Monday 15 October 2012

Walled Wonder

There's a magic about walled gardens I find endlessly fascinating. I imagine the lives of all the gardeners gone before and the house and family they worked hard for through wind and sun, frost and rain.
We spent Sunday inside the warm, red bricked walls of a garden being lovingly brought back to life.
Although this summer had been a trial with many more failures than success they said, one thing was a run away success; a magical, peaceful, reflective atmosphere.

Espaliered apple and cherry trees cloaked the walls and the veg beds were lined with deep herbaceous borders full of flowers for cutting.
Tucked against the south wall next to one of several greenhouses, was a smashing little cafe and seeing your salad picked in front of you makes for a very delicious lunch.
 
We ate squash & chilli soup and paninis on the little terrace and watched the boys enjoy the run of the garden on a crisp autumn afternoon. Pretty perfect I'd say.
A very special place x

18 comments:

Rose Fern said...

You always have such interesting outings with your family! Your kids are really lucky!

Cait O'Connor said...

I have been catching up here and have really enjoyed myself. Beautiful posts.

jotatters said...

This looks amazing! Make the most of it before it gets more popular! x

just Gai said...

I agree. There's something magical about them.

In the summer our WI visited Barley Wood walled garden just outside Bristol, which is very similar to Sugnall Hall. I returned with my elder daughter a couple of weeks later to do some voluntary weeding and planting. We made friends with the gardener and have been getting s fortnightly vegetable box from him ever since.

LinenandRoses said...

Looks really magical. I love walled gardens. Always make me think of 'The Secret Garden'. Fiona x

Streetcomber said...

Beautiful. I love walled gardens too and on a crisp, sunny day there is no place I'd rather be.

...Nina Nixon... said...

That is so gorgeous Steph - truly inspiring.

We live in a walled garden, but nothing as lovely as this. I think I really need to rip it all out and start again.

Nina x

Ali said...

A walled garden is one of my fantasy must haves. Though judging from the state of my garden, I might not make it look anywhere near as beautiful as the one you visited.

purple-roses-country-cottage said...

Dear Steph, what a perfect sunny day! Looks like you have had a lot of fun!The espaliered apple and cherry trees looking very interesting. Maybe a great idea for my small garden... Thank you for showing us your wonderful pictures. Take care Nicole

Anonymous said...

Looks like you had a wonderful day in the autumn sunshine
Thea x

Rose H (UK) said...

Looks like a great day out!

Jay said...

What a gorgeous place to visit, I like the sound of freshly picked salad for a lunch stop.

rusty duck said...

It is indeed a truly special place. What I would give to have a glasshouse like that.

And I love those ducks!

Sue said...

Thank You Steph for sharing such a lovely place with us,and as ever smashing photographs to match,
Best Wishes to you and yours
Sue xxx

Emma Herian said...

That garden really looks like the one at Shrugborough! Very similar with the well in the middle and even the gate entrance is the same. I wonder if they were built by the same architect?
I will have to visit that one next time I pop up to see my sister!

Annie Cholewa said...

What a fabulous place, and less than an hour from me! I feel a trip to November's Farmer's Market coming on!!!

Anonymous said...

What a wonderful place to spend an afternoon.
judyk2310

marge said...

Just read your last post - what a surprise. We married in Youlgrave church 30 years ago next month - I walked across from home with my dad who made two giant candelabra for our candlelit ceremony (they're still used at Christmas I believe). My aunty, who made my dress, lived along the lane from the church all her life, was a stalwart of the WI and now rests in the churchyard. We are about to move back to the Bakewell area after living here in Cornwall for over twenty years. Youlgrave has a great community and is a beautiful village. Have you been to the Well Dressings?