent Sunday

Project 365: Week #16

The highlight this week was day 104 which was spent with Annie from Mammasaurus, Kitty and Ozzy at RHS Wisley. It’s always a beautiful spot but on such a sunny day, it was just glorious. We explored the gardens and had lots of fun together. The rest of the week was business as usual although POD did attempt her first scoot on Wednesday.

Welcome to Project 365: Week #16.

Day 103

This little fella visits our garden all the time. Really nice he dropped by while I was holding my camera.

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Day 104

Monday was a brilliant day spent at RHS Wisley with Annie from Mammasaurus, Kitty and Ozzy. Annie wrote a great post entitled Making Friends which sums it up beautifully. It was a really great day that saw us explore almost every nook and cranny.

We got to see an orchid display while we were there too which was pretty special.

Day 105

A quick look round the garden today reaped its rewards as a few tulips had opened. It’s become cooler since though and they’ve closed.

Day 106

We walked to nursery on Wednesday. As POD has had little opportunity to practice her scooting since her (Christmas Day) birthday, we took that too. She did brilliantly for a time although she’s not keen on learning to turn yet!

Once she’d had a good go, she walked with her scooter, jumped over it and sat on it. The usual 20 minute journey took 1.5 hours and despite this don’t take a picture of me face, it was great she insisted on walking most of the way.

Day 107

Spotted one of these at lunchtime, not perfect but nice to photograph all the same.

Day 108

On Good Friday POD had an Easter Egg hunt in the garden before blowing dandelion clocks and enjoying her swing. We’re up at the crack of sparrows tomorrow for a fleeting visit to Devon so just six days from us this week.

Orchids in the Glasshouse

Monday was spent with Mammasaurus, Ozzy and Kitty at RHS Wisley. We had the most wonderful day and it was gloriously sunny to boot. POD explored the gardens, watched fish and jumped a lot.

But what she loved most of all was making friends.

As well as Gardening Week, and the Lindt Easter bunny hunt, we timed our visit with Wisley’s annual orchid display. The cathedral-like Glasshouse was our first stop. It’s an amazing structure, equivalent to 10 tennis courts. It looked even more incredible gleaming in the sunshine with the bright blue sky above.

It always feels like a sense of calm washes over you when you enter it. The sound of the waterfall is immense and that’s before you take in your jungle-like surroundings. There are three interlinked temperature zones – dry, moist and tropical.

Having passed the spectacular display of cacti, we hit the tropical zone which can reach temperatures of 30 degrees. We were able to take in all the colour and the amazing displays while our lenses accclimatised.

There were orchids all around us, even hanging from above. It was the most beautiful sight and a great way to kick off our day after we’d checked out fish, ducks and giant buttercups.

The Glasshouse never fails to impress with its impressive plant collection which includes rare and endangered species. Like the rest of Wisley, it offers something different each time we visit.

Outside the tropical zone, there were more unusual gems to be discovered

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including this Lady’s Slipper.

After the Glasshouse, it was off to the children’s play area before relaxing in the the alpine meadow and having a picnic. We then explored the rest of Wisley taking in the wild garden, the rock garden and the alpines. Far too much for one post so these adventures will follow in next week’s post. If you can’t wait until then, Annie’s post is here.

Linking up with Mammasaurus for #HDYGG.

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