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 22 September 2014

Very Brief Visit to Winterbourne House and Gardens





Family chauffeuring yesterday morning meant I had an hour to fill in the Edgbaston area of Birmingham so I decided to revisit Winterbourne House and Gardens - built and designed on Arts and Crafts principles.

The house was built in the early 1900's for the Nettlefold family. Margaret Nettlefold, wife of John, designed the garden taking inspiration from Gertrude Jekyll. The house and gardens were bequeathed to the University of Birmingham by its last owner John Macdonald Nicholson.

The Visitor Centre





The Walled Garden







The Lean-to Glasshouse






Glasshouses and Alpine Garden





The Alpine House


Carnivorous House




The Arid House






Print Works




The Old Family Kitchen








Old Garden Office





Sadly, an hour isn't anywhere near long enough to walk round these beautiful gardens and explore the house but I will return :)


In the afternoon we visited an exhibition of "Marvellous Machines" but I'll save that for another post - too many photos!!

13 comments:

Margaret Birding For Pleasure said...

HI RR You managed to take a lot of beautiful flowers shots and I love all the Cacti. I am safely home again after 6 weeks away.

Ragged Robin said...

Margaret Adamson - Thanks so much :) Glad to hear you've returned safely - do hope you had a great time.

Anonymous said...

I need to do more of this- visiting interesting places. I feel inspired now to set some time aside for it! :o)

Amanda Peters said...

Gosh you do visit some nice places, would love the Arid house, green house and the potted plants. Sooo into house plants at the moment.The Ivy on the walled garden is lovely.
Amanda xx

Ragged Robin said...

Countryside Tales - Thank you :) Have taken out a Season Ticket now to Winterbourne as I'm in that area every 4/6 weeks and always have an hour to spare! Difficult finding time to go out and do everything else :( Don't seem to go out birdwatching as much these days although there will be less of interest garden wise in the winter so may catch up on birds then!! :)

Amanda Peters - Thanks Amanda :) I do like Winterbourne. As you can see I spent most of my time in the glasshouses etc :) Would so love one of my own!

Tricia Ryder said...

Isn't it great to see so much colour still.... I do love the late summer/early Autumn colouring..

Lovely visit and some great pics...

Ragged Robin said...

Tricia Ryder - Thank you. Yes,lots and lots of colour still around this year :) My favourites are the purples (and pinks and whites) of the Michaelmas Daisies :)

SeagullSuzie said...

It would be very hard to walk away from that beautiful place. I can't get over how clean and tidy the Glasshouse is.

Ragged Robin said...

SeagullSuzie - Thanks :) It wasn't easy to leave - ended up being 10 minutes late in picking up my daughter!! Gardens are really well maintained.

Rohrerbot said...

I want that glass house! I would need one if I ever moved back to gray skied climates just so I could grow my cactus and tropicals!

Ragged Robin said...

Chris Rohrer - lol :) Yes, it would be very useful for you :) Its even more beautiful in real life - so sort of well... Edwardian :)

The Quacks of Life said...

looks a lovely garden.... hadn't heard of it

Ragged Robin said...

Pete Duxon

Thanks Pete - well worth a visit if you are ever in the area. I think members of Historic Houses Association can get in free!!!