Castle Howard

On the very rare Saturday that I get off from work Robert and I made the most of it and visited Castle Howard. It wasn't our original destination, but once again the traffic around York was so bad and slow when we saw the road sign for Castle Howard we decided to go there instead. We only wanted to go round the grounds and half an hour into our visit the heavens opened. As it was nearly lunch time we went back to the car and sat like an old couple eating our picnic. It wasn't long before the rain was over the clouds blown away (it was very windy). To be on the safe side I took my rain mack and ended up carrying the rest of the day as the rain kept away and the sun shone.

There are lots of lovely stone garden ornaments.

This house is in the walled garden so we believe this may have been the gardeners cottage.

Sweet face

There were lots of fish in the pond some very big

The long borders looked as if they were past there best but the agapanthus were still in full bloom

This box hedging was in great condition and the bussie Lizzie was doing well considering all the wet weather.

There are a lot of yew hedges it must take an age to cut.

Back in the day of these large grand houses they wanted to extend the grounds into the surrounding countryside, with the cows and sheep but didn't want them to mess up the formal gardens. The photo of the steps looks out into the fields ( the trees would not have been so overgrown) but there is a hidden ditch so the cows look like they are just at the edge of the grounds but cant get past the wall. These walls became know as ha ha walls.

The water features are all man made enhancing the grandeur of the estate. The bridge doesn't go any where. The 1,000 acres are dotted with lakes, fountains, temples and statues.

This pillar standing in the middle of the reservoir had lovely detail on the base which looks like from the water mark as if its covered up most of the time.

This was a lovely place to sit at the end of the day over looking the lake. It had a cafe but there was only sandwiches and drinks no main meals which seemed a shame as it was so much nicer in my option than the main eating places. But I was a bit shocked at the price of the drinks we had, two small bottles of pop cost £3.50 I guess if your thirsty they know you will pay it. I felt sorry for the families with children as the playground was situated here also the ice cream van very tempting for children.

Not bad for the back door

and the view from the back door

My first public demonstration

My Autumn harvest arrangement

On Tuesday of this week I was asked If I would go to the Knottingly flower club to demonstrate some of my designs. I have not done any arranging in front of an audience before and I was very nervous. I arranged 7 designs which I found ok to do, the trouble was having to use interesting conversation to go with them. There were moments of silence but on the hole kept the conversation going. Every one was very complementary and said I had done very well and loved the variety of my arrangements. Most flower clubs meet once a month and usually august is a poor attendance month but there was a great turn out over 60 people, that was even more scary

A design using a copy of Charles Renie Mckintosh chair

A green arrangement, always popular

A tropical design

I loved this design and was worried it wouldn't go down well but every one loved it. It was country grasses corn with a range of pinks and pastel colours.

This was my final piece it was much larger than the photo portrays. I also made a hand tie bouquet but didn't get a photo thankfully because of all the people taking a closer look at them all.

Revisit to Geoff Hamilton garden at Barnsdale

My Friends an I went to see the gardens at Barnsdale in Rutland started by Geoff Hamilton in the 90s. Robert and I had payed a visit in the spring and really enjoyed it and hoping we had not missed the rose's in bloom we set off on a wet Monday morning. The rain from the past several weeks had dashed a lot of the flowers and the rose's all but for a few were gone. We seemed to get it just right as no sooner had we gone for lunch the heavens opened.

By the afternoon the sun had come out and the light coming through this tree's with its grey leaves was fascinating.

The next four photo's are from the arid garden, when Robert and I were there last nothing was growing there much but now it was quite lovely.

The rose arch in the small cottage garden was delightful I think my favorite garden.

In one of the pools there were tadpoles rather late

Visionary Gardens at Tatton09

The next set of photo's are "visionary gardens" a new feature to Tatton. They look very different to the gardens we are used to seeing. They have a deep meaning and you need to use your imagination.

"Cubed3"

This garden aims to bring a fresh approach, a modular theme which allows flexibility and development in the space itself?

Time"

This garden is inspired by the effects of the constant, cyclical rhythm of the changing seasons on the rural landscape.

"A deconstructed world"

This is really deep A contorted grid exposed soil trenches reveals the hidden works and history of the site, in time fracture and crumble, deconstructed by nature.

"Time and the bell"

A visual response to the past and present theories about time. The garden title comes from T.S Ellot's burnt norton a poem about time.

"Levitate me"

Earth mounds as transport systems hollow hills are global phenomenon, places to celebrate the coming of age.

"Glyndwr'svision"

The primary use of this garden is to create a sculptural work to be viewed all round and above.

I feel I have not done Justus to the gardens and if you would like a further in depth explanation go to BBC Tatton park.