Archie our Labrador, enjoying Spring Bluebells
National Trust Ashridge Estate, Hertfordshire -Native Bluebells
National Trust Ashridge Estate, Hertfordshire – Native Bluebells
Archie, taking in the scent of Bluebells
https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/ashridge-estate/trails/three-in-one-bluebell-walk-at-ashridge
http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/ashridge-estate/features/protecting-the-bluebells-at-ashridge
http://www.wildlifebcn.org/news/2016/04/04/bluebell-barcoding-day
http://publicengagement.wellcomegenomecampus.org/page/bluebell-survey-2016
http://www.kew.org/science-conservation/plants-fungi/hyacinthoides-non-scripta-bluebell
Gardening Jules 
Fantastic …. a very good display this year I think! Our bluebell walk at the weekend was very muddy
Parts of Ashridge were muddy but many paths dry. I could hop around the mud, Archie being a dog, was still caked at the end of our walk. Eau de wet dog!
Beautiful. I used to live in Berkhamsted and Ashridge was a favourite place to walk or cycle. Your lovely photos make my homesick!
Berkhamstead is a lovely place to have lived Su, my mum lives at Tring. House prices are rocketing around there now with the new by pass and easy access into London. Plus beautiful surrounding country side on your doorstep. Ashridge is a gem and in the week still peaceful, the NT are fencing parts off at the weekend during Bluebell time as many of the plants are being trampled by the thousands of visitors.
I’m glad the NT is protecting the bluebells. We humans are so heavy-footed (literally as well as metaphorically). When we first moved to Berkhamsted, I was keen to buy a house but my partner wasn’t. It was years later (and with a small baby in tow) that we finally did buy — in Olney. My neighbour from Berkhamsted still sends Xmas cards and keeps me up to date with house prices. And I think Auckland is bad!!!
A gift for my Wednesday, Julie: a sweet pet dog and a carpet of bluebells. Hooray and thanks!
Archie is 11 now and has a thyroid condition, he has slowed up like we all do with age but has the kindest sweetest nature and is a wonderful companion. Glad you liked this Cynthia. 🙂
Wonderful images Julie that made me smile this morning. Archie has it made.
He is thoroughly loved Susie! 🙂
How beautiful!
Hopefully, one upside of the cold weather will mean the Bluebells last longer in our woods this year.
Beautiful!
With the cooler weather, they are only just starting to form carpets of flowers here, hopefully a long display this year.
A lovely display of bluebells, labs are wonderful dogs, we bred two litters of puppies many years ago.
Oh Brian, that sounds like hard work but great fun too, I bet it was hard to part with the puppies. Archie was the odd one out of a labradoodle litter – he did not get any doodle and malts so much I could knit a jumper with his hair, but his temperament is so lovely we forgive him!
Several puppies went to people living in the same village, my brother had one and we kept one from the second litter.
Looks like a wonderful place for a walk for both of you:)
Yes it is! We have some lovely walks together, rain or shine. 🙂
How gorgeous, the bluebell wood is just a dream. Archie looks very happy. Your photos make me happy too.
Thank you, what a lovely comment, I am glad you liked them. 🙂
Lovely!!!!
They are having to protect parts of the woodland this year as there are so many weekend visitors, fortunately midweek hardly a soul there!
First time I visit the UK it will be at such time so I can wander through bluebells filled woodlands. 🙂
You would love them so much!
I adore bluebells – love everything about them, their colour and scent and the way their stems squeak when the flowers are picked! Always so gorgeous to see swathes of them in a place such as this.
And your dog looks very handsome and good-natured.
We think he is handsome Val, I’m glad you thought so too, Archie is ageing and getting jowly but then aren’t we all. I have been reading on the Woodland trust site how Bluebell sap was used to bind books and the ‘glue’ was used to attach feathers to arrows in the bronze age. And then on the Kew site that the sap is poisonous and can cause dermatitis. Mind the sap!
Oh, how strange – I didn’t know the sap was a skin irritant. I’ve never had any problem with it, but have with all sorts of other plants. How interesting to know how it was used in times past.
What a beautiful sight. We’re behind you, but they’re coming.. :)))
At least the cooler temperatures will keep them in flower for longer, I hope your woodlands put on a lovely display for you soon. 🙂
I love the purple-blue of native bluebells and the scent! Your photos are wonderful and thanks for all the links.
I was intending to write a proper post but time just isn’t on my side this month, hence the links and no explanations, but glad you found them helpful Clare. Roll on some better weather!
I was particularly interested in the bluebell genome survey
OMG – soooo beautiful!
Its a great month for wildflowers here Eliza but yep, you are right, the Bluebells are particuarly beautiful! 🙂
Oh how I wish I could see them both in the life, Julie! I go back to Scotland to see the bluebells each year (later than yours, early May, usually). Thanks!
Hi Cathy, its cold here, Spring is more like late Winter, but we do have beautiful Bluebells, hopefully they will last a while longer before the leaf canopies exclude light. I hope you have a lovely trip back to Scotland and that the weather is kind to you for your visit!
Hi Julie , Love these beautiful shots. And the two with Archie……. especially the one at the end closing his eyes… just lovely. Louise
I stood watching him, sniffing the scent of bluebells and thought how connected we both were to the experience. Thanks so much for noticing that last one of him too. best wishes, Julie
Such a great spot to see them
I did not go across to Dockey wood and visited mid week without the crowds, I read how many folk go at weekends and that they were having to fence areas off. But midweek I was almost on my own, bloomin’ perfect!
Bloomin indeed. Yes good plan to avoid the hordes. Could you smell them
Yes, I went on a still day, even in our local wood with far fewer the scent is still incredible.
Oh goodness….Just breathtaking!! That is such a glorious sight and so beautifully photographed too. I loved the picture of Archie with his eyes closed – what a sweet dog!
– Kate x
Thank you so much Kate, Archie has grown into a wonderful companion, as a puppy he dug holes in the borders, now he is just happy to sit by my side when I garden. 🙂
Haha! That is so sweet! xx
So lovely, thank you for sharing 🙂
Lovely photos Julie, and you’ve really captured that special blue colour…. my camera/software always seems to struggle with blues for some reason. I also followed the bluebell genome link – my brother had told me about the Wellcome set up, and once the bluebell season is over,Ii thought I might contact them about my snowdrop project…
Best wishes,
Julian
Sounds like a very good idea Julian, I hope they can help. I have found reds hard to reproduce on my MAC but when I look on my husbands PC they seem fine and the blues are diluted. Good luck with your ongoing snowdrop project.
Thanks Julie,
Isn’t that interesting about the colours… we just assume that red is red, but I suppose there are so many variables in the digital handling of data, let alone how our eyes/brains then perceive it all,
BW
Julian
Oh Julie, how absolutely beautiful! I wish I could be there too, I adore bluebells 🙂 . Your dog is so charming and the image of him taking in the scent made me smile: just like my faithful friend when we visit the poet’s daffs in the wood. I’d be lost without her, she’s such great company when I’m out on a walk and very patient too. Just sits there, watching over me and when I’ve finished shooting, she jumps up and off we go 🙂
That’s just how Archie is Annette, I feel we are so lucky to have dogs with temperaments like this, the weather is much better here this week, I hope you have lovely weather in France too. 🙂
Gorgeous photos! I didn’t realize that English bluebells were fragrant. Sadly, our native Virginia Bluebells have no scent. Archie looks like a good companion for a walk.
He is a wonderful patient companion Jason, we feel very fortunate to have him in our lives.
Beautiful! Our bluebells don’t have a scent. What do yours smell like?
They smell like lilacs to me. 🙂
Just gorgeous…especially with your faithful friend!
Thanks Donna 🙂
I love bluebells. It is the first time I have seen them in carpets under the trees over here but they are nothing like as numerous as in your photographs. Amelia
Hi Amelia, maybe its the mild winter, but this year seems to be the best I can recall seeing them here.
I have been away from my computer too long—how could I Miss so many wonderful photos and posts…love your dog-what a sweetie! I love purple in spring:-)
Robbie, computers are overrated – best used in the winter only! 😉 Thanks though he is a sweetie!
we use to have 5 dogs, now only one…Chance is a rescue and now he is my garden dog for punk passed on last year:-) we all need a garden dog:-)
We do Robbie, I can’t imagine not having a dog to share our life with. I’m sorry to hear about Punk, they are such a large part of our lives.
I know 🙂 It is hard to lose them but there is always a dog that needs a home:-)My father after he lost our family dog ( happened after we all moved out) never wanted another dog. He said it was too hard. He was a man that never showed emotion..so it must of been too difficult for him. I understand for some it is too painful. they are such great friends. I have to admit- my dog Chance would not leave the ducks alone. Last week, he raided a bunny nest and it was not pleasant. He does live with the cats inside but he has known since a puppy they are not to eaten! I would love to have ducks like yours:-) Happy Spring Julie, I so enjoy visiting your garden ever week:-)
These photos are making me excited for this year’s Bluebells. Thank you for sharing your gorgeous photos!!
Thanks, I really look forward to Bluebell time too. There’s nothing to compare is there. 🙂