FLOWERS AT BROCKSTONE COTTAGE GRASMERE

If you love flowers try to visit the Lake District in Spring for an amazing burst of colour that will lift your spirits after the winter months. A short walk from Brockstone will take you to some wonderful local gardens. Here are some of my photos showing my favourite flowers. The cottage has a garden full of daffodils, at their best in March. In April the primroses and bluebells appear. Also along the paths by the cottage you can find wild violas, celandines, sorrel, wild garlic, and later in the year, elderflowers and sloes. Keep your eyes open for the beauty all around.

Note about the flowers in spring 2018. As you will know, we have a had a very cold winter and early spring, so our flowers are about two weeks behind their usual dates.

MARCH- BEAUTIFUL EARLY FLOWERS NEAR BROCKSTONE

Photos taken at Rydal Hall gardens and in nearby Dora’s Field on the 13 March 2017. The colour all around even in March is remarkable.

A short walk from Brockstone Cottage

Dora’s Field Rydal looking amazing in the March sun

Hellebores in Rydal Hall Gardens, a short walk from Brockstone

A beautiful garden, Rydal Hall free to visit, a short walk from Brockstone cottage

APRIL- BLUEBELL TIME IN THE LAKE DISTRICT

Bluebells 100 m from Brockstone cottage

White Moss woods bluebells

Bluebells flower near Brockstone- the scent is wonderful

MAY – A BEAUTIFUL TIME TO VISIT THE LAKES

Heugh Folds is a large house just 5 minutes along the track from Brockstone heading towards Grasmere. The garden is home to a wonderful collection of trees, featuring some rare and very beautiful azaleas and rhododendrons. Ladywood is on the old road from White Moss to Dove Cottage, that used to be the main road in Wordsworth’s day. At our home, White Moss House, we also have some outstanding rhodies.

: Spring beauty along the Brockstone path

: Wonderful colours , Ladywood

: An amazing rhododendron just along the path from Brockstone

: Stunning pink, Heugh Folds

: Our massive rhodie , White Moss

: Azalea, White Moss

Here are some photos taken in a short walks from Brockstone Grasmere Cottage in May, when the azaleas and rhododendrons are at their best.

Every month of the year offers different delights in the local gardens.

GARDENS TO VISIT IN THE LAKE DISTRICT

There are lots of gardens to visit in the Lake District. Here I’ll pick out my favourites.

Rydal Hall Garden

Rydal Hall is less than 1 mile from Brockstone Grasmere Cottage. Go out of the cottage gate, turn left, and walk along the famous “Coffin Route” towards Rydal. If you look closely at the gatepost at Brockstone you can see that someone years ago cut directions markers into the stone.

Tulips in Rydal Hall garden

Rydal Hall garden was set out by Thomas Mawson in the early 20th Century. The formal gardens has tremendous views down the valley towards Windermere. There is also a “quiet garden” , with a path leading down to “the Grot” . This was one of the very first viewing stations, where early tourists to the area could enjoy a wonderful framed view. The view of the Waterfall is spectacular, and Constable sketched here.

Walking down to the Grot through the Quiet Garden Rydal Hall

The view from “The Grot”

The garden is in the grounds of Rydal Hall, now owned by the Diocese of Carlisle. Entrance is free, but donations to the upkeep are welcome.

Sizergh Castle Gardens

Sizergh Castle is owned by the National Trust. It is the home of the Strickland family, some of whom still live there. You should take at least half a day to visit the castle itself, and take in the superb gardens. Here are some of my photos. For more information see the Sizergh NT website . Sizergh Castle is easy to reach from Brockstone Grasmere Cottage. Take the A591 to Kendal, go along the Kendal by pass and the castle is on the right. (you reach it by turning left off the dual carriage way. It is well signed. ) You might like to take in a visit to the nearby award winning Low Sizergh Barn and tea shop.