last pic from S'hurst: unexplained carving in the pavement

What's On Today at Sissinghurst...

This board gives updates of what's happening around the grounds that day, something I found very charming and visitor-friendly. 

the glory of the White Garden...

Though the famous central rose was over, there was lots to see in the White Garden.  Notice the willow-leaf pear tree, the inspiration for my feeble one back on my own earnest little patch.

well, duh

sign at the entrance of Sissinghurst...this wasn't here the last time I visited; are the crowds getting unruly?

S'hurst Rules

Here's the view from Vita's tower, over to the yew rondel, at that modest little garden somewhere in Kent.....

wandering the grounds at Chiswick House

copies of original vases taken off to Chatsworth are the sole attraction at the Italian Garden

a fency-like barrier created by alternating stakes and filling in with pruned or windfall branches.  some were woven to make it sturdier.  capital idea!

acanthus and phlox in a messy but pleasing border

protecting tree whips from various gnawing creatures

gnarly!  note young branches shooting out at left

what classical property can do without Cedars of Lebanon? 

The glass conservatory at Chiswick House gardens was gorgeous

the fabulous row of slate benches, heated by iron pipes, in the camellia conservatory

beautiful iron handles open the greenhouse windows

Adjacent to the conservatory, the now-restored parterre Italianate garden is shaped out, but unplanted at present

stocks and bachelor buttons from Columbia Rd market

dainty daisies in Chelsea

While poking around looking for Blitz damage in the City, we came upon this happy young woman with the lovely task of making this church ready for services.

Ha-Ha!

Here's a close up view, my first in person, of a ha-ha, the ditch dug around a stately home to keep the cattle away from the house.  From a distance, the even grassy ground doesn't betray the chasm there, so His Grace's view outward is not disturbed.  My long shot of the ha-ha didn't come out, sadly, but it's more interesting to see it up close, right?

On the South Downs Way, E. Sussex

Here's the scrubby cover at the top of the chalky ridge of the South Downs--things grow low to the ground due to salty winds, and is quite pretty in a Cathy-and-Heathcliff-on- the-moors kind of way.

peonies, nigellas and sea holly watching Gordon Brown on the telly

The peony bouquet from Columbia Road flower market, the image of a former British Prime Minister, complaining, courtesy BBC. 

Meh

Isn't that the current term for indifference, bordering on boredom?  Because that's my reaction to a full rose garden, even in full flower.  Just not exciting, and most of the hybrids aren't even scented, to boot.  Much as I'd love to kvell, can't do it.  I like the scraggly wild field areas on the other side of this, Regent's Park...

Somerset countryside?

Nope,  Regent's Park, middle of London.

Rain: Perfect Day for a Flower Show

Hampton Court : a typical "modern" show garden

Like described below, the formula for the show gardens appears to be hardscaping looking like something from "2001: A Space Odyssey," but adding pretty Englishy flowers and trees within that.   This one was the best of them; one BBC host described another as resembling a terrace at a "posh modern hotel."  Golly, just the thing for the back yard at home...

This is for reader Dave...last issue, NOTW

So, here's the last issue of 168-yr-old British scandal sheet supreme, News of the World.  Apparently, this rag has many nasty nicknames, and from the look of this, they are richly deserved...I can't even read it for a laugh, it's so gross.  But history is history, and I bought one;  maybe I can sell this on Ebay in 10 years and send my rabbit to college on the proceeds.  Below, back cover, with a quote from George Orwell to try and class the place up a bit.  My main complaint:  No Gardening Section!!!