Tuesday 3 January 2012

Early morning amble

Some mornings it can be jolly worthwhile to get out there and have an amble about, see the place, and cast a beady eye on the seasons as they progress! At this time of year this endeavour can be something of a challenge, it being so frightfully cold, and one is forgiven for not even thinking of crossing the threshold until the fire has been lit and we’ve breakfasted thoroughly on devilled kidneys and kedgeree. However, you must be strong, and set your face against such agreeableness! Hasten to the back door with a spring in your step (and perhaps a hot toddy in your belly) and set forth to enjoy the truly glorious light that is cast when the new day is just beginning!

All is peaceful on the Rock Bank

The old Smokebush that sprawls on the Rock Bank ha-ha. The autumn colours of this plant are incredible

Wisteria floribunda ‘Macrobotrys’ drooping its autumn glory over the toolsheds

Mahonia lomariifolia looking triumphant in a corner of the Old Garden. Major Johnston introduced this plant from China in 1931

Shadows being cast in the Lilac Circle

View down into the Fuchsia Garden. The hardy fuchsias in particular benefited from the unseasonably mild autumn, and have gone on flowering well past their bed time

The cheeky chickens from Hidcote Manor Farm have joined us, also taking their usual morning stroll about the place

The pig pen is marked by a certain stillness these days. The pigs are here, but not in their pen (if you follow my meaning..)


Lime Avenue, which ends with a statue of the Roman god Hercules


 

Happy New Year chumrades; I’d like to wish you all the very best for 2012! This is to be my last year at Hidcote (groan!) and so my last year sailing aboard the Careership! If you are contemplating a visit to the garden this year then please feel free to get in touch, my email address is bertiebainbo at gmail dot com (I’ve translated this into written form to thwart the spam pirates sailing these murky waters).

17 comments:

Janet said...

The mahonia is magnificent. I didn't know about the Hidcote connection. The brick paths were my first choice for this garden but the cost was prohibitive. They are such a warm colour. What does 2012 hold for you after Hidcote, Bertie? Looking forward to following your blog. A visit to Hidcote would be the icing on the cake....

Rosemary said...

Sorry to hear that you will be leaving Hidcote this year. I agree with Janet that mahonia is splendid, I have never seen one with such magnificent blooms before, and the scent from it must be good too.
A Happy New Year to you Bertie.

Jess said...

Happy New Year right back to you! I know it must be cold, but it sure looks like a perfect day outside.

Prue said...

Thanks for sharing those awesome piccies of Hidcote. It's so nice to see it in the early morning.

I agree with the others; the mahonia is magnificent!

Happy New Year to you Bertie. Hope it's a good one for you!

Dig Brooklyn said...

The mahonia wins hands down. I may be attending the Chelsea Flower Show and, if so, I'll make it a point to venture out to Hidcote for a day (or two!). Thank you again for your wonderful blog.

Michael

Anonymous said...

As always wonderful pictures Bertie! Love the chickens. I would love to have chickens but we live in the country and I fear they would make a very nice meal for a passing fox or badger. Hope your enjoying the new blog and thanks for making the effort to find me and follow it. DD

Helen/patientgardener said...

Happy New Year.

Thanks for sharing the photos of Hidcote at this time of year. It looks more autumnal than winter to be honest

Wife, Mother, Gardener said...

A wonderful walk round! I how the W. "Macrobotrys" seems to be fading into autumn. So good to see some more of the marvelous structure of Hidcote, which is what makes it such an enduring garden in my opinion.

Wonderful blogging this year, Bertie! Looking forward to seeing spring and beyond.
Julie

Diana Studer said...

Are we talking about bacon? I'll pass thank you. Hope you will continue to blog for us, after Hidcote?!

Pam's English Garden said...

Dear Bertie, I so enjoyed this early morning walk with you and the chickens! I'll be back in England in April and would love to visit if it's in the cards. I enjoy your blog immensely -- will you continue after you leave Hidcote? I hope so. Happy New Year! P.

Share my Garden said...

All the best for the year ahead, chumrade! I shall miss the opportunity to wander, out of hours, around Hidcote once you have left but hope that you will still be blogging and I can follow you to pastures new!

The Green Lady said...

I was just about to write you're so lucky to work here. Why are you leaving?

Jordan Jackson said...

I wish you a happy & productive 2012. How wonderful that you've been able to record your time at Hidcote in this way. These are lovely pictures, as always.

Share my Garden said...

Dear Bertie, I have given you a Liebster award!

Gardener in the Distance said...

I love the shadows Bertie.

VW said...

Bertie, thanks for stopping by my blog a while back. So glad I finally made my way here - your photos are lovely, how wonderful to have such a beautiful garden to photograph. I love the sun coming through the tree at the beginning of the post. Keep warm!

Bertie Bainbridge said...

What ho all! Finally back in action. I'm sorry to say this blog will come to a close when the Hidcote dream ends in August. I’ll archive it, as it will be good fun to have the thing online for old time's sake! That won't happen though until I have the new blog up & running, which will cover whatever it is I happen to be doing next. I have nothing currently arranged in that regard, but will report back with any interesting developments of course!
Bertie

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