I'm being really lazy today and posting from my cozy warm bed. The last few days have been a bit hectic, what with getting the garden ready for the winter and spring cleaning the house. Early I know but on waking up and discovering a neighbours cat had come in through the cat flap whilst my own two tomcats sat idly by and let it in to spray over everything, was not pleasant. So a spring clean was definitely called for.
QUICK TIP: I found that hot water and lemon juice removed the scent from the table legs quite effectively without harming the wood.
So on to yesterday afternoons adventures...
The Secret Garden
(Very Downton Abbey!)
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Well, with the smell of bleach and cleaning products still burning in my nostrils I decided to go see my eldest and her boys whilst the house settled. We ended up going for a walk around the 'Walled Garden' in Sunbury on Thames, apparently the secluded walled space used to be a kitchen garden for the local manor house. I couldn't find out much about the original House but was told by one of the volunteer ladies who run the cafe situated in the garden that the house burned down.
Its an amazing little slice of England with a formal garden as well as sculptures both modern and imperial.
Albert had a great time throwing pennies into the wishing well and couldn't resist putting his fingers into the freezing water! Whilst Hendry dashed about through the shrubs making his mother wish she'd put him in wellies!
Although the day wasn't very bright we had a great time and finished off our visit with hot chocolate and buttered scones at the well run and cheerful cafe.
The cafe also boasts the local embroidery museum, which is definitely worth a look.
As we live so near the park our family have visited the gardens on lots of occasions and have always enjoyed the time spent wandering around and discovering something new each time. This time we found some beautiful red and yellow leaves which my daughter took home for the boys to make a colourful collage with.
For Dog walkers there's also a side path that leads around the gardens to the more open area of the very large park and of course in front of the park and across the road you have the River Thames and its beautiful views.
The following information about the walled garden comes from the local councils website.
The garden has been designed on formal lines and includes various styles of garden types from past centuries, including knot gardens, parterres and a Victorian rose garden. There are also four large areas of island beds in which are displayed collections of plants from all parts of the world, and representing numerous plant families and species.
The knot garden is a style of gardening popular around the 15th and 16th centuries and the intricate inter-weaving of the dwarf hedges displays evidence of Italian influences on English gardens at that time. In a similar manner the French influences around the 17th century can be seen in the parterres, which are areas of geometrically designed flower beds, enclosed by clipped dwarf hedges.
The Victorian Rose garden is composed entirely of rose species and varieties which were either introduced or widely planted during the reign of Queen Victoria (1837-1901). Generally speaking, these roses have a shorter flowering period than our modern introductions, but are renowned for their classic flower form and strong fragrance. Varieties especially worthy of mention are the Bourbon Rose, Souvenir de la Malmaison and the Damask Rose, Marie Louise.
In contrast the modern rose garden contains many of the varieties which have proved to be firm favourites with the home gardener in recent years. Established roses like Peace and Iceberg are joined by the first ever 'Rose of the Year' Mountbatten, and a number of its successors.
One variety worthy of special note is Violet Squire, named after the wife of Mr D J Squire, of Squire's Roses, Shepperton, who very generously donated all the roses within this section.
The garden contains two architectural features of local interest and significance, the Lendy Memorial, and the 'portico' of the now demolished Benwell House. The Lendy Memorial is a re-creation of structure which until destroyed during World War II, stood on the riverside in Sunbury. The Benwell House 'portico' was preserved following the demolition of the house in 1984, and now frames the northern gate of the garden.
The knot garden is a style of gardening popular around the 15th and 16th centuries and the intricate inter-weaving of the dwarf hedges displays evidence of Italian influences on English gardens at that time. In a similar manner the French influences around the 17th century can be seen in the parterres, which are areas of geometrically designed flower beds, enclosed by clipped dwarf hedges.
The Victorian Rose garden is composed entirely of rose species and varieties which were either introduced or widely planted during the reign of Queen Victoria (1837-1901). Generally speaking, these roses have a shorter flowering period than our modern introductions, but are renowned for their classic flower form and strong fragrance. Varieties especially worthy of mention are the Bourbon Rose, Souvenir de la Malmaison and the Damask Rose, Marie Louise.
In contrast the modern rose garden contains many of the varieties which have proved to be firm favourites with the home gardener in recent years. Established roses like Peace and Iceberg are joined by the first ever 'Rose of the Year' Mountbatten, and a number of its successors.
One variety worthy of special note is Violet Squire, named after the wife of Mr D J Squire, of Squire's Roses, Shepperton, who very generously donated all the roses within this section.
The garden contains two architectural features of local interest and significance, the Lendy Memorial, and the 'portico' of the now demolished Benwell House. The Lendy Memorial is a re-creation of structure which until destroyed during World War II, stood on the riverside in Sunbury. The Benwell House 'portico' was preserved following the demolition of the house in 1984, and now frames the northern gate of the garden.
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Got to go people....
Do give the gardens a try if you have a spare hour. I guarantee you'll be pleasantly surprised.
Byeeeeeeeeeeeeee :)
