Spring at Arthur Cottage

Hello from Arthur Cottage here in Cullybackey,

This is my first Spring at the Cottage, and I have been waiting patiently all Winter for it to happen, watching attentively for the first signs.

It makes me feel connected to the Arthur Family, and all the people who have lived here in the Cottage over the centuries that it has stood in this beautiful spot. They must have watched and waited through the dark cold Winter days for the same signs of Spring I have  been looking for. And just like me their hearts must have lifted when at last they noticed them.

For people in years gone by it would also have been a huge relief to know that soon they would have new crops, and plentiful food. There is a very good reason this time of year was called “The Hungry Gap"! By now last years harvest would  be almost all used up, and it was too early for this years crops to grow. It was an uncertain time of year, with  the question always hanging in the air, would the stores hold out until the first harvest was ready? People needed to be careful with their rations, in case they ran out completely before those first crops had time to grow. 

There were subtle little signs at first, but then I was away for a couple days, and on my return as I rounded the corner of the lane the first flowers of Spring greeted me, with a promise of things to come. The Snowdrops!  

However Winter wasn’t ready to give up that easily, and within a short time I was coming around that same corner in the snow! As if to illustrate how It could make the cold last those few weeks longer, and reminding me to be thankful that I just get to enjoy the feeling of Spring returning, without the worry of going hungry.

Despite the cold weather myself and visitors to Arthur Cottage had plenty to keep us busy. In March we had a lovely time staying snug inside at our Felt Brooch Making Workshop.

And of course, there is always time for baking!

The snow had been Winter’s grand finale (for this year at least), and soon it was the turn of the Daffodils, and they seemed to open the flood gates for Spring’s arrival.

All of a sudden there was no doubt about it, it was Spring, and everything was feeling it, waking up and coming alive.

I got out into the garden, and just like all those people here before me, it was what to plant that was on my mind, and how to make all those Winter dreams and ideas happen. But there were some things to do first.

I was very happy that when I arrived last August there was a beautiful new orchard, which had been planted in the Spring before I came. And I have great hopes and plans for an apple crop in the future. First, though they need pruned and their branches trained down.

I also found to my delight that there were gooseberry bushes in the hedgerow. I learned from my neighbour, who’s family have been here for 7 generations, that these gooseberry bushes are at least 60 years old. Unfortunately they were being swamped by the hedge and had not been pruned in many years, so my next job was to take care of that.

The very same neighbour, had been watching my activities with interest, and one day turned up with a gift. A huge bag of Rhubarb plants! I was so excited, and after many “thank yous” I hurried off to find the perfect place to plant them.

And, just like that, I had 3 crops to look forward to in the Arthur Cottage Garden this year!

As April warmed up it occurred to me that there was a 4^th crop which I was overlooking, and in centuries gone by, especially at this time of year, nothing would have been overlooked!

I wonder can you spot the crop I am about to harvest?

Oh yes, it is all those lovely Dandelions!

I decided I would make some Dandelion Jelly. It really is very simple, and very delicious.

My first Arthur Cottage harvest and produce. I hope the first of many.

Spring is far from over, and there is lots more to do and look forward to. On Friday 5^th May we have a Celebration Event in conjunction with Bann Maine West Community Cluster, music will  be provided by James Christie,  and there will be Gardening Advice from members  of Ballymena Garden Club. The local Cub Scouts group are having a camp out here at the Cottage. Most definitely not least our next workshop, which is going to be Spring/Summer Wreath Making, 20^th May

Of course I have many more plans and ideas! No cottage garden would be complete without it’s flowers, and I hope to grow some other crops too. But that is all for the Summer and I must not get ahead of myself...

If you've never visited Arthur Cottage before, then there's no time like the present! The ancestral home of Chester Alan Arthur, 21st President of the United States of America is open Wednesday - Sunday from 11am - 3pm. There's no need to book unless you're in a group of 10 or more, and you'll be able to experience some cooking demonstrations over the turf fire or even some flax spinning on the tradtitional spinning wheel as well as learning about life in the late 18th Century. 

Contact us on +44 (0) 28 2563 5010 for bookings or any other information!