Blue Poppies at Dalemain in the Lake District

It was raining this morning so we decided to visit Dalemain Manor (Dalemain means Manor House in the Valley) and gardens. It is a very welcoming house and is still lived in by the Hasell-McCosh family whose ancestors arrived there in 1679.
The Cumbrian farming implements and fell pony museum housed in a 16th century Elizabethan barn is well worth a visit and the gardens have won the HHA/Christie's Garden of the Year Award 2013. The tea rooms are a must visit too!
A competition to make original marmalade is held there each March and the winning recipe has to be sold in Fortnum and Mason for a year before it can be produced commercially.
They are very proud of their Himalayan Blue Poppies collection and handkerchief tree too.
A place well worth visiting.