Away Day

Posted byofftheedgegardeningPosted inUncategorized

IMG_4068We consulted the seagull innards for a sign and all was favourable.  So Hero hitched the oxen to the cart and we headed south, to the fabled southern lands, where the sophisticated folk abide, to meet with like-minded tribes from far afield.  We had heard a rumour that someone from as far as South Molton might be there.  The great event in question was an All Horts garden visit to Lewis Cottage, almost as far as the great metropolis, Exeter.  The reality was shocking.  Although we considered ourselves to be great adventurers, travelling so far without the aid of a sat nav*,  some intrepid souls had roamed far from the shire, from Summerzet, from Kernow, even from past Gloucester!  The award for champion milesmith went to Didcot Dave.  Respect; your certificate is in the post.

It had been suggested by SDG (organiser extraordinaire) to meet in a local hostelry for a small sweet sherry and a spam sandwich before the main event.  Although not accustomed to such establishments we bit the bullet and soon spotted the Horties.  We did our best to indulge in polite conversation.  An especially lovely treat was to meet my blogging pal Rusty Duck and her hubby, who were well ensconced when we arrived and we fell into easy conversation.  Suddenly SDG leapt up, told us he was off to meet anyone going direct to site and that we will find the garden 9 minutes away to the east.  We checked our handbags/bottom of shoes for compasses and found ourselves lacking.  I am afraid this will find all of us struck off the Scouting Proficiency List.  Mr Duck however seemed confident and that was good enough for us, the oxen were rested so we easily kept up with the frisky stallions of Torrington, heading in what we hoped to be an easterly direction.  Several miles, a celtic cross, one curious looking dog walker, no NGS signs later, we found the Cornish and Hartland crew by the side of the road, all looking at their phones.  Pulling up they confessed to being lost.  Myself and Mr D went to enquire from the friendly locals, and quickly reassessed the situation after reading the sign “do not enter the black dog WILL bite”. We decided that discretion was the better part of valour and 50m down the road Mr D (quickly becoming the saviour of the day) found the sign to the garden.  Apologies for lateness and we could begin ……

The garden was wonderful.  Boardwalks and ancient oaks, trees aplenty and cutting gardens, red and yellow and blue and most especially green, our hosts generous with time and energy, stories of people and plants, ducks and geese, ginkos, giant rudbeckias, variegated petasites, pumpkins, cloches, cleome, greyhounds and fire buckets.  There was proper fun and laughter, perhaps a little mischief.  Friendships were forged.  After some sumo wrestling with MM we all managed to go home with the plants we wanted  – Myself 2, Hero 4, MM 96.  There was cake in triplicate and quiche.  There were salmon sandwiches with the crusts were removed.  Did I mentioned the adorable dog and wild cats?  A great day.  But I think you had worked that one out.

ps  The photo is for MM

pps Go visit Lewis Cottage, you won’t be sorry.  Check out NGS website for details.

ppps  Such a lovely day, thank you to everyone for making it so good.

  • We did actually have a sat nav, but someone had mislaid the sat nav lead.  As back up I had an OS map and a pair of spectacles.

 

24 thoughts on “Away Day”

  1. I am laughing out lour at this one. What a marvelous day you had. I also laughed at the dog sign as I had a similar one posted for the German Shepherd and Dobie.

    I had just come in from picking figs, so your picture was appropriate.

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  2. A late cheese sandwich was almost regurgitated there at the thought of seagull innards. They are something no-one should have to imagine! Sounds like a fabulous day out. And what superb weather for it. My weekend haul amounted to 3 x Iris confusa. I am finally becoming reconciled with the fact that my gardens are shadier than I think they are and am buying accordingly. I hope your week is just as much fun.

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  7. What a laugh and a Grand Day Out, Lewis Cottage will go on my list right now. Figs are also ripening here in Torrington, at least one a day for the last week and more to come, like Christo Lloyd I am a real ‘Fresh Fig Pig’.

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      1. Oooh, please! I love driving to lovely gardens, sat-nav or map guided, right or wrong directions, so long as I get there!

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  9. I love you working days but your Days Out are classics
    Am always envious of those quantities of cake you seem to be given the opportunity to consume ,never mind all those posh plants you know all about

    Lovely thank you
    Ps viz post about verbascums. Yvan at Bruggies always swore at them in his meadow as they blunted his scythe when he was cutting the hay

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    1. But I bet they looked beautiful in the meadow! Do you remember me telling you this story? One day at Brugairolles I was sitting by the spring waiting for the water to fill the container (probably singing a little song) before I pulled it back up the hill to the house. On each previous morning I had dutifully greeted Monsieur P as he walked past on the way to his fields “Bonjour”, and he always politely replied “Bonjour” averting his eyes modestly. This special morning he looked me square in the face, blurted out “hello!” and strode off at high speed. I was very touched.

      Glad you enjoyed my day with me 🙂

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