Last weekend I was in beautiful Branscombe, Devon, England.
As usual I had to make my pilgrimage up the hill to Doreen’s Garden and this time I was lucky enough to meet the delightfully sprightly 84 year old. She is originally from Liverpool and has lived in this cottage for 34 years.
She gives me hope for the future!
Click on any photo to see it larger.
We had a lovely long chat and she showed me the best viewing points for photos .. Here
and then the view to the church
Doreen has a box for donations to support the Devon Air Ambulance and so far she has collected over £7,000!
You can even stay in her garden in this delightful self-catering little unit
what a sunny spot!
We talked about her magnificent dahlias
She doesn’t lift them but cuts them right back to the ground and mulches them.
I do not live in quite such a sheltered spot – I tried them years ago and did not have a good success rate, but I might give Doreen’s method a go as there is no doubt, they put on a spectacular show – if only they were scented .. mmmmm there’s a thought. Are there any scented dahlias?
Ravelry
Wild Daffodil 
this is beautifull flowers.. like some vertical garden i’m means.. wonderfull.. https://www.tamankreatif.com
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Wonderful colour, and no doubt she will have a garden full of colour earlier in the season too. And yes of course I hope I shall be like that at 84, treasure or not 😉
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Yes, Doreen told me that soon she would be digging out the begonias and filling the pots with bulbs and polyanthus.
HaHa! Love the ‘treasure or not’! Me too!!
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Delightful, both the garden and gardener!
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Treasures both! 🙂
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That’s pretty amazing–your photos capture the beauty so well! My favorite (other than the one of Doreen herself) is the one toward the church. I loved visiting Devon and this makes me want to go back!
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If you do go back, be sure to pay this garden a visit – it is a gem – and Branscombe itself is a gem. And if you like, let me know if you are going – if I can, I’ll meet you there.
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Takes my breath away! I can’t Thank you enough for sharing!
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So pleased you enjoyed meeting Doreen Eliz.
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How did you discover this delightful cottage? Oh, to visit and enjoy those dahlias ~ thank you for the beauty!
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I came across the garden and the cottage on a walk back in March 2015. Here is my first post to mention the garden: https://daffodilwild.wordpress.com/2015/03/11/walking-backwards-to-branscombe/
I was so glad to see the garden in full flower this time.
So glad you enjoyed it Del.
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Thank you for the link, Sandra!
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What a stunning place – I want to stay there! The very fact this amazing woman is who and how she is and the garden is what it is are in my mind inextricably entwined. Let’s all have a rousing chorus of ‘You can’t have one without the other……’ 🙂
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I would love to stay there too but sadly there is no internet. I did take Doreen’s contact number – just in case.
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But imagine even a weekend away from the modern world just enjoying that garden and view…… Heaven!!
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You are right Pauline, it would be bliss wouldn’t it.
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Wow, so bright and colourful. Amazing. She obviously has green fingers.
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The first thing she said to me was – I see you like bright colours like me! She certainy does have green fingers!
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Loved seeing all those September colors. Doreen looks so wonderful standing with those beauties. 🙂
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She certainly is a colourful character!
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❤
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beautiful photos and post. 😀
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Thanks so much Cee.
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I’ve never heard of any scented dahlias…the one thing botanists have not been able to alter in flower dna. Maybe you have to resort to spritzing it with perfume.😉
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HaHa! Yes, that’s an idea!
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Too bad there wan’t a “Love” button for this because I LOVE Doreen and her garden. Holy cats! I can’t gush enough about this. What a great way to start the day! And if I make it to 84 and look as good as Doreen does, then I will be one happy woman.
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I’m with you completely Laurie! ❤ ❤ ❤
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Oh, my!
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That may be the most beautiful garden I have ever seen! The photo spots she showed you are just magnificent!
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Doreen and her garden are a marvel Kathy, I have more photos of the rest of the garden to come if I can find the time to sort through them – I’m busy in my own garden today – inspired by Doreen!
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As I am, (inspired that is). Very cold and rainy here today, we are picking the greenish tomatoes and bringing them in so they don’t get frost damage.
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Such a colorful garden. She is a powerhouse or maybe that should be greenhouse.
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Yes! 😀 😀 😀
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A beautiful garden and at 84 too! Wonderful.
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I know! She looks amazing for 84 doesn’t she, and so bright and witty and friendly. A real treasure!
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What a beautiful spot. I’d never heard of Doreen’s Garden before but it looks glorious.
Now there’s something to aim for – if I can’t be a national treasure in my dotage, perhaps I could be a tourist attraction. I’d better start working on it soon.
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HaHaHa!!! You always give me a good chuckle Tialys!
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