Minterne Gardens
Oct. 6th, 2022 05:22 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
puddleshark
All along the lanes, the leaves are changing: dogwood turning red-purple, field maple to gold. So I thought it might be time to make my autumn pilgrimage to the maples at Minterne...
A drive along the Cerne Valley with the leaves drifting down. An autumn landscape of stubble fields and newly ploughed fields: brown earth, hills, tall cloud.
In the village of Minterne Magna, left the car in the small car park, and passed between the stone gate piers, into the gardens:
Past the front of Minterne House:
Minterne House, south face. Dating from 1905, designed by Leonard Stokes; an earlier house on the same site having to be demolished due to dry rot. (Not open to the public, though I believe they've started hiring out parts of the house for weddings).
Onto shaded paths through the Himalayan Gardens, where the hydrangea is flowering, and unknown trees bear berries:
The Sherpa's Hut, with its prayer flags.
But no mountains.
Many small bridges, over many small streams.
The wonky bridge of Minterne. Still standing.
Well, I was a little early for the maples this year: they were only just starting to turn. But even green maples are lovely.
The wisteria walk, only created a few years ago, is starting to look more impressive.
Spindle.
Tea and home-made fruitcake, on the terrace of Minterne House. Good tea. Nice cake. A shame that one of the tables was occupied by three people who were being loudly lectured by a fourth man, on the subject of inheritance tax. I sat as far away as I could, but still found myself having to listen. I suspect it's against the bye-laws to sit on a terrace overlooking a splendid park and talk loudly about your money.
But to make up for this, a most beautiful Irish Terrier, who happened to be taking tea with his owners on the terrace, came over and put his head on my lap, sensing I was a bit desolate.
Or possibly my pockets still smell of dog treats.
no subject
Date: 2022-10-06 08:59 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2022-10-07 12:53 pm (UTC)If only I'd waited a few more weeks to make my visit, there might have been a proper carpet of leaves on the footbridge... But still, even on the cusp of autumn these gardens are so beautiful.
Sherpas hut
Date: 2022-10-10 10:46 pm (UTC)Re: Sherpas hut
Date: 2022-10-11 04:05 pm (UTC)Whereas I always feel like I've spent the morning walking on an alien planet when I visit this garden. So many unidentified species! It's wonderful.