GARDENS

We set out before breakfast on a stroll in the New Forest, but got lost before we started.  We'd been given directions by several of the staff at our hotel, telling us to turn left on the road outside the hotel, take another, immediate left, and we'd see the start of a two-mile hike past a five-bar gate.  Turns out we didn't walk far enough after the second left turn...

... it sounded like we'd come to the gate pretty soon, but it turns out we'd have needed to walk a half mile before finding it.  Not to be discouraged, we invented our own walk--ending up in sodden territory that left us (Ellie particularly) with wet shoes and socks.   Still, it was a nice walk under the trees and across meadows...

and past lovely cottages including this thatched gem...

A good (too good!) English breakfast, with scrambled eggs, bacon and sausage and fried tomato (I passed on the blood pudding and the fried mushroom), toast and marmalade.  More food than I needed, but it tasted so good...!  Then off for the day, with a first stop at Mottisfont Abbey...

... a mansion that was lovelier from the outside, we thought, than within.  There was a substantial, but not terribly interesting art collection--except perhaps to those dedicated to English art of the early 20th century' and a few charming details, like this egg...

... and a delightful note from a maid invited to view her boss's laying in his coffin.  She writes...

And here's a nice view from the house down into a nicely manicured lawn:

The very beautiful walled gardens at Mottisfont are famous for their roses, but the roses were not yet in season so we had to settle for some magnificent tulips and a variety of other flowers.  On the way out, we strolled briefly along the shallow river...

... where huge rainbow trout were so plentiful you could have waded in and picked off a couple without difficulty.

We had two other stops planned, but managed only one of them--so entranced by the Sir Harold Hillier Gardens we could not tear ourselves away.  We were fortunate to find the rhododendrons in full bloom --an absolutely glorious sight, massive banks of them in so many different colors you'd think yourself, as we did, in paradise.  I have always loved these exotic shrubs, which grow best in acidy soil with plenty of moisture--and are therefore nowhere to be found in Southern California.  The driveway at the Rectory in Bedfordshire where I grew up was lined with them, and they evoke for me powerful memories of childhood.  I really have no words for the joy of seeing them so lush and rich and plentiful... so I'll stop here and simply let you see some images:

The gardens were also delightfully enhanced by (mostly small scale) sculptures dotted here and there, surprises to come upon as you made the tour...

  Here's the lady of the lake...

Almost too much beauty for one day!  We arrived back at our hotel in time for a good rest--and a bit of blogging--before heading downstairs for another excellent dinner.