In The Mountain House

The glasshouses at the Cambridge University Botanic Gardens cater for a range of plants from very different parts of the world. One of the most interesting at this time of year is the Mountain House. The plants are mostly tiny-but-perfect little bouquets of colour, some in pots and some in more natural settings.

The different climatic houses are arranged off of a long corridor which is also full of exotic blooms. In order to get to the Alpines it was necessary to duck under the spectacular blossom of the Sandpaper Palm or Queen's Wreath  (petrea volubilis).

Take care.

A Garden In March

At the beginning of this year I paid to become a Friend of the Cambridge University Botanic Gardens which gives unlimited admission throughout the year. I set myself the goal of going there at least once each month to record the changes in the garden. This then is the third instalment in my quest.

The weird triffid-like growths in that last photo are the shoots of peony plants, a promise of the beauty to come later in the year.

Take care.

The "Highlands" Of Hertfordshire

The village of Therfield stands just six miles to the south of my house and its elevation is a whole 130 metres higher. You wouldn't think the weather would be much different.

I didn't think so anyway, so it was a surprise to see so much white stuff outside Therfield's Fox And Duck pub when setting out for a walk with my brother Les this morning. Of course it's nowhere near as much snow as some parts of the country had dumped on them this weekend, but it's unusual to see any snow here in mid-March.

This fine fellow thought it was about time for some Spring weather anyway. We crunched our way across the fields, threading our way through the maze of footpaths in this area and soon found ourselves in the village of Kelshall.

And that was a surprise too because it wasn't where we'd expected to end up! Never mind, we soon re-jigged our route and continued on our way.

Muntjac deer skittered away and seemed to vanish into the clear sunny air. Buzzards and Red Kites wheeled overhead and across the frosty fields came the sound of church bells pealing in the distance.

As if called by the bells we arrived in the churchyard at Sandon. 

Flocks of Redwings and Fieldfares flew ahead of us as they fed on what few berries are left on the hedgerows so late into winter.

Every so often the footpath emerged on to minor roads leading to homes that are both isolated and idyllic. A lot of these must have been farmhouses in the past but as the farms have grown larger less and less of them fulfil their original function.

This is the other, less idyllic, side of the coin: a farm stands derelict and ruinous while a footpath sign optimistically points the way through the wreckage. Luckily a way could be made around the obstacle. Come back in a few years and there'll be a perfect country hideaway standing here in all probability.

We consumed a flask of hot chocolate while a horse looked on disapprovingly. There are a lot of horses around here, probably more than when they were used as the only means of power and transport on these farms.

We passed beside Hawkins Wood, one of two small nature reserves on today's route. The other, Blagrove Common, is home to many wild orchids later in the year. (Please remind me to investigate in late-May or June!).

I found this curiously cracked tree-stump beside the way...

           ......as well as some astonishing ice-formations on the little stream that ran alongside.

Much of our route back to Therfield followed old sunken lanes kept open by the occasional passage of tractors and other farm vehicles. As you can see the snow has gradually been thawing during the day.

The above is a compound image - on the left the view as we left Therfield at about 09:30, on the right the same path when we returned at about 13:00.

But in one shady spot we found this happy face 

which may well be saying

Take care.

Hitchin Market

For over a thousand years markets have been at the centre of trade in Great Britain. There are market squares in most English towns where traders have assembled for centuries to provide the population with all their needs. While many businesses thrived sufficiently to build permanent premises and more recently supermarkets have supplanted many small shops, there are still plenty of thriving markets. People like them because the produce is local and reasonably priced. And you can find stuff here that you'll never find in your local Tesco or Sainsbury's. Come and have a browse around Hitchin market and you'll see what I mean.

And here's a collage of some architectural details spotted in the town. Nothing to do with markets, but just because I like you.

Take care.

Hitchin A Ride

"A ride" as in my 20 minute journey on the train.
"Hitchin" as in the town of Hitchin in Hertfordshire.

Hitchin is a town that I rarely visit though I've no idea why that should be. It's a lovely little town which has retained its historic centre more or less intact.

It has a large church, St Mary's, which stands squarely in the centre of town alongside the little River Hiz. The river is thought to have originally been the Hitch, but when the Normans compiled the Domesday Book they either couldn't pronounce it or couldn't spell it and recorded it as the Hiz. The Hitch flowing through Hitchin makes a lot more sense but it's probably too late to change it now!

Spring flowers were blooming among the tombstones in the graveyard.

I spent a long time walking the fascinating streets of the old town with its great variety of historic buildings.

Plenty of antique and vintage shops.

There were many young musicians and entertainers in town, doing their bit for the Sport Relief charity.

Haircut, sir?

Flowers for sale. And, yes, you're right, that sign above the door does say "dentures" complete with a detailed illustration. I thought it was an old sign, which it probably is, but it says just below it that a manufacturer of false teeth is still in residence.

Men at work - well, one at least while his colleagues offer advice and lend moral support.

That's all for now, folks, but I've got some photos from the market which will probably appear in the next few days.

Take care.