As it's a miserable spring day, and my chores are complete, I thought I would sit down (on my sofa - naturally!) with a cuppa and write a short post on a recent visit I made with a couple of friends to the beautiful Sir Harold Hillier Gardens near Romsey. I've called this 'Part One' because, with 180 acres I'm not sure it's possible to cover it all in one visit, so I will be making a return trip at some stage in the not too distant future!
This giant fir cone is one of five botanical willow sculptures by Tom Hare currently on display at the gardens.
These were beautiful - in 3 or 4 different colours - the white ones were my favourite.
We turned round and spotted these 2 cute chickens perched on a a post!
This Eucalyptus tree was quite striking - and very tactile (see where lots of people have rubbed their hands over the bark on the right hand side!)
The pond area was so tranquil. The were a couple of sculptures here too. Hard to see on the picture below but this piece in the middle of the pod caught the wind and changed direction like a shoal of fish - beautiful!
Ferns just beginning to unfurl in dappled shade.
This was one of a series of lovely coloured glass and mirror mosaics (shame about the cable ties securing it to the tree!). This one alluded to Gaudi (its actual name escapes me) but the style of the roses also reminded me of Charles Rennie Mackintosh.
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| The new leaves on these trees were so pretty! |
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| The 'wisteria season' is almost over, but not quite! |
Near Jermyn's House there are a few white Carrara marble sculptures .............
After walking up through Magnolia Avenue, we crossed the road and went into an area called Spring Walk which was packed full of fantastic rhododendrons in every colour! There were also camellias in that area, but they were just about finished when we visited.
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| Some rhododendrons were just waking up ......... |
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| .........whilst others were a bit further on |
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| This reminded me of the Flambouyant Tree in Antigua - I love the orange against the blue sky! Mother Nature does it again! |
And some, like this one below, were scented - who knew?!
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| Snow Drift |
Finally, a few more sculptures ........
And it's still raining! Time to rustle up something hearty and warming I think - it's not barbecue weather unfortunately ............
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