And I love a garden - -

- - in the spring -and today is beautifully sunny - even if there is still a chill to the wind. We went on our usual drive this morning, though this time we didn't stop in Purt Ny Hinshey as would be the norm - I think the car knows the way!!
Instead we carried on to Rhumsaa - specifically to Milntown - just to take in the beauty of the gardens. It is after all - the nearest we have to a National Trust property - though it is run by its own  Charitable Trust. It is a gracious house and used to be a hotel I believe.
I love the gardens and woodland - such a tranquil place to visit - and there were lots of lovely 'secrets" to discover since our last visit. And of course - it has a lovely cafe - who serve the most delicious lunches - from sandwiches on home made bread to a full blown 3 course lunch often made with produce from the garden - and the rest locally sourced.

s 

Camellia, Tree Fern and tree trunk carved into a Fairy House - I just loved it!

There were so many unexpected treasure in the woodland that we hadn't seen before - perfect for the child in all of us!

And of course - we did have a lovely lunch after our wander round the grounds -

 Thanks for dropping in - I  know it has been a while!
'Til later,

Bannaghtyn, J x

Good Friday in the garden - -

- - beautiful sunshine greeted me today - - dragging me outside to breakfast in the garden. I love the small woodland clearing at the head of the glen that constitutes our little hamlet. This small cluster of dwellings has been here at least 200 years and show as buildings on the oldest map in the local museum - from the early 19th century. I feel they were all built as crofter's/fishermen's cottages with the exception of the tiny one-up, one-down which adjoins our cottage - as we believe that it was once the stabling that our property had according the deeds.
The small outside space which calls itself my garden is encircled by trees, high hedges, is well below road level and is always filled with birdsong and the soft whirring of small wings as sparrows, robins, chaffinches, blackbirds and thrush all go about the business of keeping the occupants of the many nests in the high hedges well fed. When I sit alone in the garden - as I did today - they soon ignore my presence and flit amazingly close to me in their hunt for food for their chicks. I feel priveleged indeed for this trust they show me.

Sheltered as it is we rarely know know if it is windy - and is probably the only place on my windswept island where you can peg washing out on a dry day before going to work - and it will still be damp when you get home at teatime!! It is still a bit of a mystery to me even after 10 years here! Only in the height of summer can I be sure it will be dry. Here is a small enclosed sanctuary for those little birds - we rarely see anything larger than the pair of ring-necked doves who nest in the glen, but who often sit together on my gate, and it is filled with a deep tranquility and peace.

A quiet hour in my garden refreshes my spirit after hectic working days and for that I am truly thankful.
Hope your Easter weekend is all you wish for. Thanks for stopping by.

'til later.
Bannaghtyn - especially on this day. J x

Garden treasures - -

found today in my garden - the remains of one small blue robin's egg. Softly speckled with tiny brown spots - it was so fragile, delicate and so completely uplifting. I haven't stopped smiling all day, though try as we might my son and I couldn't find any sign of the nest, yet we knew there had to be one there - I suspect it might be hiding behind the greenhouse somewhere.

Until next time.

Bannaghtyn J x