Yvie - I would second Lizzies recommendations of Pashley and Merriments. Visited them at the end of September, but sure they would be just as gorgeous in May. We stayed in a lovely hotel called something to do with Gunpowder ....possibly Powder Mill - will look it up if you like. It was reasonable, and beautiful and full of character too. If you get a chance to visit Marchant's Hardy plants, I can guarantee you will fill all available space in your boot. We had the most fantastic weekend ....I am well jell
Back from my walk - ankle held up well, except on the rough stony bits (ouch). mr Chicky's rehab is obviously working - he is back to striding well ahead of me. Never did I think the cry of "Come on Chick, keep up" would make me soooooo happy
Just checked - it was the PowderMills hotel in Battle. We also went to Sarah Ravens, but that was because we picked the weekend coincide with one of her open days (she has about 4 a year, so you might be lucky).
Yvie - Sissinghurst is a great garden - you will enjoy it - but try to get there early before the big coach parties arrive especially at weekends - it can get so busy they start doing timed entries. Arriving for when the gates open is good.
How much you see of the real glories of planting at Sissinghurst will depend so much on what sort of spring we have. I went in mid May one cooler year and it was a definite lull - spring bedding & bulbs were over and summer stuff was not yet out. Quite a few empty borders or borders full of bulbs dying back.
Another year it was very early June after a very mild spring and the roses were in their full magnificent first flush - fabulous. Have also been late June & July - glorious but very very busy.
If you're looking for other gardens in the area, the Yellow Book is online these days so you might find something there that coincides with your dates. Enjoy
Didn't mean to make you envious Dove! - have been trying to decide how to resolve several problems in the garden for ages and have been saving the pennies to get it done properly for the last couple of years. Will be lovely to not have slippery paths and muddy grass directly outside the french windows (joys of a north facing garden!) and to not have to negotiate the trip hazard that is the paths to both front and back door.
OH has just been called in to work for a couple of days and now won't be home for dinner for 4 nights . I like to plan my menus out for about 5 days at a time but, over the years, have learnt to buy stuff that I can freeze in some form or another when things don't work out.
Quite a lot of fresh veggies in the fridge at the moment though - so I will be eating very healthily for the next couple of nights
Heaven is ... sitting in the garden with a G&T and a cat while watching the sun go down
Afternoon lovely people - you've been very chatty! Short, low level walk for me today - not very thrilling and I could have done a hill as a lot of the snow has disappeared since last weekend. Never mind - always next week
Glad you had a good one chicky. Lovely to hear mr chicky is doing so well. Let him crack on - you can catch up at your own pace
I met a small group of oddly dressed people on the way back (camouflage gear - including their dogs!) asking me the way to Ben Vane. Should also have said to them they would be lucky to get to the top before it was dark. Oh well....
Bit of cake would do me nicely right now Dove - thanks
What is that fishy feet thing about? There used to be one in the posh shopping centre not far from me. Not any more. Enough to give me the 'dry boak' as we say here
T'bird - that sounds like lots of work but a nice outcome. We'll want pix of course
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Littlest Chicklet enjoyed the new job (sadly, no cake, maybe next week), and finishes at the GC tomorrow. No more weekly trips of temptation for me. Will just have to resist the lure of seriously good coffee instead.
Posts
Yvie - I would second Lizzies recommendations of Pashley and Merriments. Visited them at the end of September, but sure they would be just as gorgeous in May. We stayed in a lovely hotel called something to do with Gunpowder ....possibly Powder Mill - will look it up if you like. It was reasonable, and beautiful and full of character too. If you get a chance to visit Marchant's Hardy plants, I can guarantee you will fill all available space in your boot
. We had the most fantastic weekend ....I am well jell
Back from my walk - ankle held up well, except on the rough stony bits (ouch
). mr Chicky's rehab is obviously working - he is back to striding well ahead of me. Never did I think the cry of "Come on Chick, keep up" would make me soooooo happy
Asian/oriental-spiced brisket chuntering in the slow cooker - it smells wonderful . just some noodles and pak choi to cook later.
I've just been out to replace fleece and bubblewrap and close up the little grow house.
Now I'm going to sit and knit ... cake is out of the oven and cooling - plenty of slices for later folks ...
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Just checked - it was the PowderMills hotel in Battle. We also went to Sarah Ravens, but that was because we picked the weekend coincide with one of her open days (she has about 4 a year, so you might be lucky).
Chicky - that sounds like a lovely walk - on all levels ((hugs))
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Love the smell of hyacinths Panda
Yvie - Sissinghurst is a great garden - you will enjoy it - but try to get there early before the big coach parties arrive especially at weekends - it can get so busy they start doing timed entries. Arriving for when the gates open is good.
How much you see of the real glories of planting at Sissinghurst will depend so much on what sort of spring we have. I went in mid May one cooler year and it was a definite lull - spring bedding & bulbs were over and summer stuff was not yet out. Quite a few empty borders or borders full of bulbs dying back.
Another year it was very early June after a very mild spring and the roses were in their full magnificent first flush - fabulous. Have also been late June & July - glorious but very very busy.
If you're looking for other gardens in the area, the Yellow Book is online these days so you might find something there that coincides with your dates. Enjoy
Didn't mean to make you envious Dove! - have been trying to decide how to resolve several problems in the garden for ages and have been saving the pennies to get it done properly for the last couple of years. Will be lovely to not have slippery paths and muddy grass directly outside the french windows (joys of a north facing garden!) and to not have to negotiate the trip hazard that is the paths to both front and back door.
OH has just been called in to work for a couple of days and now won't be home for dinner for 4 nights
. I like to plan my menus out for about 5 days at a time but, over the years, have learnt to buy stuff that I can freeze in some form or another when things don't work out.
Quite a lot of fresh veggies in the fridge at the moment though - so I will be eating very healthily for the next couple of nights
OK folks, help yourselves - crème fraiche available
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Afternoon lovely people - you've been very chatty! Short, low level walk for me today - not very thrilling and I could have done a hill as a lot of the snow has disappeared since last weekend. Never mind - always next week
Glad you had a good one chicky. Lovely to hear mr chicky is doing so well. Let him crack on - you can catch up at your own pace
I met a small group of oddly dressed people on the way back (camouflage gear - including their dogs!) asking me the way to Ben Vane. Should also have said to them they would be lucky to get to the top before it was dark. Oh well....
Bit of cake would do me nicely right now Dove - thanks
What is that fishy feet thing about? There used to be one in the posh shopping centre not far from me. Not any more. Enough to give me the 'dry boak' as we say here
T'bird - that sounds like lots of work but a nice outcome. We'll want pix of course
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Ooo yes please to pix Tbird
. Sounds amazing
Littlest Chicklet enjoyed the new job (sadly, no cake
, maybe next week
), and finishes at the GC tomorrow. No more weekly trips of temptation for me
. Will just have to resist the lure of seriously good coffee instead.
Just popped in so I'm not reported AWOL, had stuff to sort for mum and generally busy.