Escape to the South - Part 2

On our way West, we had chosen East Lambrook Manor to visit. It is the garden of Margery Fish and she became famous as "the inventor of the cottage garden".





For me, it is particularly interesting to see a cottage garden in Autumn. Summer might be the ideal moment to visit cottage gardens but it is remarkable to see how clever this garden has been designed and there is still plenty of colour going on and plenty of interesting plants to admire (mostly unknown to me).



This garden has here and there center pieces which gives it character. Be it the cercis sarquastrum with its long seed pods or the acer griseum with its fantastic textured bark or the cornus with its dark red twiglets.



Due to some well chosen species of trees, planted at well chosen axis of the garden, it has a very harmonious atmosphere and gives plenty of inspiration.



A little bit of running water adds to the interest and the willows do enjoy it there.
All the embankment has plenty of hostas and ferns as underplanting.



I love these wee gates out of hazel.



And I had to take a photo of this trio: astrantia, fuchsia and the ground cover with the same pale pink in the leaves.



I have no idea what this plant might be but it fascinated the eye of my camera.



Here is the acer griseum - I wonder how long ours will take to be at that size?



I also learnt that Margery Fish was a friend of Constance Spry. I always thought, that it was just the name of a famous rose but ignored that she was also a famous gardener.



The naughty garden cat showed up like very friendly but that was only the first impression.



We could not resist some tea and coffee from the tea room and left, not without having bought some wee perennials from the new owners.






Outside close to the car park was an area for workshops for want-to-be gardeners.



Only a few miles further, we arrived at Shepton Mallet and had a warm welcome from this lovely lady: Niki from Nostalgia at Number 1.



My son stayed in the car for a long nap whilst we girls went shopping!



I adore her taste, I love her creations and I am fond of her blog: http://nostalgiaatthestonehouse.blogspot.com/



The BBC is going to bring out a serie about the High Street starting on November 2nd and Niki already explained months ago on her blog when the film crew started its exciting work. Life on the High Street in the past and now.
Unfortunately, Shepton Mallet is a bit empty right now as plenty of shops have closed - just the same sad story than in so many other British market towns. But who knows, perhaps one day it will all change again into how it was and when one had that special pleasure - like us at Niki's shop - to discover beautiful things in real and not only virtually by buying through the internet.

In any case, a visit in Shepton Mallet and at Niki's is a must if you are in the area. You won't be disappointed. We came back with fantastic, marvellous items but I won't put the picture of my purchases up as there are some x-mas gifts which will remain my secret.



When we finally arrived in Bath, guess who was standing on the balcony of the cathedral??? My Scottish piper! Piping EG's preferred tune: The Black Bear!
I had goosepimples and we had to stay on the place until he disappeared.





As it was getting late, we left Bath and drove to our hotel in Bristol not without promising to stop by again on our way back.