A floral few days? Sounds idyllic… Battleaxe wishes life was actually like that. But the world is in flames, old Starmer is still on the ropes, day after day, battling with the stupid Mandelson nonsense, local elections are looming, with the dread prospect of Reform, and of course Hastings is disappearing down one big pothole. Ah well, back to the flowers. This is a brief post, because we are off on our travels again quite shortly – not for long, this time. First, we went to see the tulips at Pashley Manor on a wonderfully sunny day. A problem getting there due to road works on the A21, but we won’t dwell on that. We’ve been loads of times before, so I won’t write too much about it again. Next, two visits to the bluebell wood behind the Two Sawyers pub at Pett. Once with Philosopher, and again with a neighbour. Finally, our own garden at Battleaxe Towers is looking lovely at the moment. Here’s Pashley Manor to start us off.
Like most of nature, tulips are doing their thing very early this year. Although the tulip festival at Pashley Manor runs until 1 May, some were already past their best when we went last week. But most were still strutting their stuff. Pashley Manor is quite expensive, but worth it. Lovely garden, lovely cafe…Here are a few more photos.
There was a rainbow in the water by this fountain…
And, unusually , the wisteria that covers the front of the house was out – the first time I have seen it. Ours at home is not quite ready yet…
Next, the bluebells. It is so hard to photograph them to get a realistic blue colour. They always look very washed out, but I have tried. As with the tulips, bluebells are early this year, and are looking wonderful, probably because the trees are not so leafy, so they are getting more light, and they are very fragrant. This year, too, there are wonderful patches of white wood anemones interspersed with the bluebells. I have no idea who the wood in Pett belongs to – there are many fallen trees around, but the bluebells are spectacular – and it is so little known. I have blogged about it before and put it on Facebook, but the wood is still very quiet. Again, we have been plenty of times before… it is very handy for the pub,which does good food, and there is also a somewhat eccentric tea-room close by, the Tic Tocory (yes, I have got that spelling right…). They sell a range of quite expensive house nick-nacks, and do food/cakes etc. But, odd for these days, it only takes cash… something to remember if you want to go.
Finally, our garden. Battleaxe is a dreadful fair-weather gardener, but over the past week or so the weather has been very fair, so have had to get out there. The clematis on the rickety arch in the middle of the garden is looking particularly good. This year, we have invested in a new, large, high class cantilver parasol, which seems to cover the whole sitting area – have not fully tested it out but it looks promising. Shade is such a problem. It’s hard to believe now, but in a few weeks we’ll all be desperate to get out of the sun.
Little boats on the sunny sea at St Leonard’s on Sunday… We had gone up there to check out the HastingsFlea in London Road. Interesting, and masses of vintage clothes, but it wouldn’t do as a selling platform for Battleaxe. Too cramped, noisy and crowded with young St Leonardsistas in their Sunday bests. Think sandals, Docs, baggy sailcloth pants, waistcoats, man buns, floppy hats, dogs and more dogs… A load of caramelised kimchee burritos. I think I will twist Philosopher’s arm into doing the Elm Tree Car Boot later in the summer. Yes, there are positively aisles-full of plastic toys but plenty of decent stuff as well.
