Dahlias - NOT amateur radio

Most months we visit nearby Anglesey Abbey, a National Trust property, to walk around the extensive grounds. Every summer they have a great show of dahlias. At the moment these are not quite at their best, but some are already wonderful, as the photo shows. There was one on the blog yesterday, but I could not resist sharing this one too!

Anglesey Abbey - NOT amateur radio

This is a nearby National Trust place we try to visit most months for a walk around the gardens. At this time of year schools are on holiday and it can be quite busy. We went early before the hoards arrived! The bridge in the photo was recently repaired by one of our neighbours.

Moorhen - NOT amateur radio

We visit nearby Anglesey Abbey most months. This moorhen was on the mill leet.

Anglesey Abbey door - NOT amateur radio

Anglesey Abbey is a National Trust property about 5 miles away. We visit the extensive grounds most months. Although sometimes busy, especially at weekends, the grounds are so vast that it is easy to find spots with few people. The door in this photo is on the way to the watermill.

Anglesey Abbey - NOT amateur radio

We go to nearby Anglesey Abbey quite often. It is about 4-5 miles away. At the moment the flowers in the herbaceous borders are at their best.

A walk around the grounds is about 1.2 miles. The photo shows some of the pastel coloured flowers.

Anglesey Abbey - NOT amateur radio

We went for a walk here today, mainly to take some photos. Being the school holidays, it was very busy. If there were swallows about I thought I would see some at Anglesey Abbey, but we saw none.

Anglesey Abbey walk - NOT amateur radio

This afternoon in the winter sunshine we did a walk at nearby Anglesey Abbey. Even this afternoon, it was still frosty, so it must have been very cold last night. Although there are now plenty of snowdrops in flower, we saw no daffodils in flower.

Today's walk - 1.1 miles

Warm up time - NOT amateur radio

Half way around the winter walk at nearby Anglesey Abbey (just over 5 miles away by car) is a small stall selling coffee. I bet they do good business in January! There were some hellebores out, some snowdrops out and a very few daffodils out.

Anglesey Abbey - NOT amateur radio

We visit this National Trust property most months. Although it is in the top ten National Trust places in England and often busy, the grounds are so big you can often find yourself alone and far from crowds.

Anglesey Abbey - NOT amateur radio

We are quite near to the National Trust place Anglesey Abbey. We go pretty often to check what is coming up in the way of flowers. January is usually a good month for snowdrops and daffodils and at the moment there are irises out.

Artist - NOT amateur radio

Yesterday, we did a walk (again) at nearby Anglesey Abbey. Leaves are really starting to fall now. This painter was making the most of the weather and light.

Walk - NOT amateur radio

The photo shows a recent stroll with one of our sons, his children and my wife at Anglesey Abbey, which is about 4 miles away.

Autumn walk - NOT amateur radio

Before lunch, we went for a nice walk with our son and his children at nearby Anglesey Abbey in the pleasant autumn sun. It was about 12 degrees C.

Toadstools - NOT amateur radio

OK, I am not very good at telling apart edible mushrooms from poisonous toadstools, so unless I am sure, it does not get touched or eaten! These toadstools (I assume) were seen at Anglesey Abbey earlier in the week where they had removed an old tree. This seems to be the season to see all sorts of strange fungi.

Country house window - NOT amateur radio

The photo shows a window at nearby Anglesey Abbey, near Cambridge, UK.

It is a very English scene, complete with creepers, roses and leaded windows. We are lucky to have this National Trust property and extensive grounds just a few miles away.

Lily - NOT amateur radio

We are lucky to have Anglesey Abbey, a National Trust property, nearby. We go most months.

For those readers outside of the UK, the National Trust, owned by its members, buys special places so that its members can visit. These can be wild clifftops to ancient buildings. Anglesey Abbey has huge gardens.  We have been family members for years.

The herbaceous borders there are past their best, although the lilies still look good as this photo, taken by my wife, shows.

Swan - NOT amateur radio

This swan was enjoying a bit of quiet time at Anglesey Abbey earlier. There is a nest there and I think the pair of swans are taking turns on it.

When we went earlier today we saw no swallows, no house martins, no sand martins and no swifts. In previous years these were quite common by now, so numbers must be down?

Spring? - NOT amateur radio

It has seemed a never ending, dull winter with no spring. Yesterday was different: warm sunshine and the first real day that felt like spring. The next few days are promising too. The collage shows nearby Anglesey Abbey bursting out with fresh green leaves.

Yours truly yesterday - NOT amateur radio

This was me yesterday at nearby Anglesey Abbey.  Although not as sunny as the day before it was spring-like.

We have a friend staying and we went here after having lunch in a nearby pub.

Just leave me alone! - NOT amateur radio

At Anglesey Abbey there is usually a swan's nest close to this spot, although this one was more interested in sleep than nest building!

On another bird matter, I see that wheatears are returning to Devon. Spring is springing, even though we have a brief return to snow this weekend.