This past week and a half we have had a few trips out and about as my HB has been on holidays from work.
We usually have our little holiday at home at this time of year and usually the weather behaves itself unfortunately this time it was a mixed bag of sunshine and showers but we were determined to still get out and about.
On one of the more showery days we headed to the National Trust property of Castle Ward on the shores of Strangford Lough.
Castle Ward has been the home of the Ward family since around 1570 and the most interesting thing about the building is its dual architecture, reflecting the differing tastes of Lord Bangor and his wife, Lady Ann Bligh.
The entrance side of the building is built in a classical Palladian style favoured by the Lord (above photo) and the opposite side of the building is Georgian Gothic which was the preference of the Lady of House (photo below). These differences weren’t just confined to the outside of the building either as they continued throughout the interior with the house being effectively divided down the centre with two very different styles.
If you are a fan of Game of Thrones, Castle Ward is used in the filming of the series, more information about the property can be found here and here.
The view from the house overlooking Strangford Lough, in the rain, I might add!!!
Castle Ward has beautiful grounds and gardens too.
One of the things I really enjoyed in the grounds was the beautiful wild flower meadow!
With so many buttercups!!
I suppose this is as good a time as any to introduce you to…………..
Buttercup!!
I actually had a real little bunny called Buttercup, she was a tiny little black Netherland Dwarf with a huge personally, I don’t know why it has taken me so long to make a Green Rabbit Buttercup!
Thank you so much for visiting and thanks also for your comments on my last post, so glad you liked Oceana!
Enjoy the rest of the week! 🙂
P.S. I’ve just realised this is my 500th post!!!
Green Rabbit Designs 
July 15, 2015 at 21:17
Congrats on 500 posts , you should celebrate . We’ve bern off on holiday too and talked about doing many things but so far have done diddley squat . Castle ward is on my list too , along with mount Stewart and whitehead
July 15, 2015 at 21:26
congrats on your 500th post. Love Buttercup so pretty.
July 15, 2015 at 22:10
Lovely photos of Castle Ward and another cute bunny.
July 15, 2015 at 22:18
Oh Vivienne, Buttercup is just adorable!!! And I love the photos of my beautiful homeland in the rain. Thank you so much for sharing these. It’s cheered up my evening enormously. I feel positively inspired to approach my husband on the idea of me designing the front of our house and he can do the back 😉
Jxx
July 15, 2015 at 23:29
I’m glad you had a lovely week out and about Vivienne. I do love a National Trust property and Castle Ward looks like my cup of tea! Many congrats on 500 posts…what an achievement. Hello to little buttercup…she is very pretty in her floral dress. Enjoy the end of the week,the sunshine is due to return tomorrow xx
July 16, 2015 at 07:08
Happy blog birthday!
July 16, 2015 at 08:36
Congratulations on 500 posts! Castle ward looks so interesting with the owners chalk and cheese taste! I love your new bunny – there is something quite nostalgic and vintage about her. x
July 16, 2015 at 08:37
Wild flowers in Ireland are beautiful I miss them very much. Buttercup bunny goes well with them all. Enjoy the rest of your holiday Vivienne. Love & Blessing. Elizabeth x x PS. 500 wow !!!
July 16, 2015 at 12:13
Such a gorgeous and interesting property! Thanks for sharing. And little Buttercup… 💛 so precious. 💛
July 16, 2015 at 12:14
And congratulations, too! 😘🌺🌺
July 16, 2015 at 13:41
Hi “V”, Congratulations on 500 wonderful posts! Love your photos from Castle Ward, stunning property! Buttercup is my bunny, I hope she can join her sisters! (Aren’t I terrible)
xoRobin
July 17, 2015 at 08:36
I would definitely love to visit Castle Ward, Vivienne!…Buttercup is such a pretty name for a little Green Rabbit too ….she’s just gorgeous!
Wishing you a happy weekend!
Susan x
July 17, 2015 at 17:44
Castle Ward looks beautiful, and it is so nice having days out with your hb! And hello to lovely little Buttercup! Love the picture of her with the books, so pretty. Happy weekend, Vivienne!
Helen xox
July 18, 2015 at 07:12
What a gorgeous place. LOVE the water lilies.
Amalia
xo
July 18, 2015 at 15:45
Hi Vivienne, the castle looks very interesting despite the weather, I do like to see different architectural styles. The water lillies are early and how lovely the flower meadows look. I enjoyed seeing your Tall Ships, I saw them once in Hull and they are magnificent. Cute new bunnies 🙂 x
July 19, 2015 at 12:18
Buttercup is so sweet …I love that you’ve photographed her with wildflower books. All your photos are lovely – the meadow and Castle Ward and gardens. I have wanted to see Strangford Lough ever since I saw a wildlife photographer’s video capturing geese flying there at sunset. Thank you for sharing. Love Pat x
July 20, 2015 at 19:18
Buttercup is adorable with her books!! Will share this with our son, he is a fan of “Game of Thrones”.—-Here’s to more blog posts and bunnies!!
Anne and all xxx