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
Hey, many thanks for the amazing piece of writing. Actually, just around seven weeks ago I started using the web and became an internet user and came on the internet for the very first time, and there is so much waste out there. I appreciate that you have put out outstanding information that is straightforward and on the subject. All the best and thanks for the very good hints.
One thing I enjoy regarding reading through websites like this, is the fact that there aren’t any punctuational or even lexical mistakes! Makes it difficult about the readers sometimes. Very good work on might additionally the subject of this website. Thanks!
Appears to be fairly energetic on this blog
Very informative post here. Thank you for sharing your wisdom with me. I will certainly be back again.
Me and my good friend were quarrelling about an issue very similar to this! Now I know that I was right. lol! Many thanks for the information you post. Yours trully, Griselda.
Thanks for the post, I liked its style and content. I discovered this web site on Google and also have now added this in order to my bookmarks. I’ll be sure to go to again soon.
Hi Today on the internet as well as enjoyed reading through this greatly. I’ve bookmarked your website and you will be back again.
Thanks for your time for another great blog post. Where else could anyone get that kind of information in such a perfect way of writing? I have a presentation next week, and I am on the look for such information. My best regards, Johnetta.
Furthermore, i got a new weblog like this, nevertheless my articles are not too great as your own. keep up the truly amazing work and ideally we’ll get to see much more articles such as this. Thanks.
you are soooo talented in writing. God is really making use of a person in great methods. You are doing a excellent work! It was a wonderful weblog!
Substantially, the post is actually the greatest on that worthw hile topic. I harmonise with your conclusions and will certainly thirstily look forward to your coming updates. Just saying thanks will certainly not simply be enough, for the extraordinary lucidity in your writing. I will certainly directly grab your rss feed to stay abreast of any updates. Fabulous work and much success in your business enterprize!
Super guide it is actually. We have been seeking for this information.
Magnificent web site. A lot of useful information here. I am sending it to several friends ans also sharing in delicious. And certainly, thanks for your effort!
Wonderful article, thanks for discussing the data. It’s not all too often that you simply study an article in which the poster understands what they’re blogging about. Grammar and spelling tend to be spot on as well, only trouble We appeared to have had been mentioning the site, seemed slow. Appears like other site visitors experienced the same difficulty?
I value you taking the time to create this post. It continues to be quite useful to me in fact. Appreciate it.
Well, the article is really the freshest on that notable topic. I agree with your conclusions and also can thirstily look forward to your approaching updates. Saying thanks will not simply be acceptable, for the outstanding clarity in your writing. I will certainly promptly grab your rss feed to stay privy of any kind of updates. Pleasant work and much success in your business efforts!
Thanks a lot for providing individuals with remarkably terrific possiblity to check tips from this web site. It can be so lovely and also full of amusement for me and my office co-workers to search the blog the equivalent of 3 times in one week to see the new secrets you have got. And lastly, we are actually motivated considering the excellent principles served by you. Some 2 tips in this posting are basically the most efficient I’ve had.
I wanted to put you the very little note in order to give many thanks over again considering the incredible tactics you’ve shown on this site. It was strangely open-handed of people like you to allow extensively what exactly many individuals might have advertised for an e-book to help make some money on their own, most importantly considering that you might well have done it if you wanted. Those strategies as well acted to be a easy way to comprehend some people have similar dream really like mine to realize very much more regarding this issue. Certainly there are millions of more enjoyable moments in the future for folks who go through your blog post.
Nice website! Much better than others I’ve lately read addressing this particular. Design is nice, thoughts basically duplicate this particular? Simply kidding?-Thanks!
I have been meaning to publish about something like this on my website and this provided a concept. Cheers.
Thanks for your wonderful post! It is very helpful. I wish that you’ll continue sharing your wisdom with us.
Comfortabl y, the article is really the best on this deserving topic. I fit in with your conclusions and also will thirstily look forward to your next updates. Just saying thanks can not just be enough, for the significant clarity in your writing. I definitely will at once grab your rss feed to stay abreast of any updates. Fabulous work and much success in your business enterprize!
Thanks for your wonderful article! It continues to be very useful. I wish that you will continue posting your wisdom with us.
Nice article, thanks. I signed to your blog RSS.
Substantially, the article is in reality the freshest on this noteworthy topic. I concur with your conclusions and will certainly eagerly look forward to your forthcoming updates. Saying thanks will not simply be enough, for the perfect lucidity in your writing. I will certainly perfect away grab your rss feed to stay abreast of any kind of updates. Fabulous work and also much success in your business endeavors!
Good info. Lucky me I reach on your website by accident, I bookmarked it.
I usually cant find it in me to care enough to leaves a comment for articles on the web but this was actually pretty good, thanks and keep it up, Ill check back again
Great job here. I really love what you had to say. Keep going as a result of you actually bring a new voice to this subject. Not many of us would say what youve said and still make it interesting. Well, a minimum of Im interested. Cant wait to check more of this from you.
Thought i’d escape slightly from learning to tell you the way much I fancy stopping by your web site. it is one in all my daily escapes. I really ought to say thank you
Thank you for this wonderful article! It has been extremely useful. I wish that you’ll carry on sharing your knowledge with us.
Very useful post right here. Thanks for sharing your knowledge with me. I’ll definitely be back again.
I have honestly enjoyed reading the information you have quite obviously researched or at least know a lot about. I agree with you on a lot of this information. Your content really makes me think.
Do you have the other similar blogs and/or connected fields of expression. This information has caused in me some quasi-cascade result that has resulted during a nice rearangement of my information almost appreciate a complete paradigm shift within the way I perceive the planet. thanks most for this and that I bet you wil accumulate a ton of Karma and positive chi as a result of your wonderful undertaking during this blog
What a lovely blog page. I’ll surely be back again. Please preserve writing!
I like this article a lot. I’ll definitely be back again. Hope that I will be able to examine far more informative posts then. Will probably be sharing your wisdom with all of my friends!
Thanks therefore considerably for this! I havent been this particular thrilled with a blog for any lengthy period of time! You’ve first got it, what ever which indicates in blogging. Anyhow, You are definitely a person which has something to express which folks need to listen to. Keep in the exceptional job. Maintain upon inspiring the actual individuals!
Thank you for sharing this article... I like it a lot and Hope others might like it as well. It’s really helpful for me which I have ever seen.., Thank you so much!!!!!
Hi! I just wanted to drop swiftly a friendly comment right here. Do you mind I’ve bookmarked this page? Thank you so significantly for this helpful content!
Very nice post, I surely love this site, keep it up.
Excellent items from you, man. I’ve remember your stuff prior to and you’re simply too wonderful. I actually like what you’ve obtained right here, really like what you are saying and the best way through which you are saying it. You are making it enjoyable and you continue to care for to stay it wise. I can not wait to read much more from you. This is really a wonderful web site.
Thanks for this wonderful post! It continues to be very helpful. I wish that you’ll continue sharing your knowledge with us.
It’s a great pleasure to visit your website and to enjoy your excellent work! You have fine ideas. Really looking forward to read more! 🙂
This is informative article. Thank you very much for the great information provided! I was looking for this article for a long time, but I wasn’t able to find a reliable website.
Thank you for this wonderful article! It is very helpful. I wish that you will proceed sharing your knowledge with us.
Very interesting subject, appreciate it for posting.
I love your writing style, do continue composing! I’ll be back again!
I enjoy your writing design, do continue writing! I’ll be back again!
I really like this blog, will certainly come back again. Please continue composing good quality articles.
You actually make it appear really easy together with your presentation but I find this matter to be actually something that I believe I’d never understand. It kind of feels too complicated and extremely broad for me. I’m having a look forward on your next publish, I’ll try to get the hold of it!
I adore this blog site, will certainly come back. Please keep on writing top quality content articles.