Waxwing

Waxwing
"To see a world in a grain of sand,
And a heaven in a wild flower,
Hold infinity in the palm of your hand
And eternity in an hour."

From "Auguries of Innocence"

by William Blake

Monday 24 March 2014

Return Visit to Winterbourne






I made a return visit to Winterbourne House and Gardens (with my free re-entry ticket :D) the Sunday before last. Unfortunately the only way I could see I could find the time this month was during yet another family chauffeuring event which meant that yet again I was very limited for time. I've tried to show a few new areas of the garden not visited last time but some of the photos may be of familiar areas. It was a beautiful day and I saw my first Comma butterflies of the year.

The Walled Garden




House Terrace - a lovely place to sit and have a cup of coffee and gaze at the gardens (if you had more time!!).


Looking over the gardens from the terrace




The Winter Garden which I stupidly failed to visit last time - sadly, the snowdrops were past their best.




Pergola separating the Upper and Lower Lawns




Herb Circle


Hellebores were flowering everywhere



Sandstone Rock Garden



Bridge leading to the Woodland Walk




Stream Lawn





Walking back to the house


Entrance to the Nature Reserve which includes woodland and you might be able to make out a pool in the far distance - yet again no time to visit!


Glasshouses back in the Walled Garden


If I lived closer I would be very tempted to become a member of these gardens because I think they are just delightful. I will though try and go back in late Spring/Summer and will try next time to have a few hours to spare to wander round the whole garden and that nature reserve.



9 comments:

Anonymous said...

I love that stone with all the geological eras on it. It does look like a lovely place to visit. Hopefully, you'll be able to go there one day without too many time constraints.
Hope all is well? CT x

Ragged Robin said...

Countryside Tales - Thank you :) Yes, that stone is one of my favourites - worth getting muddy boots to get the photo :) Knew I should have worn my wellies!!

Everything is fine - thanks so much for asking :) Usual visits to mother in nursing home but D and E have needed a lot of chauffeuring recently (both seeking career changes so 3 interviews!!) and E had appointment that way on the Sunday in question. So trips out have taken place whilst I've been hanging around waiting for them!!

Em Parkinson said...

That pergola is the stuff of dream gardens!

Ragged Robin said...

Em Parkinson - When I first visited there in the summer a few years ago it was covered in roses :)

Wendy said...

It does look a lovely place to wander around and lucky you had such a gorgeous day to see it, too. There seem to be signs of all sorts of interesting things to see later in the year.

Dartford Warbler said...

What a beautiful wintery garden.
The house looks interesting too. Is it Arts and Crafts?

Ragged Robin said...

Wendy Many thanks :) I will go back later in the year so you can see some of its summer delights :)

Dartford Warbler Many thanks. Yes, both the House and Garden follow the Arts and Craft style. The house was built for John and Margaret Nettleford (of GKN fame) and the garden apparently is one of the best surviving examples of an Arts and Crafts Suburban Villa Garden - Margaret designed a lot of it and was inspired by Gertrude Jekyll. I took a few photos inside the house a few years ago but more rooms are now open so will get more pics when I go back.

SeagullSuzie said...

What stunning gardens, I love it when they are beautiful in winter as well as full of flowers in summer. I can only imagine what the pergola must look like in full bloom.

Ragged Robin said...

SeagullSuzie - Many thanks :) Lovely to see so much colour there :)