Ramstone Rhododendrons

Not a great spring for the rhododendrons this year.  Just as they come into bud a frost has come along and burnt them all.  The low temperatures have also held back the flowers.  The beds at the front of the house with the dwarf rhodies were all hit by the snow at the start of May.  The bed at the side of the house was hit in mid-May.  At least some of the later rhododendrons in the back wood are flowering OK and have been sheltered by the latest frosts.  Here are some photos of the rhodies in the back wood taken this week.

Nick Nairn Course

Julie and Isobel had a day at Nick Nairn's cookery school last weekend, a day baking bread.  Foccacias, Soda Bread, Chapattis, Strombolis and Caramel and Pecan buns!  A serious carbo-load! Here's a few more photos of the day.

Dry Slope Training

Now that the snow season has finally ended its back to the dry slopes and Ellie was up at Alford today getting some training in in preparation for the twin peaks at start of June.  Her skiing has certainly come on a lot over the last year!