James

The BBC has its faults. I’ve criticised it before & will do so again if necessary.

But nobody is going to tell me that The Traitors, Strictly, wildlife, local radio, comedy, drama (e.g. Riot Women) and more isn’t worth the licence fee.

The BBC is the Best of British.
Farage and Trump can do one.

Then go and listen to a week of American Radio.

You'll come back and voluntarily pay double the licence fee and we haven't even mentioned the iPlayer, the websites and the apps or your BBC Local Station. #BBCTees

Two gigs this month. If you happen to be anywhere near do come and say hi.

Enjoying more colours of autumn.🌺🌻 #whickham #gateshead #garden #gardening #flowers

Our new water lilies can’t quite make up their minds about whether to bloom or not. Still those lily pads make lovely hiding places for the fish & the newts.🤫🌻 #NEFollowers #Pond #Fish #Newts #Garden

It’s Pumpkin Spice Latte season once again and The Orangery is the perfect place to enjoy one. Perhaps a delicious cake too? 😋☕️ #Whickham #Gateshead #Newcastle #NewcastleUponTyne

Hot day. Cool Place!😎🌻

Seen plenty around our local area!

#BigButterflyCount is back! **18th July-10th August** Download your butterfly chart for free & you can join in wherever you are. You can even get a certificate. It's a lovely way to take 15 mins in nature. 🦋🌻🦋https://bigbutterflycount.butterfly-conservation.org/about @savebutterflies.bsky.social

Hello #NorthEast! We are a secret Community Garden in #Whickham with an Orangery Cafe. Stunning views. Wildlife Pond. Wendy House for the little ones. Why not pay us a visit soon? ☕️🍰 #Gateshead #TyneandWear #Garden #Community

Love Foxgloves.

Did you know that Bees can help Foxgloves to reproduce when they drop their pollen? They are looking particularly lovely here at the moment! 🐝 #Bees #Whickham #Gateshead @savebutterflies.bsky.social

The glorious colours of this eryngium (sea holly) and euonymus never fail to delight year after year by the playhouse. They make a lovely background for so many other plants too. Could we ever pick a favourite?!🙂🌻 #Whickham #Gateshead #Gardens #Gardening #Plants

We have some glorious trees in the Garden. All are special to us but every so often one likes to show off! This stunning Chinese Windmill Palm (Trachycarpus fortunei) has had some beautiful flowers lately. Apparently it copes well with cold & wet conditions which is just why Dave Peacock chose it!🌻

Just look at these delicious treats from The Orangery in the Garden. Why not pop in and see what's on offer this weekend? Always something to enjoy! 🧁☕ #Whickham #Gateshead #Cafe

Sometimes we need to remind ourselves quite how far things have developed in the Garden in the past 20+ years. Compare this image of David Peacock starting clearance work with the same spot now (last week’s photo)! Phew!😯🌻 #whickham #gateshead #tyneandwear #garden #gardening

‘And there is pansies. That’s for thoughts’ 🌸

- Flowers from Shakespeare’s garden, 1909

#pansies #pansy #gardening #gardens #nefollowers #whickham #gateshead #tyneandwear

We’ve probably all got our favourite spots in the Garden for sun or shade. Bagsy this one!😎🌻

Some plants invite a lot of admiring comments in our Garden. This one gives us yearly pleasure as it’s a perennial bulb which we know as camassia quamash. Always happy to be corrected of course!🌻

The azaleas have been pretty this year but with a very short flowering spell due to the drier weather. We have lovely memories of this corner of the Garden in 2016 when the ericaceous plants were absolutely showing off!🌻 #whickham #gateshead #nefollowers #tyneandwear

Always a bit of a “Wow” moment when first-time visitors come through the gate & didn’t realise all of this was tucked away behind Front Street.🤫 Of course, even regular visitors don’t quite know what they’re going to find on their next trip either! Enjoy!🌻 #Garden #Whickham #Gateshead

With many apologies. Some of us are just very grateful for a drop of rain! ☔️Always great views from the shelter of the Orangery though. Oh, and some scrumptious food too!🥗🌻

It’s that time of year when the Garden gets a bit of a refresh. Thank you volunteers for revarnishing the benches and the playhouse.👏 Looking smart!🌻 #Whickham #Gateshead

We were very sorry to hear the sad news that one of our lovely volunteers, John Gibbon, has passed away. John had been here since the early days & worked tirelessly until his illness. He was a larger than life character with a mischievous sense of humour. 1/2

Hop into Easter fun at The Orangery! 🐰

Bring the little ones along for an egg-stra special Kids’ Easter Event. With plenty of fun activities, there’s something for every little bunny to enjoy!🐣✨

🌿 Easter Trail
🎨 Easter Crafts
🍽️ Afternoon Tea
🎉 Easter Bingo
£12.00 per child
1/2

Looking forward to reading new book and listening to new album from @jessicaleemorgan.bsky.social 👏

Hasn’t it been lovely to see the sun again? Made us feel that it really is the start of spring. Amongst many of the Garden’s glorious spring flowers, here’s some delightful crocuses that have just popped up.🌻

Hidden corners of the Garden where some very practical & not very pretty work goes on. Our leaf composting bins for example. Never have any shortage of raw material for them here! We have to be patient for it to mulch down, then back onto the Garden it goes. The essence of the cycle of nature.♻️☺️🌻

Can’t wait to read the book and album sounds great!

Good morning! Last day of our 'You Know What You Should Do?' tour!
At 11am today GMT I'll be going live instead of using my prerecorded book reading.
At 12pm we'll be doing the last show.
All of this on www.youtube.com/user/jlmsings
Next week I'll be sending out your orders!
Love
Jess x