Diary of a Country B&B

May at Capel Dewi Uchaf Country House

The daffodils have come and almost gone, they gave us a splendid show for several weeks, now we have a lovely show of colour with the tulips which are in pots around the garden to stop the mice and moles eating them all! Their bright colours are so lovely to welcome the summer with.

The garden is looking greener along with the pink and white blossom on the almond, apple and cherry trees which are looking really good, sadly the magnolia was spoilt by a very severe night frost which has left it waiting for the green to come. The driers fluff which I put out for the birds to line their nests with disappeared almost immediately, they have got used to this little bit of luxury! The dawn choruses have been wonderful to wake up to, it seems that the birds are all trying to be the loudest, telling each other as well as us that spring really is here at last, the Swallows have arrived from Africa and finding old and new places to make their summer homes, we just love having them here. I was recently telling my two year old Granddaughter, on the telephone, that they had arrived, she loves the little birds in the garden, her reply was that she wished they were chickens! I have to say I am glad they are not, as one nest is just over the front door.

We are a little behind with the vegetable garden this year but hope to make amends in the next week or so. I sowed my seeds in the green house not knowing we had a resident mouse, of course he managed to eat his way through all the seeds except the tomatoes which he must not like the taste of. I have sown another lot and just waiting for them to germinate, I just trust he has found his way out now.

Our guests have been arriving for business, short breaks, family visits and celebrations, we had a visit from of our brides this week who was married from Capel Dewi Uchaf Country House on the 28th April last year, she still looks wonderfully radiant and is enjoying married life so much, it was lovely to see them and hear all their news, I am just left wondering how a year has passed so quickly. The National Botanic Garden is pulling out all the stops for this coming year with lots of events going on. Aberglasney has a wonderful itinerary too, just have a look via our links to the gardens websites, we are so lucky to live so near to these wonderful gardens which are fortunate to have such passionate people working their, making these fantastic gardens such a wonderful places to visit.

As a note of interest, HRH Prince Charles The Prince of Wales (our future King) recently bought a property here in Carmarthenshire, just 15 miles away from us. He obviously appreciates the beauty of this wonderful county. Prince Charles is having the farmhouse and the barns renovated by local craftsmen, they hope to finish in August this year. We understand HRH is going to farm there, as the farm already has organic status. We, as his neighbours, welcome him most heartily to this wonderful county and look forward to seeing more of the Prince in future.