A new beginning

Welford Park today

Okay, I know. I am trying, but at some point there are so many photos that sifting through all of them becomes scary. So I am trying to start again.

Last year I missed out on the snowdrops at Welford Park and it felt weird. It had been my yearly Early Spring ritual and the start of the garden visiting season and I was determined to manage to go this year.

It felt like the first sunny weekend in ages and I don't think I ever saw the grounds this packed!

Hope you're up for a new beginning.

Much love,
Qaroline

FROM SOLSTICE TO SOLSTICE

On 21 June 2017, looking up to the Uffington White Horse Hill - one of the hottest days I remember here

Summer soltice sunset from the White Horse Hill

Sun sinking

Plant fair in Farnborough Rectory, NGS. Almost bought the grass for the spacey looking weeds

Roses and delphiniums at Farnborough Rectory, NGS

Alliums in Mottisfont, National Trust

Orchard at Hidcote, National Trust

Hidcote

Ferns in a Welsh wall

Wales, Breckon Beacons National Park

Lichen, Wales

On the way to the waterfall in Wales

On the waterfall trail. Unfortunately I can't remember the name of this one. Wrote it down somewhere ...

Glass house borders, RHS Wisley

Wisley

Getting obsessed with the colours on this one ... Wisley

Wisley. Love the grey Russian Sage

Chance encounter in Wisley

Autumn colour in Furzey Gardens

Furzey, last colours

Furzey

Cherry trees at Batemans (National Trust) in November, blossoms and autumn leaves at once

Seaside near Rye, East Sussex

Rye Harbour Nature Reserve, November

Rye Harbour

Rye Harbour

Ypres Tower, Rye, November

Fuchsias, Winchelsea

Winchelsea, East Sussex

Avebury avenue, Winter soltice. This time there was no dramatic sunrise, just a very subtle colour change, lots of mist and clouds

NGS: Beggars Knoll

I am always trying to see a few open National Garden Scheme gardens each year but the Chinese garden at Beggars Knoll was my first for 2017. Almost next to the White Horse at Westbury and with breathtaking views over the surrounding hills, the garden is divided into many small rooms, each with a different theme and name. It was quite a windy day, the trees were 'wuthering' all around us and thinking back on it the trees in this garden probably made the strongest impression on me: mature beech trees, a massive black mulberry, gingkos, even a sezuan peppercorn tree ... but I also loved the stones and various special objects placed around the garden.

The garden is open by appointment only and a guided tour is included in the entrance fee.

Much love,
Qaroline

NGS: Sandleford Place & TWIGS Community Gardens

Striking colour combinations in the TWIGS Community Gardens

Over the last weeks I visited 2 NGS gardens, Sandleford Place in Newbury and TWIGS Community Gardens in Swindon.

Looking back through the photos I notice that I have focussed more on details than usual, especially on the glorious wisteria at Sandleford Place and the sculptures in the TWIGS (Therapeutic Work in Gardening in Swindon) garden. I loved both places and really enjoyed the mindblowing selection of plants for sale at TWIGS. For this post I have selected pictures which give a more general impression.

Just before the last bluebells vanished I managed to find a bluebell wood and to take a few photos in evening light.

Much love,
Qaroline

Sandleford Place - loved the tree water feature.

Always had a soft spot for auricula primroses.

A magnificent plane tree branch.

The Wisteria Walk.

The Enborne - the blooming ramsons (Allium ursinus) saturated the air with a lovely garlicky aroma.

Wooden sculptures in the TWIGS Community Gardens

The Park of Life Garden - the lighter side.

The wildlife friendly garden. My artichoke is a mere baby compared to this.

More wildlife friendliness. In the background the willow fence of the Cottage Garden with round hobbit "windows"

All my bluebell photos look quite samey. Tried an evening light variation.

Lengthening shadows.

My favourite.