Monday 19 January 2015

It's Time To...

It's time I started to show you some photographs of our trip to England. In my opinion if you are going to England in June most of it should be spent in a garden. I'll admit not every one would agree, even people in my own family. They, poor dears, have to put up with my occasional embarrassing behaviour. Note the picture below where I'm doing my best to get my head into the centre of that rose bush.




I was in the garden of John and Brenda Foster at Gable House in the charming village of Redisham, Suffolk.















I dream of having my fruits and veggies surrounded by netting like this

here you can see the espaliered fruit trees opposite the kitchen garden
This is all on a one acre garden. The use of space was brilliantly executed. It was roughly divided into four zones: kitchen garden and fruit trees; lawn with rock garden, small pond and borders; working area with greenhouses, cold frames and starter garden; side and front with pathways leading through numerous bushes, roses and trees with perennials planted loosely throughout. Gable House is only open twice a year so I was very lucky to be there at the right time. The open days are part of the National Gardens Scheme. Here is their description:


The June open day [at Gable House]brings colour and variety from shrub roses, perennials and interesting trees and shrubs. Greenhouses contain rare bulbs and tender plants. Many unusual trees and shrubs

Next  week our visit to Hidecote.


21 comments:

  1. Looking at your pictures, I can say that spring can't come soon enough.

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    1. I agree. I saved these posts specifically for the January blahs.

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  2. Love the organization of this garden!! How magnificent would that be to have netting as well to keep the animals out! And I think that photo of you in the roses is just fantastic!!! Thank you for sharing this beautiful space!! Nicole xo

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    1. It was like a mini stately home garden. All the elements were there.

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  3. I had wondered what had happened to the garden visits you made last year. Now I see that you are enticing us into contemplating the coming seasons - what a good idea. The NGS is a great concept, we always enjoy visiting new gardens from the book each year.

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    1. I only wish Canada had something similar. Having strangers tramp through your garden may not appeal to everyone but there are so many gardens whose beauty is seen only by a few.

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  4. I can hardly believe that ALL that is contained in one acre! What a lovely, lovely place. And what a blessed relief from all this grey cold we've been having. Thank you!

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    1. I'm enjoying going through the photographs. A perfect dark day activity.

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  5. What a wonderful garden....making me look outside at the dark gray day and thinking spring will be coming......I love the roses and would be in the middle of them taking pictures right along with you,

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  6. Susan you are looking lovely with your rosebush hat, I'd have said you'd be pretty as a picture at Royal Ascot or at the Henley Regatta!! Loved sharing a walk in a beautiful English garden with you.
    Thank you!
    Wren x

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    1. I underestimated how long it would take to walk through the garden. There was so much to see.

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  7. My grandmother and grandfather had an acre when I was growing up (before that they had 20 acres they farmed plus an adjoining 20 that belonged to a relative). On the acre they had 1/4 for vegetables and fruit trees, 1/4 for the house and surrounding lawns, shade trees and flowers, etc. And 1/2 was in pasture for my horse. They watered the pasture by flooding it from an irrigation ditch, but the well was used for house and gardens. I loved going there in the summers and eating my way from one end to the other. I should go to a crochet class. I keep fumbling around and trying to read patterns that I don't really understand. - Margy

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  8. Beautiful series of photos.

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    1. Gardens are my restorative places. They offer me so much in sensory experiences.

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  9. Great to go on "tour" with you. Visiting gardens in England or anywhere is a great way to LIVE I think. Jack

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  10. What a beautiful garden - and a lovely reminder of summer. You have set my juices flowing now as winter seems to drag on I can't wait for the garden to be full of colour and scent. p.s. Love your header - is that a picture of your garden?

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  11. Oh I desperately want to visit English Gardens in June.....what a lovely garden to show us.

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  12. Oh my goodness! Lucky you to tour English gardens in June. I love the shot with the bench. I could use some of that netting too. Last summer I didn't get a single strawberry.

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  13. Beautiful!! I would have had my head in that rose, too!

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