Springtime at Hilliers

No sewing today - the sun was shining and I couldn't resist a trip out to Hillier's - again!! Can you tell it's my favourite place? And I'm afraid this post is heavy on photos again!
Upon my arrival I was delighted to find that they were hosting a sort of Gurkha reunion. They have a Gurkha memorial in the garden and the local community hold a ceremony there every year. This year is the 200th anniversary of the formation of the Gurkha regiment, so they had a much bigger event. I can't remember the last time I saw so many coaches in the car park!! They must have come from far and wide.

Lots of people were dressed in their best and the women looked beautiful in their sari type dresses. They had a lot of traditional music playing throughout the afternoon, which carried on the spring breeze around the gardens. It made my visit so much more magical. Some of the music was quite modern in style but much had a more spiritual quality to it. Quite lovely.
They were gathered around the main Pavilion area and I stopped to watch for a few minutes on my way out and realised that as well as the music I could hear, there had been traditional dancing too. I made a short video which you can see below. (I really should use the movie mode on my camera more...)

I hope you watch the video and like the music as I did, and bear in mind I could hear it throughout my walk, as I took these photos...

Look at the tiny bug that photo bombed my shot!

Such a pity that I won't get to see this beauty unfurl her wings...

Just look at the fabulous markings on the petals

This peony is called Coral Sunset. Alas, I fear I will miss it's blooms again this year.

 Finally today, I'd like to leave you with an image and a link to a blog I look at every so often. Her name is Loretta Grayson (Rett) and her blog is A Shoebox of Photographs. She's an artist who lives in Australia and they are approaching their winter - a fact which seems impossible as we approach our summer!! She's posted a photo of this beautiful collage of autumn leaves she made, along with an amazing poem about time and light, called The Word by Tony Hoagland. Follow the link above and scroll down to her post of May 6th 2015 for the poem. Enjoy...