Wednesday, September 14, 2011

FLOWER POWER. . .

To visit the English countryside is an experience I will never forget.  The gardens, the villages, the shops, the businesses and just about any other venue you could imagine is filled with the magic of flowers~ EVERYWHERE!  I have been to England before, in fact quite a few times, but for some reason, my impressions of flowers this time were magical, they were breathtaking, romantic and very often whimsical.



Every village we visited was as though every seed packet from the local
nursery  had exploded
into a thousand blooms all over the town, on every wall and at every
entrance!



This was the front of a home of a garden we visited. . . .



A window box alongside of a restaurant door . . .




Along side a shop wall. . . .




At the Sherbourne Nurseries. . .




Hanging baskets loaded with annuals. .





More hanging baskets




. . . and still more




and more.





Wedding flowers in a local cathedral.




A huge Cosmos planting in front the Sherbourne Cathedral.






THE WHITE HART RESTAURANT in the town of Sherbourne.




This little apartment was in the town of Weymouth, a seaside town.
As we were walking back to the car,  I spotted these flowers down an alleyway.




Who ever lived here had to duck to get into their front door!







Such a simple little abode, made so beautiful with baskets,
hanging baskets and wall baskets.





These Dahlias were grown for competitioin  at the
BATH & WEST NATIONAL GHARDENING SHOW.
These had won second prize.








This Dahlia had placed FIRST!





This had been The Old City Jail and
was now a restaurant.


Where ever a planting could fit, there they were.



The local patisserie . . .



An ancient stone wall at Athelhampton in Dorchester




The private home of the heir of Athelhampton. . . . . family owned
for over a century.
 



One of the wonderful gardens visited, thatched roof and all.




A trug loaded with miniature Cyclomen.


A welcoming sight at one of the private gardens we visited. . . .
a moss covered mushroom and all!



A floral basket hanging on the wall of a 14th century barn
where we watched a flower demonstration followed by tea, clotted
cream and scones. . . . and of course home made jam.




The meeting place on the village square in
the town of Wells where we visited the famous
Wells Cathedral.




The gothic doors and that centuries old stone wall!!!
Yee gods, it makes me crazy!!!!!



Displays of boxes and yews gifted with little surprise inside.




Ancient stone walls at Athelhampton and hydrangeas.








An old cement drinking trough repurposed unltimately. . . note
the contrast of the old grey cement, the delicate white, lavendar
and purple flowers. . .




Someones upper flat. . .






The walkway leading from the parking lot in Salisbury to
the streets of shops.







Gilbert of Salisbury. . . .


Impressionable, alive with color, breathtaking and certainly
one of the most memorable displays of color I have ever experienced.







Monday, September 12, 2011

BRITISH SIGNAGE. . . . .

While in London or the rural countryside, pub signs, restaurant signs or signs advertising events seem to catch my eye and many times with a bit of British humor!



Lavish metalic gold signage was common and most
attractive. . . . and of course those old stone walls do help. We
had dinner here the second night.





This sign from the fishing town of Weymouth.




Of course the Swan Hotel should have a swan!





In the town of Wells, an attractive women's shop.



An outdoor cafe in Wells.




When stopping for Fish and Chips, beer would be the
suggested drink and Shirley chose Piddle, In a bottle!!



Doesn't everyone have a mossy garbage receptacle?


I seemed to be drawn to Tea Room signs, not to mention
. . . .scones and clotted cream, heaven!





Signage in an English pub were we had lunch one day!  Pork was big
in this community.




Lots of beer in those pubs with a sign that really was hilarious!



Do you suppose this home had a family of dogs?




BARROW HILL was the area we were in.




This family must be connected with dairy farms.

















Back Bacon, smoked meat from the pigs back.
Streaky bacon, is what they referred to is
what we simply call bacon because it has streaks!







While walking the streets of Salisbury and trying to find
its cathedral, we came upon this Inn.  It was called
The Lazy Cow.  We peeked inside where breakfast
would be served and found this sign overhead. . .




TLC. . . till the cows come home!




Same hotel, clever eye catching signage!




Eye catching needs. . . . . .






These tea signs were everywhere you walked . . . .
The Celebration of Tea well spoken in every village.





Loved the politeness of this sign. . .


The English are a wonderful bunch and their signs second to none!