Maiden Flight

Today there is huge excitement at Valley Garden Paradise, this morning our newly hatched Queen Bee, Ishtar, flew in through the patio doors on her maiden flight.  Over the past month our hive has been busy moulding Queen cells in a bid to supersede the reigning Queen, Epona; a tense situation for a bee-keeper!  The mysteries of our delightful winged friends never cease to fascinate, they are deeply knowing of all that occurs in their environs, making this encounter all the more humbling.  Patience will now be required for a week as we wait to check the hive for signs that she has mated successfully with her suitors and started laying in the nursery.

This is our second home-reared queen in a week, Hathor, is now laying happily in our smaller hive.

Added to all this excitement, the bees have allowed us to take 33b of honey from the hive, which was safely extracted and bottled within twenty four hours of leaving the hive, nature's alchemy in a jar...

Spring is Blooming All Over

What a difference a day makes!  Hues of emerald, peridot and seraphinite provide the perfect backdrop for the early spring blooms.  Every morning a new jewel announces its arrival to nature's emporium...

Early this morning, mist hung over the valley casting an ethereal cloak over the magnolia tree.  As if time was suspended in the splendour of the moment, it provided the perfect opportunity to sit and reflect on the daily chores ahead.  Immediately, the young ivy racing up the copper beech became apparent, the vigour of youth propelling its stems up the sturdy old trunk.  This youngster will have to be stopped in it's tracks...

Basil Relaxes After a Busy Night

This morning, whilst working round the bee hives, I witnessed an extraordinary sight...   'Icy', our fearless white shepherd, was wagging her tail and rubbing noses with this old fox, 'Basil''!

They were obviously well acquainted, neither was particularly troubled by the other's presence, in fact they seemed genuinely pleased to see one another.

My suspicions of this unusual friendship were confirmed when young 'Vulcan' bounded down the garden to investigate and, to my amazement,  proceeded to display the same recognition and obvious acceptance of our visitor.  Basil, continued to relax in the sun for another hour or so, demonstrating a variety of 'cool' poses as I sat beside him with the camera!  As the shutter clicked he simply twitched his ears in acknowledgement...

Blue Skies and Beach Belles

These clear blue skies and crystalline waters could be anywhere in the world.  The Atlantic ocean at its absolute best...

Inspiration for plantings is all around, magical landscapes can be re-created using different mediums in other spaces - this exuberant expression of freedom and joy will provide the perfect muse for a summer planting in azure, terracotta and ice.

'Icy' watches the Partial Eclipse...

An eerie stillness fills icy air as the moon begins to roll across the sun - our life force!

With about five minutes to go, the light has a dusk-like quality, with the exception that the sun is low in an eastern sky.  And it is bitterly cold with a freezing wind-chill, the temperature has dropped a full four degrees.  Now I can comprehend how monolithic man would have been terrified, it's really quite surreal...

 

Through the misty morning light, night-time is rolling in.  Absolutely phenomenal, the birds  quieten down as we near the optimal moment when the sun is reduced to a crescent.  Action on the beach plays out like a sepia, silent-movie, the dogs become calm and watchful sensing the atmospheric change; they too absorb the majesty of the moment.

Supermoon

This week we will witness the stunning 'Supermoon' together with a partial eclipse of the sun on Friday... This will be best viewed here in the south west.

With Spring in the air, nature is re-emerging with a spectacular display.  Daffodils ribbon through verdant hedgerows, their youthful trumpets announcing the arrival of Spring.  Rose quartz clouds form playful puffs, bouncing off the sun's westerly rays, their fairy tale landscape is tantalisingly inviting.  A perfect moment in time...

Snowdrop Spectacular

Our annual 'Snowdrop Spectacular' is in full swing, effervescent swirls of brilliant white furnish the landscape in all directions.  We split these elegant flowers, in 'the green,' at the end of each season; breaking up the clumps of bulbs allows the flower-arches space to gracefully dance at the whim of the wind.

A flower for the wilderness, the snowdrop is at its best in the soil securely tethered by an expansive underground bulb network.  Pittosporum 'Tom Thumb' forms a contrasting parasol for the delicate flower-heads, whilst statuesque midnight bells of 'hellebore nigra' create passion and drama in this planting.  Nature's accomplished artistry!

Transience

Nature's magnificence holds the 'secrets of serenity'.

The ever-changing face of the landscape as the sun rises over the valley.

Scents and Scent's Ability!

Hips from last summer's roses hang elegantly above virgin snowdrops, an illustration of nature's ability to  merge the seasons without a care for the rules of design!

How beautifully February's clean light accentuates the vermillion orbs, offering a hint of the decadence that the flowering rose-heads will add to the valley this summer.  And what of the daring, promiscuous snowdrops?  Delicate form disguises the tenacity of this mountain top flower, determined to push up through the hard winter soil and open their heart-shaped faces to the sun.  Brilliant white clumps punctuate the hillside, illuminating the flash of witch-hazel which is desperate for its moment centre stage.

Rays of sunshine, coupled with the scent of the 'Butcher's Broom' and "Ribes',  have tempted the  honeybees out of their hive. Their soft buzz vibrates as they dine on early nectar and they bless the  garden with the ultimate gift; pollination.