A couple of weeks ago I set off for the North.
I have not travelled any long distance for a couple of years so I was both nervous and excited – I have a tiny 14 year old car – would it carry me safely onto motorways, round scary multi-laned roundabouts and do battle with the juggernauts of the road? My friendly car mechanic gave her a check over and announced her fit to travel…. but was I?
I planned to visit a couple of friends before spending a week in Harrogate for the Knitting and Stitching Show and then popping in to see Nanacathy on the way home.
On Sunday 14th November, after a negative result from a Lateral Flow test I set off to visit Rambling in the Garden Cathy of course I could not go without picking a few things from my garden!
Some pink Hesperantha, eucalyptus, golden privet, garrya elliptica, cotoneaster, a purple salvia, and taking pride of place, right in the centre – and the rose, Hot Princess!
Hot Princess was given to me as a birthday present by Nanacathy in 2018 when I went to visit her in Yorkshire and to attend the Sawdust Heart exhibition.
Hot Princess flowers in early summer, goes very quiet and then blooms again in early October and there has always been a flower from her on my birthday, at the beginning of November. It seemed a wonderful link between three bloggers to pick the last bloom of the season for Rambling in the Gardren Cathy.
I arrived at Cathy’s in sunshine (we had both had a negative lateral flow test that morning) and what a joy it was to meet her and the Golfer!
Of course, first on the agenda was a walk round the garden. It is difficult to descibe the feeling of actually standing in the garden I have seen so many photos of. In a photo you see what is just in front of the camera – but standing in the garden and soaking up the atmosphere and having 360 degrees vision made me tingle with delight!
Atmosphere is what struck me most. Cathy’s garden has the most gorgeous friendly, sort of cosy, atmosphere. Cosy isn’t quite the right word but the garden wraps you in a sense of friendly conversation with quotes and quirky, playful details around each corner.
Cathy enjoys creating brickwork buildings and little follies, all with a purpose and use and of great charm. Never have I seen a more appropriate example of “work is love made visible”, one of my favourite Kahlil Gibran quotes.
Cathy’s creativity is evident and it was fun to see her in her natural habitat. 🙂
Of course I loved all the art and the sculptures in the garden, it is an outdoor gallery and made me think that I would really love to introduce more art into my own garden
there were also plenty of rusty beauties tweaking my rust obsession into life!
lots of beautiful autumnal colour
and an intriguing hellebore, which I have forgotten the name of
don’t you just love those leaves.
We had such a wonderful time talking about all the plants and seeing every nook, cranny and coop. I felt honoured to have an exclusive tour with Cathy as my guide – what a treat!
❤ ❤ ❤ THANK YOU CATHY!!!! ❤ ❤ ❤
And then in for a cuppa and slice of yummy homemade cake.
My jam jar of autumnal gleanings and the purple scented iris I took as a gift looked right at home in Cathy’s glorious kitchen.
and I left full of joy and gratitude to Cathy for sharing her enthusiasm, her garden, time and cake with me so generously.
I marvel at this wonderful blogging community – we get to know so much about each other and what we share in common, so the meeting is easy, comfortable and fun. Then, over a cuppa, we discover more and truly enjoy each other’s company.
I left with warmth in my heart and all ready for the next leg of my journey – onwards to Cumbria!
Joining Cathy as she has gone on an adventure of her own today, with her vases, for In a Vase on Monday
What a lovely visit – that garden is full of delights and surprises.
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It certainly is and there are so many more than I have shown. 🙂
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Oh deary me – I am blushing after reading your heart-warming post and all those comments 😘 It is a real eye-opener reading an objective review of the garden like this, but actually sharing the garden and afternoon with you was enough pleasure in itself and I only wish we had had longer together. Thank you so much for including me in your plans – and Noelle is quite right in praising you for your comprehensive ‘weaving’!
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Awww! Thank you Cathy. 🙂 ❤
Yes to more time together – if I am passing your way again, maybe in a season with more daylight hours, I will definitely contact you to see if we can meet.
I do enjoy making links and being part this wonderful community of ours. ❤ 🙂 ❤
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It just went so quickly, didn’t it? Like you, I find it works well looking for opportunities to visit blogging friends as part of a bigger journey
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Oh Cathy, could you remind me of the name of the hellebore? I just love the leaves.
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Yes, it’s Helleborus × ericsmithii ‘Winter Moonbeam’ – I think all the ericsmithii ones have these beautiful veined leaves. The flowers (on this one at least) have a different habit from the norm, with several clusters of blooms
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Wonderful! Thank you. Hellebores seem to grow well for me, so I will have a look for Winter Moonbeam – what a wonderfully romantic name.
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It should be easy to find as it is not an uncommon variety – there is a Winter Sunbeam or Sunshine too.
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A lovely arrangement and how nice to see more pictures of Cathy’s fabulous garden. It sounds as if you had a wonderful trip.
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I really did, thank you Chloris. 🙂
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What fun! It’s wonderful that you two kindred spirits got to meet.
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Absolutely! We have more in common than I thought, it was such fun to spend such quality time with Cathy. 🙂 ❤
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Wonderful!! love to see it all. Your vase is beautifully colorful and I amazed at roses this late. Your perspective on Cathy’s garden is fantastic, thanks I enjoyed seeing all the art in the garden. Happy Monday and safe travels.
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Thank you so much – I am glad you enjoyed the photos – I LOVED taking them – all with Cathy’s permission of course! 🙂
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What a wonderful trip! Your arrangement for Cathy was beautiful, Sandra – I’m as impressed with the Hesperantha as I am with the rose. Thank you for sharing your photos of Cathy’s garden as well – it’s always fun to see someone’s garden through a different set of eyes.
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Yes, it is understandable that Cathy mainly takes photos of her plants and flower beds, but there is so much more to see and enjoy.
Hesperantha seems to like my soggy garden!
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Your bunch of flowers for Cathy is really lovely…. especially the rose! I am so glad you were able to meet up and see her garden. That is something I hope to do in the future too. The art in Cathy’s garden is always inspirational and I also feel I should have more art in my own garden now. Thank you so much for sharing!
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I hope you do get to see Cathy’s garden, it really is well worth a visit and of course Cathy has stories to tell about each plant and feature: an enriching experience. 🙂
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What a wonderful imaginative garden and so great to meet a fellow blogger.
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It is lovely to meet fellow bloggers. I think I have met 8 including you! 🙂 ❤
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I’m so pleased I had lunch before delving into your post. I linked into Nanacathy, and enjoyed her post on Lydiard Park which was my go to place almost on a weekly basis, then I get to see parts of Cathy’s garden through your eyes, then I get introduced to Kahil Gibran. I have a tour of your craft and read about “Sandra from Wild Daffodil organised some of us who had participated in the Untangled Threads Stitchbook project { soon to be exhibited at the Harrogate Knitting and Stitching show}”. What a talented lady you are, and many thanks for weaving in so much to your posts. Oh nice Vase by the way.
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Oh Wow! Noelle! I am absolutely delighted to know that you delved fully into the post and found things to enjoy and found links to your own happy memories. Isn’t blogging a treat!
Thank you so much for your kind words.
❤ ❤ ❤
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Oooh, those dancing hares!
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I know!!! Lovely aren’t they.
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The vase is lovely, Sandra. Glad you were able to make the trip to see Cathy’s garden creation. I enjoyed seeing the highlights from your perspective. I’m sure those rusty rabbits brought delight!
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They certainly did, and there were so many other gorgeous details to enjoy. 🙂
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What a fabulous garden, thanks for the visit.
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So glad to have you along.
Hot Princess brought you two Cathys together – it felt like a lovely bloggy link. ❤
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What a lovely visit! That garden looks gorgeous and I think I understand the ‘cosy’ – some gardens just give you a hug! I also know what you mean about more art in the garden – I just have to find the right pieces!
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Yes! Cathy’s garden definitely gave me a hug! 🙂
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Beautiful space.
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It is! 🙂
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