Monday 30 July 2012

Historic houses and hollyhocks (a little extra entry)

On the way back to Bath Mark and I stopped off at Barrington Court  - we had never been before and were blown away by the beautiful house and gardens (not to mention the quilting shop and pottery - Mark bought me some beautiful terracotta ramekins glazed in rich earthy colours inside). I know it's not a blog day, but I just had to share some photos. As we walked around I could just picture taking my friend Irene there. Just as I am drawn to all things Scandinavian, Irene is drawn to Englishness...and this really is English!

I do find as I walk around places, there are friends I wish I could show things to. We started off in the walled vegetable garden - I know Irene  would love a walled garden and the variety and innovative way of growing vegetables made me wish Tracey was there too to see...

growing tomatoes upside down in recycled plastic bottles

how do they get salad looking this good!
love the scarecrow's growing hair
 A dog made of straw - bigger than Dottie, Hannah's Jack Russell, but with that same mischievous look.
a guard dog?

 Hollyhocks like the ones in Irene's blog - makes Sweden seem not so far away.



You can never have too many hollyhocks - they just make me smile.





The gardens were full of 'outdoor rooms, with archways and gateways between the different gardens.













Inside the house was an Antony Gormley exhibition - several rooms with the floors totally filled with small clay figures. I didn't really like the idea, but actually it looked amazing! Photography was not allowed in the exhibition, but we were wandering around some lovely open outbuildings and found some spares!






 In the white garden, one rebellious poppy had turned pink!




 When we reached the house and surrounding buildings, I wished Karen the conservation architect was there to explain why things were the way they were - she won't escape I will be dragging her there one of these days! Apologies for all the photos of details, but this is the best way for me to show her - I will be emailing questions!















The square woodwork on these stairs looked almost Rennie Mackintosh-esque.



I love the patterns f light and shade on the stone windowsills

the old glass make patterns on the stone





occasional twiddly bits on the straight wooden posts

Instead of a visitors' book, we were encouraged to add a luggage label with comments

it wouldn't be my blog without a bee or two


the pottery's homage to Antony Gormley

I wish I could have a pair of these lions by our front door

I am sure you will be relieved to know that I do not have any more garden visits planned for a while, you must be, as Mark would say, 'all gardened out'.