In July I treated myself to an adventure I had long day-dreamed of taking: to see some of the great gardens of south-east England. It was a treat, a veritable sensory feast. England, and all of Great Britain of course, is a history and literary theme park. Every town and hamlet has old manor houses, historic churches, celebrated battle fields, ruined castles, and ancient abbeys. A lover of English literature I chose a tour that centered on the gardens of horticulturists, writers and artists. Everything about the trip was a highlight, but there were highlights of the highlights. Here are three:
Chartwell — the home of Winston and Clementine Churchill and their children. It is the second most visited site in Britain and redolent with history. It is a homey and comfortable house and the photographs tell the story as no book of potted TV series can, of the immense role this man and his wife played in shaping the destiny of our planet during the first half of the last century. The Weald welcomes one and from the terrace one can see for twenty miles across forests and fields. As I stood and gazed I am sure that I like many thousands of others couldn’t help but think of the famous men and women who had stood there too.
Hatfield House — home to Henry VIII’s three children including the future queen, Elizabeth. To see the Elizabethean knot garden in front of the ruins of the original house and wander in the ascension garden where Elizabeth first heard of her ascension to the throne of England is truly to walk in the footsteps of history.
There is Petworth with its original Chaucer manuscript of “The Canterbury Tales”. The idyllic hamlet of Bosham on the coast near Portsmouth, with a tiny church that reputedly was the place where King Canute worshipped, and which is featured on the Bayeaux tapestries. The gardens of reknown horticulturists Beth Catto and Christopher Lloyd. Charleston the farmhouse and gardens of Vanessa Bell (artist sister of Virginia Woolf) and keystone of the Bloombsbury circle.
And then there is the garden at Sissinghurst, the creation of diplomat Harold Nicholson and his literary wife Vita Sackville-West. There is nothing I can say about Sissinghurst that is not a superlative. Here are two photographs that speak for themselves, one a plant astrantia major from Vita’s famous white garden and the other of “my pink tower” as she called the centuries old tower that houses her writing/sitting room filled everyday with fresh flowers, as if patiently anticipating her return. Magic. Like the entire two-week experience.
© 2010 Janet Levine, White Garden, Sissinghurst
© 2010 Janet Levine, Sissinghurst
You got fantastic nice ideas there. I made a research on the topic and got most peoples will agree with your blog.
What a wonderful site and educational posts, I will post a link on my blogroll and bookmark this site. Regards! Thanks! Cheers! Ellis Grant
you are really a good webmaster. The web site loading speed is amazing. It seems that you’re doing any unique trick. Moreover, The contents are masterpiece. you have done a fantastic job on this topic!
Thankyou for this post, I am a big big fan of this web site would like to go along updated.
Good post, well put together. Thanks. I will be back soon to check out for updates. Cheers
What a lovely blog page. I’ll certainly be back again. Please keep writing!
Great site here. Many blogs like this cover subjects that cant be found in magazines and newspapers. I dont know how we got by 10 years ago with just newspapers and magazines.
I had fun reading this post. I want to see more on this subject.. Gives Thanks for writing this nice article.. Anyway, I’m going to subscribe to your rss and I wish you write great articles again soon.
I truly loved reading your blog. It was very well authored and simple to undertand. Unlike additional blogs I have read. I also found it very interesting. In fact after reading, I had to go show the better half and she ejoyed it also!
Hi. I needed to drop you a quick word to specific my thanks. Ive been following your weblog for a month or so and have picked up a ton of good data and enjoyed the method youve structured your site. I am trying to run my very own weblog nonetheless I think its too basic and I have to concentrate on plenty of smaller topics. Being all things to all of us will not be all that its cracked as much as be
I have to express appreciation to you just for bailing me out of this type of dilemma. After surfing throughout the online world and finding things that were not pleasant, I was thinking my entire life was over. Existing without the presence of solutions to the issues you’ve solved as a result of the review is a critical case, and those which could have in a wrong way affected my entire career if I hadn’t come across your blog. Your main know-how and kindness in dealing with a lot of stuff was useful. I’m not sure what I would’ve done if I had not discovered such a step like this. I can also now relish my future. Thanks for your time very much for your expert and effective help. I will not hesitate to propose your web blog to any individual who ought to have direction on this topic.
Thanks for the information, helpful indeed. If I may, would I be able to use an extract or two on my article?
Good post, well put together. Thanks. I will be back soon to check out for updates. Cheers
Seeing i think it is very informative. I appreciate you spending some time that can put this web site put together. I once again find myself spending strategy to a lot of time both reading and commenting. Whatsoever, that it was still worth it
Somebody essentially help to make seriously articles I would state. This is the first time I frequented your website page and thus far? I amazed with the research you made to make this particular publish extraordinary. Fantastic job!
thanks for your article i have put it in my blog too
Kudos for posting this sort of useful weblog. Your website isn’t only informative and very artistic too. You will discover typically very several individuals that can write low number of simple articles that creatively. Conserve the favorable writing !!
Go ahead and use the correct accreditation.
I follow your web page for quite a lengthy time and require tell that your content articles usually prove to be of a high value and high quality for readers.
Great post, I bookmarked your blog so I can stop by again within the future, All the Best
Im impressed. I dont think Ive met anyone who knows as much about this subject as you do. Youre truly well informed and very intelligent. You wrote something that people could understand and made the subject intriguing for everyone. Really, great blog youve got here.
Bless you for the blog post, that’s some fairly useful information.
Hi there can I reference some of the content here in this blog if I link back to you?
I have no idea what you should say. this is without a doubt the most effective websites Ive read. Youre so insightful, have a great deal of real stuff to get into the table. I hope that more people understand this and have whatever i got of computer: clls. Great job and great blog. I cant wait to study more, keep em comin!
I like this article very much. I will certainly be back. Hope that I will be able to go through much more insightful posts then. Will be sharing your wisdom with all of my associates!
Wonderful post. I learn todays truck owner on different blogs everyday. Helpful stimulating you just read content from other writers and be shown a little something through. I want to apply certain for this content on my blog if you forget to mind. Natually Ill make a link time for your web site. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you for the sensible critique. Me & my neighbour were preparing to do some research about that. We obtained a excellent book on that matter from our local library and most books exactly where not as influensive as your information. I’m quite glad to see this kind of information which I was searching for a lengthy time.
Hello, a wonderful article dude. Thanks But I am issues in your rss . Don’t know why Struggle to register for it. Perhaps there is anyone else having similar RSS trouble? Anybody nobody can assist please reply. Thnx!
Your blog is amongst the most influential weblogs on this industry. Practically every post that you choose to create is golden. Your way of writing is eloquent, compelling,and somewhat enjoyable.
It’s laborious to search out educated folks on this topic, however you sound like you realize what you’re speaking about! Thanks
Amazing site 🙂 great content, fun to read.. I’ll definitely be back to catch up on more of the stuff you write :DD
Hi! I believed I would send a quick remark considering that I’ve spent the higher part of the previous 30 minutes scanning through your weblog posts. I’m actually liking what you’ve got obtained occurring here along with your blog and I do hope you retain writing it. Effectively that is just about all I have to say! Many thanks and very nice to just about ‘meet’ you and your website.
Thank you for another fantastic post. Where else could anybody get that kind of info in such an ideal way of writing? I have a presentation next week, and I am on the look for such info.
It is appropriate time to make some plans for the future and it’s time to be happy. I have read this post and if I could I desire to suggest you some interesting things or advice. Perhaps you could write next articles referring to this article. I want to read more things about it!
Wow, wonderful blog structure! How long have you been blogging for? you make running a blog look easy. The overall look of your site is magnificent, neatly as the content material!
Thank you to the post, I even many userful stuff here from that. Great content on this internet site. Always getting excited about new post!
I simply needed to appreciate you all over again. I’m not certain the things I might have gone through without these solutions shown by you directly on this situation. It has been a real fearsome condition in my view, nevertheless encountering a new specialised fashion you resolved that forced me to weep with delight. Now i am thankful for the support as well as pray you realize what a great job you were getting into educating most people through the use of your web page. I am certain you’ve never encountered all of us.
This is a great thought. I am sure there are many good benefits in quitting smoking. Quit Smoking
I want to express my thanks to you for bailing me out of this type of setting. Just after exploring through the world wide web and obtaining things which were not productive, I figured my life was well over. Being alive minus the strategies to the issues you have fixed through your posting is a crucial case, as well as the ones which may have badly damaged my entire career if I had not encountered your site. Your good natural talent and kindness in playing with all the details was excellent. I am not sure what I would have done if I hadn’t come upon such a point like this. I’m able to at this moment look forward to my future. Thanks so much for this high quality and result oriented help. I won’t hesitate to suggest your blog post to any individual who would like guidance about this situation.
I am impressed with this internet site , real I am a big fan .
Great post. I was checking continuously this blog and I am impressed! Very helpful info specially the last part 🙂 I care for such information a lot. I was seeking this particular info for a very long time. Thank you and good luck.
Dear admin, thanks for providing this blog post. I found it great. Take care,
Hey! I’m sure this is certainly kinda off topic but I’d figured I’d ask. Are you interested in trading links or it could be guest authoring a blog article or vice-versa? My website covers the majority of the same topics as yours and that i feel you can greatly really benefit from each other. In addition become go ahead and shoot me a communication. I anticipate listening to you! Fantastic blog in addition!
An fascinating dialogue is worth comment. I feel that it is best to write more on this matter, it won’t be a taboo subject but typically persons are not enough to speak on such topics. To the next. Cheers
I precisely wanted to thank you very much again. I do not know the things that I would have sorted out without the entire creative ideas provided by you about such concern. It truly was the intimidating concern in my view, but seeing the professional manner you treated that made me to weep for delight. I’m just grateful for this work and in addition believe you really know what a powerful job you have been getting into teaching the rest with the aid of a web site. More than likely you’ve never got to know any of us.
Wow! I have to say, your blog site will have to be among the best written blogs which have viewed in a very long time.A few things i wouldn’t have for have the capacity to create posts which have been as fascinating| as yours. Just maybe I’ll have to keep reading yours and pray that some day I’m able to write with a subject with all the knowledge as you have! Bravo!!
This post is precise and justify the amount of time it’s going to consume while reading it. I most certainly will recommend all searching this topic require a search about this post. It’s got each of the blueprint about the topic cover up every one of the aspects in connection with the niche.
I’m really impressed with your writing skills as well as with the layout on your weblog. Is this a paid theme or did you customize it yourself? Anyway keep up the nice quality writing, it is rare to see a great blog like this one these days..
After research just a few of the blog posts on your website now, and I truly like your manner of blogging. I bookmarked it to my bookmark web site checklist and might be checking again soon. Pls take a look at my web site as well and let me know what you think.
I have recently started a website, the info you offer on this site has helped me tremendously. Thanks for all of your time & work.