Morning off!

A glorious day, the plan originally was to go to Pilates as usual followed by lunch with my friend but she sent a text last night to say she wasn’t coming today.
I suggested to Chris we went over to Harrogate to the RHS Harlow Carr gardens after Pilates but this morning, after another coughing and decongesting session, I decided to give Pilates a miss so we could head off this morning. I could have got through by sucking a cough sweet which I did last week but felt it wouldn’t be the end of the world to not go and get some fresh air instead. We also had a delivery to make in Otley of children's clothes that Grace brought up with her. 

No queue for Betty’s tea room so we went in for a coffee and straight away spotted Wendles56’s and husband Tony at another table. A quick wave but we didn’t interrupt them as they were with another couple.  Sadly a bit early for lunch but we ordered coffees and I had Cinnamon Toast and Chris a Yorkshire Curd Tart which was more than enough to put us on for the rest of the morning.

Everywhere looked very tidy and ready for the season to come. The new bridge across the stream is finished and there is a nice mix of colour from the early Spring bulbs all around the gardens and the winter heathers and Cornus (dogwoods) still providing interest on the winter walks, both of which I’ve tried to give a taste of in my compilation blip.

Scilla, Tete a Tete, Snowdrops, Iris Reticulata, Cocus, Hellebores providing lots of interest with some Hamamelis (Witch Hazels) still in flower including some newly planted ones.

Another month and there will be full size daffodils in flower, early tulips and Rhododendrons too. I’m sure we will be back.

Pancakes for tea! They had them in the specials board at Betty’s including Rhubarb and Custard pancakes! Ours will be with lemon and maybe a bit of Maple Syrup

In the thumbnail, behind the lovely crocus display outside the Bathhouse, you might be able to spot a card hare. It’s a children's trail based on ‘Guess How Much I Love You’ - the answer of course is ‘to the moon and back’!
It was the first book I bought Eda together with Nut Brown Hare which she still often takes brings with her when she visits 

Harlow Carr Flickr album here