Bringing life

So here is spring at Blickling. The magnolia blossom, daffodils and visitors all appear.


The long gallery welcomes visitors to play the piano, sit on the sofas, and chat to the librarian who is steadily cataloguing 12,500 books. Today he found a family connection with one of our many Bibles for a lucky visitor.


On the terrace, smell the scent of hundreds of hyacinths and watch the colourful summer borders return to life.


The trees' blossom attracts the bees, the blue haze of bluebells can be seen under the Turkey oak and the sheer joy of spring brings a smile to my face.

Can there be a better place to enjoy the spring? Easter was chilly, but hundreds of people came to try our egg hunt, and now we have bluebell trails in the garden for children to follow next weekend. The wildlife trail in the park is a great success with local schoolchildren and their parents. Even the most reluctant child can be encouraged to run from post to post, collecting rubbings of wildlife, and walking a couple of miles in the process.

Inside the house, small changes are helping to bring the place to life. Rearranged rooms and more fresh flowers provide a talking point for room guides and visitors. We've been rummaging in the attics to see what can be brought back into the show rooms, after a bit of TLC. And the live interpretation group are getting some new costumes, and will soon be doing real cooking in the basement kitchen.

Around my cottage, the damson tree is in blossom, and the apple isn't far behind -- despite a radical prune a few weeks ago. The primulas and daffodils are giving way to tulips and grape hyacinths. We managed all last year without a lawn mower. This may be why the dandelions have done so well. I think we'll have to buy a mower at the weekend. But the rabbits do quite a good job of keeping the weeds in check.

This may sound idyllic (it is), but I'm still fighting through the brambles of the Trust in many ways. It's great to take a breather sometimes and appreciate how lucky I am.

Winter Wonderland

At Blickling, follow the sign to go for a winter walk in the garden...




Have a seat, but don't get cold!



Enjoy the view of the Parterre and the frozen lake.



And gaze at the ancient plane tree, survivor of many hard winters.


Winter was wonderful this year. We had nearly two months of snow covered ground and freezing temperatures. Luckily the urns on the Parterre were protected from the worst of the frost, but some damage occurred. Although the gardens were open for much of the winter, we saw very few visitors. Bad news for our final numbers, but we had such a fabulous year, we couldn't really complain. It meant that all the staff and volunteers were able to appreciate the space in silence and solitude. Simply blissful.

Spring flowers have been a little late, but everything is catching up at last. After a cold winter, we appreciate the new season even more than usual.

Pictures by Paul, as normal.