Cherry Blossoms at Chiddingstone Castle

I have been waiting for cherry blossom season for so long. I realise they are a full on Insta cliche now but not for good reason! I love the delicate soft pink petals and that they only stay in bloom for a few weeks before shedding a pink rainfall, only to be done for another Spring.

At Chiddingstone Castle they have 11 blossoms trees, some of which were planted to commemorate the tsunami which hit Japan in 2011. Others have been planted by locals to commemorate loved ones who have passed away.

I couldn't resist donning a kimono, the weather wasn't really warm enough and it was incredibly windy but you know how much I love to get dressed up and create content for social media so this was the perfect excuse to put something on that didn't include jogging bottoms! 

We are now on the cusp of being allowed to socialise with others and the weather forecast this week looks like it is set to be lovely and sunny. I live for longer days and warmer weather. It is looking like our summer holidays are going to be cancelled so I am now busy trying to think of fun staycation ideas. 

Vineyards and picnics, steam trains and kayaks, you know the drill.

I am intending to host an outdoor Easter lunch on Good Friday with a couple of friends. I have written out my Easter egg hunt clues and got a large leg of lamb coming in my weekly shop. I haven't missed eating at pubs really, but I do love to host so I'm praying it stays warm enough to eat al fresco.

Chiddingstone was looking glorious with its display of daffodils too. I don't know about you but I feel the daffs have been really going for it this year?! They seem to be everywhere, maybe I haven't noticed it in previous years as you can take it for granted or maybe working in the office and being busier means I wouldn't have been spending so much time outdoors. Who knows but Kent is covered in the gorgeous yellow trumpety looking blooms.

I was also visiting Chiddingstone as they have had a new sculpture on display in their gardens and as I manage their social media, I needed to go and take some photo's of it.

This sculpture was designed exclusively for Chiddingstone Castle by Yvonne Wildi who is a very talented artist. My photo's don't do it justice but it's an intricate design of The Moon Maiden, which is a Japanese fairy-tale.

The story goes like this... Once there lived a bamboo cutter and his wife who longed for children. One night the woman asked the great Mount Fujiyama to send a little child to comfort her. And from the top of the mountain there was a gleam of light. The woman called her husband, who went to the top of the mountain and found a 'tiny moon-child, fragile, dainty, radiant, clad in flimsy moonshine, more beautiful than anything he had seen before'.

The child told the bamboo cutter that she was Princess Moonbeam, daughter of the Moon lady, sent to Earth to comfort the couple. The man took her home and the Moon-child gave them comfort and joy for many years. 

As she grew, she became more and more beautiful. "About her, too, there was a strange, earthly charm that made all who saw her love her." One day as the Mikado himself drove by, he saw the Princess and fell in love with her. He wanted to marry her, but as her duty as child was over, the time had come for the Princess to go back to her true mother. The Mikado and her adopted parents begged for her to stay with them on earth, but when the moon rose, the Lady of the Moon came down to take back her daughter. The Princess was glad to go home, but wept for those she left behind. Her bright tears took wings and floated away to carry her love to the Mikado, and the bamboo cutter and his wife. Those same gleaming tears are still visible. As children chase the beautiful fireflies over Japan's marshes and groves each summer, their parents tell them the story of the Moon Princess and her messages of love.

The Moon Maiden was created by https://www.enchantedwireworks.com/ for Chiddingstone in homage to the wonderful Japanese collections held within the castle which you can visit when they reopen.

After we did all we needed to at the castle we had a quick stroll up the high street which is owned by National Trust. It was filled with ramblers and cyclists, all stopping off for delicious coffee's and pastries served by the Tulip Tree cafe. Mr Poachie bought himself a campachoochoo whilst I tried to take some photo's of the streets façade which was rather challenging with all of the parked cars.

Afterwards we drove to Penshurst village which is only a ten minute drive away. It's such a lovely part of Kent as you have so much history, there is also Hever castle in the area too. You can read my previous blogs on them here, here and here.

Once we got home we cooked a roast for Mr Poachie's kids and I got stuck in to writing blog posts, editing photo's and creating reels - blogger life! I love it though.

I hope you all had a lovely weekend and don't forget to use sun cream this week!