Outing in nature – part four – Rye

Our next stop was Rye a small English town by the coast in East Sussex. In the centre, cobbled lanes like Mermaid Street are lined with medieval, half-timbered houses. Mermaid Street is most famous where the Mermaid Inn is located which was used by smugglers. The historic houses date back from 15th century – many are 500 and 600 years old. You find also a Castle and the Ypres Tower.

Ypres Tower

Castle

Many of the old houses in the centre have lovely names above the door:

The house with two doors

The house with the seat

The house oppsite

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  The house opposite

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  Mermaid Street

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  The Mermaid Inn, rebuilt 1420

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  The house with two front doors

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Every house is made up beautifully with flowers in the front. I can imagine they are rather quirky inside.

Outer beauty is what the eyes can see,
inner beauty can only be seen through the heart.
~ Cagla Bicer ~ 

Outing in nature – part three – Bateman’s House

We went along to Bateman's, which was Rudyard Kipling's house for 34 years and were he died in 1936. It is a 17th century house, beautiful with vast land around as Rudyard Kipling bought more land during his time there.

Rudyard Kipling's most famous fiction is the Jungle book.

Rudyard Kipling was the most famous author in England,and was earning £5,000 per year; the cost of Bateman's, £9,300, was thus entirely affordable. ( A secretary earned around £80 a year). 
He wrote many stories in this house, his American wife made sure he would not be disturbed uncessessay. 

Bateman’s built 1634

Garden

Outer beauty is what the eyes can see,
inner beauty can only be seen through the heart.
~ Cagla Bicer ~ 

His rather large blue Rolls Royce from the 1920’s was displayed in the garage. He loved that car. It was behind glass and the picture did not come out.

Outings in nature – Part two – Scotney Castle

Next we went to see Scotney Castle with its vast garden and old Castle.

The old Castle is very picturesque, featuring the ruins of a medieval moated manor house – it is on an island on a small lake. The lake is surrounded by sloping gardens with a wonderful collection of Rhodoendrons, Azaleas, Wisterias and Roses.

I have never seen so many blooming Rhododendrons together, it was the perfect time to visit.

There is nothing quite like the pleasure you get from plants and flowers,
they certainly cheer you up.
~Charmain Hussey~

Outings in nature – Part one – Sissinghurst

With the weather so beautiful,

we went to some outings with gardens.

Let me take you with me to enjoy.

First we visited

Sissinghurst Castle in Kent with its garden.

What a beautiful sight it was, in glorious sunshine when

everything was in full bloom.

Beautiful White Wisteria

I smile like a flower
not only with my lips
but with my whole being.
~Rumi~

Spring has come to my garden

My own planted mini daffodils in my garden are opening.

Spring is coming to my garden, yay.

Share the joy with me.

Spring – a lovely reminder how beautiful change can truly be.

My Christmas cactus

Last year in December I bought a Christmas Cactus as a gift for someone.

Before I could give it, all buds fell off so I kept it.

Over Spring Summer and Autumn I left it outside in the garden.

In September I noticed that it is forming many buds.

When it got colder in November I took it in.

Watching it every day with joy the buds got bigger.

Today is a very happy day!

They are opening:

 

 

What wonderful display, a beautiful red!

I am so overjoyed.

 

Flowers do make the world laugh!

More Cornflower beauty

My cornflowers are having more flowers.

They don’t only come in the deep blue as in this post 

there are more colours now

Beautiful purple,

then pink, light lilac and white came along.

They surprise me every day!

Cornflowers

In March, before the virus,

I bought a bucket of soil and cornflower seeds from the supermarket,

as I like to grow things.

I was watching it carefully,

watering it on hot days.

It was growing nicely until June where it started to bloom,

and I could find blue flowers on it.

… and not just blue but also pink came along, how beautiful!

I enjoyed those Cornflowers every step on their way

to the full bloom in very vibrant colours.

Thank you for making my garden more colourful!

 

Kew Gardens Virtual Smile

Kew Gardens

my favourite garden has been closed due to the circumstances.

I miss going there so much.

They have now re -opened with limited visitors going in

and you have to book a time slot.

Unfortunately I have to take the train to get there and

I am not quite prepared to do that just yet.

So I went through my pictures from previous visits

and enjoyed a stroll through.

Here is what I found:

(pictures previously not published, taken by me in Kew Gardens)

 

Something Red

2.9.18

2.9.18

2.9.18

… it does say Red Dragon…..  🙂

Something yellow

Something pink

and something smelly

smelly

smelly

smelly

Yes, it was really smelly. What an amazing plant.

Hope you enjoyed my little walk through time, colours and the garden.

 

Please click on the pictures to enlarge them.

Pictures are from visits during the last 2 years.

 

Radishes ?

Have  you ever seen radishes on a cactus?

Unbelievable where they grow these days.

I grew them the traditional way…… in my garden

a welcome addition to my salad!

It was rather delicious !

(Picture taken by me in Kew  Gardens and my garden)