Kingston Lacy garden

This week, on a perfect summer's day we walked round the gardens of Kingston Lacy, a property owned by the National Trust. Some families had brought picnics and were enjoying the spacious and peaceful grounds; it would be a different story at the beach in such glorious weather!

The deep borders were a blaze of colour.

It is not allowed to walk through the Japanese Garden but we could look from outside the fencing and enjoy all the details, the dry stream bed, the tea house, winding step pathways and the bamboo deer scarer, all very lovely.

The history of the estate is well conveyed in the buildings that housed those many gardeners who did all the hard work, the head gardener's office and the bothy where all the gardeners gathered and one young lad slept overnight to keep the fire going that warmed the walls in the glass houses. What an effort, but what pride they took in their work. I love places like this.

Our grandson listened to the message on the telephone in the head gardener's office. What a clever way to learn history!

The bothy, with it's fire constantly lit, must have been a welcome place for the gardeners to take a break from their work. I liked the kreel with a few manky-looking socks dangling from it! So shocking to see how many of these men were lost in the First World War and sobering to think that while we were enjoying a peaceful and happy day others are still experiencing bloodshed and war.

Old skills

We are on grandparenting duties and it involves reviving old skills. On the days when the weather puts castles, moats and speedboats in sand out of the question, not to mention, "Nana, come in the sea!" we are busy with other activities that haven't been called on for years. Kite flying - how do you get the blasted thing to behave properly? We had plenty of wind but the kite was intent on swooping in an attempt to sever heads from shoulders. The grandson loved it!

When we had exhausted ourselves with that we walked around Hengistbury Head, stopping for a while to admire/covet the beach huts at Mudeford. Unlike most of the Bournemouth beach huts the ones at Mudeford permit the occupants to sleep there. The huts are usually passed down through the families and rarely come on the market. When they do, don't ask the price - it's eye-watering!

English summer?!!

Sunshine and.... not showers but heavy downpours, thank goodness for a conservatory to shelter in, somewhere to listen to the pounding rain! And I am the woman who was concerned about my overly dry garden. Not at the moment!

Outside everything is looking very lush and green. Grapes are swelling on the archway, I don't know if they will taste any good. Just a meagre picking of beans but the tomatoes are starting to ripen. Come on allotment society, move me further up the waiting list!

Snowing?

The ground is covered in white, is it snowing? No, (at least, not yet!) Wind and rain have sent down copious amounts of blossom from two of the trees in the garden. Wet petals cover paths and bushes and stick to the soles of my gardening clogs. Its claggy - is that a Yorkshire word?

The trees are large, there are still a lot of petals up there! In the autumn I shall have a go at thinning out some of the branches to create a better shape. At the moment the trees are rather solidly top heavy. The flowers are very attractive and they hang from slender branches so some careful pruning should improve things greatly.

I've no idea what species the trees are. If you know, please tell me.

It's raining.

Oh, how it's raining! Why should I be surprised, after all the schools have broken up for the holidays! Looking on the bright side, another magnolia flower has bloomed.

Sweeping up!

You may think that because we now have a very much smaller garden than formerly there is little to do. It's not the case. We are involved in a lot of sweeping up as bits fall from the trees above us. I'm like the Greek ladies that I've often seen while on holiday, brush in hand clearing up the fallen debris. How to properly clean the verandah? I wish we knew! Himself has been up the ladder with a broom strapped to a length of bamboo doing the best he can. If anyone knows of a good product/system do let me know.

Every day there are fresh sweet pea flowers to pick and bring into the house. This mixed selection isn't as perfumed as I would like. Next year I shall look for seed that specifies a strong scent.

I've been swimming today and the sea is warming up nicely but it is hardly good summer weather. It is good to return home and sit in the warmth of the conservatory!

I hope that summer is proving good for you, not too hot, not too cold.

Surprises

Anonymous greenery is starting to show it's colours. I looked skywards (come on rain, where are you!) and saw an enormous magnolia flower. Difficult to photograph. I hung out of the bedroom window but with no greater success. Never mind, I've spotted a couple of buds further down that I should be able to enjoy without difficulty.

Clematis tendrils weave through the planting.

I can see that the former owners liked strong reds and purples. This day lily has just come into flower and is a lovely splash of colour.

Himself has been busy restoring a rusty garden seat.

I'm missing the home grown fruit and veg that I've known for many years and my much-loved roses. But this little cutting of Raubritter has settled in well, and so, all things considered, have I.