If
you have been a reader of my country diary for any length of time, you will probably have come to the conclusion that I am an avid gardener…
I
would rather be in the garden than anywhere else on earth. {{smiles}}
The
garden is where I experience a sense of true belonging; the place where I can
breathe deeply and think clearly…
The
warmth of the sunshine on my skin, the dirt on my hands, and the stillness,
interrupted only by the buzzing of bees or the cheerful twittering of the
birds, refreshes my soul.
There
is a deep sense of satisfaction to be derived from growing things, and I have
yet to discover anything more magical than cultivating a garden and enjoying
the sweet fruits of my labour.
Thus,
I spend as much time as possible in my happy place doing what I love most –
growing things!
~
This
year we visited the open gardens in our area for the first time.
My mom and I thought it would be a lovely way to inspire the two aspiring young gardeners in our family, Rebekah and Gabrielle.
We
spent most of the day visiting the various gardens on show and came home refreshed
and relaxed and inspired to continue working to create a haven in our backyard.
We
began our Saturday morning with a quick stop at the local farmer’s market for
coffee, and to pick up a few bunches of fresh beetroot.
Sadly, our beetroot is not yet ready, and my
garden too small to grow as much as we would need for our size family.
The
first garden we visited was tucked away at the end of a long, winding dirt road.
A
small piece of paradise, this beautifully landscaped tiered garden was
surrounded by forest area.
^The magnificent view of the ocean from one side of the garden...
^The view of the forest from the other side of the garden.
The
next garden was my kind of garden with big trees casting lovely shade, a few
ponds and rustic benches dotted around…
We
enjoyed a glass of lemonade here before moving on…
Garden
number three was a cottage style garden with plenty of quaint little spots for
hiding yourself away in with a cup of tea and a good book…
We
then decided to take a break and stop for a light lunch before visiting the
next lot of gardens…
^Open fields surrounded garden number four.
The
second last garden we visited was truly magnificent with rolling lawns,
neatly pruned bushes and lots of colour in the roses and foxgloves gracing the
beds.
I
especially loved the vegetable garden tucked away at the back…
And
now we come to the final and most beautiful garden of all….
Upon
arriving, we felt as if we had stepped into a piece of heaven.
Lovely
old trees encircle the house, creating the most divine shade…pathways twisting in and
out of the garden beds, a big rose garden and plenty of space to lay down on a
picnic blanket and rest awhile - this garden was pure delight.
Needless
to say, we ended our day on a high note and came home thoroughly inspired.
Even
though we have a rental home and a small garden, we were encouraged to do what
we can to create a lovely outdoor space…
It
was so special to spend this time with my mom and sisters doing something we
all enjoyed.
We took so many photographs
and made the sweetest memories… I am
already looking forward to next year!
Happy Monday lovely readers…have a delightful new week!
How utterly delightful to spend the day visiting different gardens! Such sweet pictures of your sisters and Mom together, what a blessing to enjoy such a lovely day together! I love all your hats! I too enjoy wearing a hat in the garden! Lots of wonderful blooms, and great ideas to take home with you, I am sure! So thankful that you are together again as a family too! Much love to you sweet friend!
ReplyDeleteOh, dear friend! What an absolutely splendid post this was...the gardens look so exquisite and gorgeous! We have a botanical garden in our city and I haven't been since I was 7 years old, and have been wanting to go this coming spring. I love walking around and admiring all the beautiful flowers and plants as well as the little critters that make their home in the garden. Gardens always seem so peaceful to me. The open gardens you visited look magnificent, and I love that each one was a bit different...how fun would it be to visit them with you! {{smiles}}
ReplyDeleteYou ladies all look so lovely and I am in love with all your hats. I think I may need to find a good sun hat next spring so I don't get sunburn again. You have inspired me to be on the lookout for one next year! ♥
I loved this post entirely, dear Kelly-Anne! What a marvellous time! Sending much love ♥
Oh, these photos are lovely! I can just imagine what a delightful day you ladies had. I look forward to seeing your own handiwork. :)
ReplyDelete