A legacy of bulbs
Sidmouth in Devon is one of our favourite places to visit at any time of year, but in Spring the landscape is transformed into an explosion of colourful blooms. This legacy was left to the town by Keith Owen, an ex RAF pilot, who left his £2.3 million to the town to create a valley of over a million bulbs. Keith had made his home in Ottowa in Canada and travelled all over the world. His mother retired to Sidmouth and on his visits home, he grew to love the town. He felt the town reflected "England as it used to be."
As you can imagine it has been quite a job to plant so many bulbs, and each year more bulbs have been planted to reach the target of a million. His wish was to get everyone involved and so the planting has been carried out by numerous organisations within the town, with an age span from 2 to 90! The bulbs cover all varieties from snowdrops and crocus, through to daffodils, tulips and bluebells, so there is always something to enjoy from January through to May. Sidmouth had already won awards in Britain in bloom and this legacy has just added to it's reputation.
Vistors are attracted to Sidmouth not only to see the bulbs, but also for it's coastal position, the Regency architecture and the Sidmouth Folk Festival.It is not the first time I have featured Sidmouth in this blog and it probably won'tbe the last! If you are ever anywhere near the locality I do recommend a detour.
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| The painted words above the local department store |
Finally, I'm ending the post further along the Jurassic coast back at my home at West Bay. I wanted to share these pictures taken on my way to a meeting the other evening. (As usual the camera was in my pocket!) The sun was getting low in the sky and the view of the shore was like this.........
but as I turned the corner down to the harbour the colours were so different - both so beautiful in such different ways!
Wishing you a pleasant week ahead. Thank you as always for leaving your lovely comments, I'm glad you enjoyed the story of the primroses, the majority of us seem to prefer the native variety.
Sarah x
A lovely post Sarah - the light in those last pictures is just fabulous!
ReplyDeleteYou caught the light beautifully as well as the bulbs in bloom. Such a beautiful time of year!
ReplyDeleteMy parents had so many happy visits to Sidmouth, "England as it used to be," was so often heard coming from my dear dad's lips too. It's certainly on the list of places to visit for us.
ReplyDeleteThose last few photo's you've shared are stunning, in fact I've just scrolled back up to enjoy them again ...
Hope the coming new week is a good one for you.
All the best Jan
It is interesting to explore Sidmouth through this post, Sarah, and I can well imagine what a pleasure it would be to actually roam around, especially in the months all those bulbs are blooming! The different moods of the sea amaze and invigorate me! Your photos help me feel as though I am at the sea, even when I am not. This last Tuesday a friend drove us to Cannon Beach, OR, and last night I posted some photos of what I saw there...ever changing and exciting to me! Hope you have a happy week, too. xx
ReplyDeleteSarah, as always, your pictures paint a wonderful picture. I do hope to get there someday. I could hear the ocean and smell it all. What a wonderful thing in Sidmouth.
ReplyDeleteWhat a bountiful and beautiful gift to bestow on Sidmouth.
ReplyDeleteHe must have been a special man, to come up with such an idea and to choose to give beauty to the world.
ReplyDeleteAmalia
xo
That's a lovely story about Mr Own, what a wonderful thing to be part of xx
ReplyDeleteI've been to Sidmouth a few times but I didn't know that about the bulbs, how absolutely lovely, and how wonderful that someone fell so in love with the place. What a beautiful spot you live in, it must be wonderful to walk along that route in your ordinary every day routine. Hope you have a good week Sarah. CJ xx
ReplyDeleteI haven't been to Sidmouth since I was a child, and love that Regency architecture.
ReplyDeleteYour two slightly sepia looking photos are sublime and worthy of both a wall and frame.
What a contrast in the seascape photos! The bulb legacy is a wonderful thing. I don't know whether it's the result of something similar or not, but near us there is a place where the central reservation of a dual-carriageway has been planted with thousands of Daffodils, which look beautiful at this time of year. I don't think the local Council would have spent their scarce money on this!
ReplyDeleteAh.....a trip to England would be magic for me. "Things as they used to be" would probably be the first thing I would think if I saw your country. Just by the photos, I see what my mind's eye imagines life used to be like even here...local shoppes owned by locals, going out in the community to chat with people, a slower paced life. Lovely my friend.
ReplyDeleteWhat an enchanting place! Wouldn't it be fun to be able to leave a legacy like that. I love your photographs, especially the one where the sun is breaking through the clouds.
ReplyDeleteOmigosh Sarah! What lovely photos, I would love to visit all the places you've shared on your blog. Someday!
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful and unique story about the bulbs. You are very fortunate to live in such a beautiful place…and one that is so caring of its environment. Beautiful!
ReplyDeleteSidmouth looks absolutely lovely – all those bulbs! The sweep of Regency houses is a wonderful sight. Gorgeous pics as always, Sarah.
ReplyDeleteThat is interesting about Sidmouth. It sounds such a colourful place in spring. All your photos are lovely, as always, but I do love the low sun on the shoreline.
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful legacy! Sidmouth looks like such a pretty town, another must visit! The shots taken on your way to the meeting are beautiful -how wonderful to have all this on your doorstep. Juliex
ReplyDeleteWhat a creative, thoughtful legacy. Just think if everyone left some beautiful planting behind when they died. Sidmouth looks exquisite.
ReplyDeleteHey Sarah,
ReplyDeleteI have very happy memories of Sidmouth. As a child we would sometimes holiday at Ladram Bay, and visit Sidmouth during our stay. I remember the pebbly beach, and the sweep of the prom. I also remember a café called The Copper Kettle. I once had ham, egg and chips there. It was served by an old chap in a striped apron, with a pencil behind his ear. He didn't smile or offer any pleasantries. It was a cracking lunch though!
Leanne xx
Sidmouth is a favourite location of ours. We holiday in East Devon every year and always pay at least one visit to this unspoilt town. xx
ReplyDeleteI love the baby Brontosaurus cloud in the last picture!!!! Sidmouth sounds a delight! I must visit!!!
ReplyDeleteOh, another place we missed! I can see we will just have to come back to this part of the world. What an interesting and wonderful legacy to leave, flowers for all to enjoy, every year. Sounds wonderful. I also love your photos of the beach, it is a beautiful area.
ReplyDeleteVery interesting about Sidmouth! I will see it - the photo from the harbour is absolutely beautiful!
ReplyDeleteSigrun
What a wonderful legacy to give to a town. The bulbs look amazing. We haven't been to Sidmouth for years. I've forgotten what it looks like!
ReplyDeleteSidmouth sounds idyllic, especially with all those bulbs. What a wonderful community story. I must head that way one of these days. Your shots in West Bay are glorious. B x
ReplyDeleteDear Sarah,
ReplyDeleteI think I have been to Sidmouth, even stayed there, more than thirty years ago, with my late husband.
We stayed in a beautiful old hotel at the seaside. Being in our twenties only, it felt really decadent! Your photo's brought it all back. Happy memories!
The bulbs look beautiful. Such a kind gesture...and those regency buildings....it must be quite a job to keep them as white as they are!
Happy week!
Madelief x
A great post! Those bulbs are beautiful!! A very generous and sensitive soul Mr. Keith Owen was to leave all that money for planting the bulbs. It sure makes an spectacular display. It is lovely! I appreciate the lovely photos.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful ... as always.
ReplyDeleteA stunning area of our little island. Thank you for sharing. I too was unaware of the bulb legacy.
ReplyDeleteAs always, your photos are stunning Sarah and it's such a joy to experince it all together with you and your camera. And what a lovely thing to do for a town. To do good things for others for many years to come. Some people have the kindest hearts.
ReplyDeleteTake care sweet Sarah and have a lovely weekend.
Charlie
xx
Dear Sarah,
ReplyDeleteLooks like a beautiful place to visit and thanks for showing us your lovely photos. The bulbs must be such a wonderful sight, to see and a generous gift. Loved the motto, For service as it used to be ... and the Regency Architecture is lovely.
Have a happy weekend
hugs
Carolyn
I love the blooms of the bulbs, have you ever seen the bulbfields in The Netherlands and the Keukenhof?
ReplyDeleteWhat stunning pictures you made of the sea!
No I haven't seen the bulbfields in The Netherlands it is on my wish list! Sarah x
ReplyDeleteOoo! I love Sidmouth. Such a beautiful place. I haven't been for years though, now that I live on the other side of the country. Thank you for such lovely photos to remind me!
ReplyDelete