Looks like there’s going to be a bumper crop of blackberries this Autumn. However, there’s plenty of fruit to pick for the breakfast table at the moment to eat fresh or to make jam with – Fresh raspberries, ‘Gooseberry & Elderflower’ and Loganberry jams.
July fruit
Things to do this July;
RHS Rosemoor Rose Festival has 2000 roses on display now 17th June – 30th July – The largest rose gardens in the South West. Pick up your free Rose Trail Garden Map when you get there.
Some of the wild flowers you can find on the Devon wildlife farm trail at Huxtable Farm B&B, West Buckland, situated between Barnstaple & South Molton, near Exmoor, North Devon.
The ‘Rose’ is ‘Gardeners’ World Golden Jubilee Plant’ – An easy choice!
Not only is there a great variety, they are beautiful, many have delicious scents and are used to celebrate lots of occasions.
RHS Rosemoor Rose Festival has 2000 roses on display now 17th June – 30th July – The largest rose gardens in the South West. Pick up your free Rose Trail Garden Map when you get there.
Here are a few of the roses (two are not rose flowers can you spot them?) found at Huxtable Farm B&B, situated between Barnstaple & South Molton, near West Buckland, Devon, offering quality farmhouse B&B accommodation, within half an hours drive to RHS Rosemoor and a variety of beautiful North Devon Gardens.
Lupins and Roses at Huxtable Farm B&B, Devon, Barnstaple
June – With the longest day of the year approaching (21st June) with bright fresh morning and balmy evenings, we’re grateful for the long days as there is so much to do on the farm at this time of year, from making hay & silage for winter feed, cutting the lawns & weeding the garden to picking fruit.
The rhubarb, gooseberries & elderflowers are lovely this year giving us plenty of fresh produce for the breakfast table; honeyed rhubarb and homemade gooseberry & elderflower jam (a favourite with everyone).
– The Lupins and Roses are just coming into bloom, which reminds me to tell you to visit RHS Rosemoor to see their beautiful rose gardens during their Rose Festival June 17 – 30th July.
June is a great time to visit the beautiful gardens, National Trust properties, historic houses, harbours and market towns of North Devon & Exmoor or enjoy a stroll away from it all on Exmoor along the side of a river (We’ll share with you some special places to visit!).
Devon Cream Tea welcome
With National Cream Tea Day on the 30th June, in Devon we like to put the cream on the scone and the jam on top of the cream. You can enjoy a Devon Cream Tea welcome any time of year at Huxtable Farm B&B
– The Jacob sheep seem pleased in this warm weather to have been shorn today, 31st May and we now have lots of beautifully soft Jacob & Jacob x Texel fleeces for spinners & felters to purchase.
French Toulouse Gosling hatched at Huxtable Farm B&B, Devon near Exmoor
Love this time of year, the trees now have leaves, the spring flowers are amazing, the swallows are back and young animals are finding their feet!
Some of the goose eggs we obtained from The Black Venus Inn Challacombe, Exmoor have hatched – A great Inn to have a meal at whilst staying at Huxtable Farm B&B
Bo – Bottle fed tame lamb
This years tame orphan lambs (‘Baa-baa’ and ‘Bo’) are always keen to say ‘Baa’ to everyone and are waiting to be bottle feed their milk. All the other lambs & ewes are looking good in the fields too.
Baa Baa enjoying some company 🙂
There is so much to look forward to in June;-
The Jacob sheep will be shorn and we’ll have lots of beautifully soft Jacob & Jacob cross Texel fleeces for spinners & felters to purchase.
June is a great time to visit the beautiful gardens, National Trust properties, historic houses, harbours and market towns of North Devon & Exmoor or enjoy a stroll away from it all on Exmoor along the side of a river (We’ll share with you some special places to visit!).
Devon Cream Tea Welcome
With National Cream Tea Day on the 30th June, in Devon we like to put the cream on the scone and the jam on top of the cream. You can enjoy a Cream Tea welcome any time of year at Huxtable Farm B&B
May – The woodland has this years fresh new leaves, the days are getting warmer & longer, the swallows are back and the bluebells are looking glorious–
Lambing has been good and the lambs are growing well in the fields
We’ve just enjoyed this years first rhubarb at breakfast and soon I’ll be able to plant out the various seedlings from the greenhouse too. With so much to do in the garden at this time of year it’s always great to have a break and visit RHS Rosemoor Gardens and see what the experts are doing and get inspiration from the other glorious Gardens of North Devon; Castle Hill Gardens (just down the road from Huxtable Farm) is looking good this month with it’s camellias in flower. Marwood Hill Garden with it’s beautiful wisteria archway.
Walking in North Devon during May is very popular staying over night at Huxtable Farm B&B whilst walking the Macmillan Way West or Tarka Trail, both passing the entrance to Huxtable Farm – We always enjoying hearing about everyone’s adventures! Click here for information on walking & cycling in North Devon.
Treasue Trail at Huxtable Farm B&B, North Devon
If you enjoy a walk in the countryside, Huxtable Farm’s Devon Wildlife farm trail has a variety beautiful wild flowers and foliage to enjoy in its variety of habitats; woodland, pasture, pond, bracken slope and hedges. To make it even more interesting we now have a ‘Treasure Trail’ for you to enjoy!
Events taking place during May;
The Devon County Show, takes place this month on the 18th, 19th & 20th May, near Exeter. With something for everyone from prize winning animals, new vehicles & machinery to beautiful crafts & scrumptious food & drink, this is a great day out for all.
RHS Rosemoor Gardens Plant Heritage Spring Fair 13 – 14th May, Devon Chilli Fiesta 20-21st May & future event – RHS Rosemoor’s first Flower Show 18th -20th August.
It lovely to see the smiles on children’s faces as they play in the new children’s play area, swings, sandpit and wendy house adding to the games room (table football, mini snooker table & table tennis table)
