West to Somerset and Devon

I set off on my journey to meet Pete for the weekend in Somerset & Devon.  Started off cloudy but eventually the sun came and it was very warm... great.

We met at NT Lytes Carey - lovely garden and small house.

Having enjoyed a long walk amongst field of corn (well, they probably had been) it was time for lunch.

Not a huge choice -  I had a Coronation Chicken roll... a little short on the filling and it was not a NT creation but 'bought in'

Three Robins were on the roof of the building as we sat eating.  A this (young?) House Martin had a sun bathe.  It seemed to be OK but was odd to see it sitting here.

And then for a wander around the house.

These ladies are made from leather!

 Into the tiny chapel..

So after that, off to NT Tintinhull.  A small garden but absolutely lovely....

We came back here later and just sat chatting, looking out over the water.

A swing seat.... Lovely to just sit and gaze... and we had Mr. Quacks with us... Pete thought Quacks was due a holiday too :D

Two Magnolia trees that had come into bloom - they had flowered quite correctly in Spring but put on another, albeit smaller, show..

Time for a cuppa and a fruit scone.  Not bad - a tad on the dry side but very tasty.

Just sitting and chatting in the sunshine :D

And finally, time to move on to our hotel.  OOOOPS - Road closed on the A303 due to an accident and it was to be closed for some time.

Pete had noticed a turning on the left and we took that.  A very narrow road with grass growing down the middle... a very pretty detour and finally we hit the main road and duly arrived.

A very good start to the weekend.

A short spell at Petworth House & Gardens...

Needed some exercise, so headed off late morning (after a trip to the service centre to try to sort a problem on my car),  Arrived just before lunch and had an excellent fruit scone... definitely one of the better NT scones so far... so pleased (no picture though)..

The Bedrooms in the house were open today so I had a wander ... no pictures allowed as the rooms are still in use by the family!

Loads of Greylag and Canada Geese about; being very active and noisy.. perhaps preparing to set off for pastures new?..

It was intermittently sunny but some grey-ish clouds intervened..

A shortish walk but good to get out in the sunshine again....  :)

A garden in the making

I inherited a very large hedge in my new garden.  Had to make a decision which was.. it would have to go.  It occupied about a 1/4 of the width of the garden.

So yesterday and today, it went and a fence was erected.

This is the garden I inherited - no planting, no bushes, no flowers.  New neighbours got rid of the hedge on the left.  And today... 'my hedge' went.

I had to move the bird feeders nearer the house to make way for the work men... didn't take the regulars long to find it though..

'My' robin inspected the proceedings and workmen and seemed to approve!!

and the roof of my garden shed was still attracting feathered friends..

The hedge is gone and stacked around the garden!!! Gulp!!

and finally.... a very much larger garden with a blank canvas for planting.  The end end of the garden, which is a shady area, has already been planted as a woodland area as it's constantly in the shade apart from high summer!

Now the fun part starts; planting planned and the fence will, hopefully, disappear from view :D  And this is the sunny side of the garden being south facing ...