3 Flowers To See In Bloom This April

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When Spring rolls around, I feel so lucky to live in the UK as there's so many beautiful displays of different flowers to marvel at. Throughout the Spring and Summer months, there's so many flowers to see, from bluebells to wisteria, but today I am focusing on the one's you can see in April. Whether you're planning to take a look at them this year or you're saving this post for 2024, I hope you find some floral inspiration here.

Blossom

White blossom, cherry blossom, blackthorn, hawthorn or apple, there's so many different types of blossom in the UK, it can be hard to keep track. Blossom can be seen amongst hedgerows or as beautiful trees, but all I know is a I like to soak up every second we have with them. My personal favourites are the chunky pink blossom trees as I love when the petals come fluttering down onto the ground. You can find these in pretty villages, parks and of course local gardens. Here are some places that I've seen that look spectacular: 

• Doddington House and Gardens
• The Stray, Harrogate
• Greenwich Park

Daffodils

I'm certainly cheating putting daffodils in this line up as you can usually see them from as early as the end of February right around til mid-April. I thought they had to be included in this post so you save them for next year's bloom watch. One of the first flowers to come out in Spring, these yellow flowers are often see in the English countryside in small bunches, but at stately homes and gardens, they tend to be planted in excess, so they're well worth a visit in the Springtime. Did you know that there are up to 25 different varieties of daffodils and they daffodil field can continue on blooming for decades. Below are some places to check out: 

• Waddesdon Manor
• Stourhead House and Gardens
• Wimpole Hall
• Thriplow Village
• Chatsworth House

Magnolia 

Magnolia came out in April this year, but word to the wise, it's best to keep an eye out for them in late March also. Pink and white magnolia are the most common and their bell shaped petals make for a unique display of flowers often in large trees with draped branches. Some magnolia petals are even edible (double check the ones you can eat before doing so!), tasting almost gingery and can be used for pickling. These trees can be seen all over the country for a wonderful display of colour. 

Other flowers to keep an eye out for: 

• Wood Anemone 
• Rhododendrons 
• Tulips
• Gorse
• Camelias 

Chocolate Chip Hot Cross Bun Recipe

It wouldn't be Easter weekend for me without sampling a hot cross bun and this Spring, I decided to make my own. This recipe can be adapted to including fruit like raisins or cherries instead of chocolate, but for me, I love the soft buns paired with the sweet double chocolate chips. These are super easy to make and a great baking activity to get stuck into this Easter. 

Ingredients (Makes 8):

For the buns;

450g Strong Bread Flour 

7g Fast Action Yeast

50g Golden Caster Sugar 

1tsp Cinnamon

1 Egg

50g Butter

250ml Milk of choice (I used almond milk)

25g White Chocolate Chips

25g Milk Chocolate Chips

 

For the crosses;

50g Plain Flour

1tsp Granulated Sugar 

8tbsp Water

For the glaze;

4tbsp Golden Syrup

1tbsp Water

Method

In a large bowl, mix together your strong bread flour, sugar, yeast and cinnamon. Make a well in the middle. 

Melt your butter and leave until slightly cooled. Then warm your milk until it feels lukewarm. Neither should be too hot to touch.

Pour the butter, milk and egg into the well of the dry ingredients and stir the dough with a wooden spoon until it comes together. 

Flour a surface and tip out the dough. Knead the dough for 10 minutes. Adding a little bit of flour if it gets too sticky.

Place your dough in a clean bowl and cover with a tea towel. Leave for 90 minutes or until doubled in size. 

After your dough rises, flatten out the dough slightly on a floured surface. Spread out half of your milk and white chocolate chips and then knead them in. Once incorporated, flatten out the dough again and spread the remaining chocolate chips, then knead again until they're distributed evenly.

Line a baking tray big enough for either all 8 buns or line two baking trays big enough for four buns in each. You'll be leaving the buns to rise again, so you want to make sure there's enough room. 

Divide the dough into eight equal portions and shape the dough into buns by rolling them. Leave covered for 30 minutes to rise again. 

Pre-heat your oven to 200c. 

Then mix together your flour, sugar and water mixture for the cross design. Spoon into piping bag and slowly pipe the crosses onto the top. 

Bake your buns for 25-30 minutes or until golden brown on top. 

Once they come out the oven, mix together the golden syrup and water for the glaze. Brush them until shiny and then leave to cool. 

Enjoy!