Here we go again . . . Walk 1,000 Miles 2017

I thought I had finally given up on blogging after a few sporadic bouts of enthusiasm interspersed with huge empty spaces but now that I've just signed up for the #walk1000miles challenge, I thought I'd see if I can find enough inspiration for a few more posts every now again.

They will probably consist largely of a few photos I take on my little walks with updates on my progress - or lack of it!

So . . . here goes.  I have been interested in the Walk 1,000 Miles challenge for a while. I first heard of it via Twitter a couple of years ago and decided to have a go myself privately, i.e. not signing up officially but keeping a track of the miles I walked in a year.

I thought 1,000 miles sounded totally unachievable, especially as I was still working so I decided to try for 500 miles. I was thrilled to reach my target in 2015 so decided I'd increase it a bit in 2016 as I was due to retire in September. I was pleased I managed about 650 miles last year so I've taken the plunge and signed up for the full 1,000 miles this year.  It's official!

Mostly I aim to achieve that total with small regular walks daily, about 3 or 4 miles a day will suit me. In fact although 1,000 miles sounds like a lot, it only works out at 2.74 miles daily so it's 'little and often' for me.

Having said that, I hope that I will be able to fit in a few longer walks and also walks in other parts of the country.

Right, that's enough rabbiting on.  I've managed a short walk every day so far this year.  Here's today's photographic effort on a cold and frosty morning.

Ducks ice-skating on the local pond.

Sheep and Old Man's Beard . . .

I varied my short regular Sunday afternoon walk today.  I thought I'd go and say hello to the sheep . . .

 Although actually it looks more like the sheep are coming to say hello to me!

 We used to call this Old Man's Beard, as  child . . . 

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Back at home, it's lovely to see the Spring bulbs coming into their own.

We've enjoyed the snowdrops. It looks now like the bluebells are well under way .

 Tomorrow is the last day of February and then once we get into March, things will really get going in the garden. I can't wait!

Yellow and blue; the colours of Spring - at least in our garden.

OK folks, here is my annual blog post on the garden!  

The mild weather today tempted me into the garden with my camera.  It was overcast but never mind, the garden is definitely waking up - hooray!

The only trouble is, so are the weeds, and just look at all the moss and dead leaves everywhere.  Plus there are bits of prunings that have been blown from shubs and hedges.

I've promised myself that the next free day I have  when the weather is anyway near decent, it's going to be on with the wellies, out with the rake and into the flower beds.

Meanwhile, here are a few photos to show why I'm feeling so cheerful today.

How can anyone not feel optimistic at the sight of a glorious bunch of daffodils?

Our little rockery is definitely waking up.

Blue and yellow are just perfect for Spring.

Tête-à-tête  daffs and iris reticulata - just made for each other.

An honour guard of daffs as you approach the front door.

And, just to inject a little colour, here's a photo of our camellia which has been in flower now for quite a while. This photo was taken ten days ago.

More plants . . . Thoughts from the heart of the house . . .

When I was small, I was always terrified whenever I saw a bee or heard one buzzing near me.  I was convinced that their only purpose in life was to sting me.  Now, of course, I know better.  I just love to see the bees buzzing around the plants as I'm working in the garden or just looking around as I was late this afternoon.  I never manage to capture them in the photos somehow but if you look carefully, you can just make out a bee disappearing inside this fuchsia flower . . . 

 Dazzling dahlias!  I've only really begun to appreciate dahlias over the last few years.  I only ever thought about the tall varieties and whilst they are undoubtedly very attractive, I knew I'd never find the time to stake them and look after them properly.  As a result I don't think I ever had any dahlias in the garden before about five years ago.  What a waste!  I just love these smaller bedding dahlias and they are such good value. They've been flowering  for ages and will  go on doing so right up to the first frosts.

Roses again, I've recently become re-acquainted with.  I always thought they were rather over-rated. How wrong can one be?  Another great value flower for the garden. There are so many different types, there's always a style, a habit and colour that is just right for your situation.

I've realised now - its' only taken about twenty years or so - that it's a good idea to plant up a flower-bed close to the house and visible from a  window in a room you are often in. This means that even if it's cold and wet and you don't feel like wandering in the garden, let alone working in the garden, you  always have something interesting and hopefully, beautiful to look at.

Our garden is quite small but we have a good view of my favourite plants from our kitchen window which is probably where I spend most of my time. Also the view from the spot where I do the ironing is another favourite!

It's no good, I just can't resist photos of plants doing their thing . . . !

I have more or less given up blogging but it's the best way, I find, to keep a record of things that I might want to remind myself about at some time in the future.

I don't mind if I'm the only person who sees this post. I started blogging in the first place for my own satisfaction.

Now, I just love taking photos of our little garden.  It's far from perfect, very small and needs a lot more time spent on it than I have to spare.  Nevertheless, despite the neglect, you just can't keep a good plant down.  Mother nature is determined to do her best, sometimes, I think, even despite my poor efforts!

I regularly take photos of the garden. It's a good way to keep track of how various plants are doing; which do well; which need help and also it's interesting to compare the progress of the garden from season to season and year to year.

Today's shots were taken because I needed to test a new memory card which my OH said was giving him problems.  It certainly recorded these photos well enough.

I haven't bought any new roses for many years but have given way to temptation this year and bought three.  Here is a climber I bought which I hope to train to cover the trellis you can just see. Called 'Compassion'.  Looks promising . . . 

Having only a small garden, there is always space for smaller varieties of plants.  Here's one of our patio roses.  We've had this for a few years.  It may be small but it's beautifully formed!

 Another of our patio roses in a lovely delicate, pale pink. 

I have several clematis. Like many people, we lost several fence panels in the winter storms.  This Jackmanii clematis always does well but I think it's doing even better this year after having been cut right down to soil level when the fence came down.

A nice little splash of colour by the shed . . .

Finally, I never tire of this lavender and fuchsia combination.

Lots more on my Flickr page if you're real gluttons for punishment!

Happy gardening!

A stroll over The Downs into Epsom . . .

I haven't had an opportunity for much a walk at all recently so grabbed the chance to walk over The Downs today into Epsom and back on a circular walk.  Not that far, probably about five miles or so but long enough to call it 'fresh air and exercise'.

Our son was happy to accompany me. He's always easily persuaded if there's a chance of refreshments en route!

Five minutes from home and we pass a few shops, one being the local funeral director.  They always take great care with their window display and it is often topical yet very tasteful (amazingly creative!).  Today's offering was interesting.  Here you can see the 'ghostly spectre' of our son contemplating the 'four last things'.

In fact we spent quite a lot of our walk discussing his funeral (There's a whole new blog post in that topic!) in a cheery sort of way.  No he's not ill, as far as we know!  Funnily enough our walk takes us past the local cemetery too.  

Anyway enough of such frivolity.

Once past the laugh-a-minute shops we follow the undulating landscape of the North Downs down towards Tattenham Corner and the racecourse.

Passing farmland . . . 

Sorry about the poor quality of the photos, I only had my phone camera with me.

To Tattenham Corner.  You can just about make out the grandstand in the background.

Looking down the home straight . . . 

Past the entrance to the racecourse and the Queen's Stand. The Union Flags are there because of the Tour of Britain cycle race which passed through here yesterday.

A popular venue for Sunday lunch.

A different mode of transport advertised on the wall of the Derby Stables.

The Rubbing House, one of our favourite places for Sunday lunch. Great views too.

Signs of Autumn on our walk too.

 Harvest in the hedgerows, or, bounty in the bushes.

I hadn't even noticed the leaves beginning to turn on the trees but obviously they are.  Still, it is the Autumnal Equinox today.

As usual, click on the photos to get a clearer view.

Spring has arrived and Summer is not far off . . .

I have to admit that our garden has been sadly neglected over the past few years but I've decided that this is the year I try to tame the wilderness and get some sort of order back into the 'wasteland' around our house.

Today was my day off and once again a beautiful day so, armed with my trusty trowel, I spent a very enjoyable few hours in the back garden.  (Yesterday after work I managed to re-discover one of the small flower-beds in the front garden!)

It seems to be the season of aquilega at the moment. They are everywhere!  After planting a few plants a few years ago, they have self-seeded all over the place. I'm not complaining, I think they are delightful and just right for Spring when we enjoy the more delicate blooms before the heavyweights of Summer and Autumn take over.

How about this little beauty . . . ?

Blue not your colour?  How about these lovely pink aquilega?

Or these lovely delicate pale pink ones . . . 

Another plant that's introduced itself into the garden lately, is the bluebell.  I know these larger Spanish bluebells are a threat to our lovely native bluebells but I do like them in the garden and they have a delicious scent.

And, yes, I do have a bit of a 'thing' about pansies - I think they're just so pretty and very useful, great for filling the gap between seasons.

Don't you just love the tenacity of some plants?  I planted a clematis in a gap between two shrubs several years ago. As the choisya has grown, the clematis has been hidden but look at these two buds ready to burst as they have managed to weave their way through the branches of the large shrub to reach daylight.  I'm sure there's a lesson there for us . .  .

Final shot, I promise, I love the contrasting greens here offset with touches of pinks.

What a blissful way to spend a day off . . .