A WARM WELCOME TO BOUSSAC

A WARM WELCOME

I love opening the gate to our garden in Boussac after we've arrived.  The familiar squeak of the gate as it swings open,  reveals the pretty garden. 

I was delighted to notice a couple of Peonies in flower and a couple about to flower.  This is the first time that we have arrived in time to catch them in bloom.  We inherited these Peonies from the previous owner and I'm not too partial to the very strong magenta pink of the blooms.  Deirdre my neighbour has a couple of  pale pink peonies in her garden which I covet!  I ought to get more organised this holiday and plant some for next year if I can find any.

Deirdre's pale pink Peonies

My magenta peonies..

This area in France  is experiencing a bit of a drought at the moment,  and I noticed the Hydrangeas looked a little parched.  

The sprinkler going

Our neighbour, and one of my oldest friends, Deirdre always has us over for dinner the night we arrive in Boussac.  It is always a happy occasion, lots of laughter and delicious food.   After arriving,  I walked over to her house, to lend a hand, just in time to meet Sarah, a local lady, arriving laden with roses.   

 The food below was delicious and plentiful!

I love this view of the haybales from our bathroom

Views through the front door and the hoses going

Some more local roses kindly delivered by Sarah

After living in hotels for the past two weeks,  its great being able to prepare our meals again.

Another lovely neighbour crept into our garden early one morning and left these fresh eggs laid by his hens.  We enjoyed his home made wild dandelion marmalade with our croissants and  his home grown sweet peas are on the sideboard.  

I'm enjoying my favourite breakfast again!

We visited Knole on our garden tour and I am re-reading this biography which I found on the bookshelves.  It all makes more sense now!

These large windows next to the dining table,  opening out to the garden
I've had a quiet couple of days fighting off a fluey bug.  I watched Philomena from the sofa and the last two episodes of Suits!

Hope you're all having a happy week!

THE COTSWOLDS

THE COTSWOLDS.

BARNSLEY HOUSE, BROADWAY AND DAYLESFORD 

Barnsley House

We lived in Cheltenham for two years at the end of the eighties and I took to English life like a duck to water.  I had always loved all things English and I put it down to all the English books I read as a child.  The hedgerows, names of flowers and English life have always somehow been familiar to me.

Our return visits to England have been more restricted to  London and close surrounds and it was our garden itinerary that took us back to the Cotswolds.    So much of our garden tour has been nostalgic.  I had almost forgotten how beautiful the Cotswolds and Gloucestershire are.  We loved the hills and dales,  majestic trees,  stone walls and hedgerows, and of course,  the beautiful stone buildings.   The gardens - both public and private are extraordinary.  

Our stay at Barnsley House was very pleasant.  The hotel staff are very friendly and welcoming and I always find that this makes such a difference.   Rosemary Verey's garden is still lovely but perhaps a little untidy and in need of a little TLC.    The hotel has become very popular lunch destination for locals and the food is good.    Barnsley House is also in demand as a wedding venue and the iconic 'cupcake' topiaries are now draped with fairy lights!  The building itself is a beauty and the terrace outside is a wonderful place to sit when the sun is shining. 

I love the lumpy, bumpy topiary.

 

'The Potager' at breakfast

BROADWAY

I think my favourite village was Broadway.  It was still quiet, as the season hasn't really got going and  we were able to stroll down the high street without seeing any buses or too many tourists.  It was all very pretty with not an ugly house or building in sight.  Mr R-I thought it was a good idea to walk to Broadway from the Dormy House where we were staying.  May I add that it is a 3 mile walk, most of which is on a steep downhill.  Those of you who've had hip replacements will attest to the fact that walking downhill can be uncomfortable! It was also quite a hot day and I have to say that it was not my finest hour!! 

The Broadway Deli, selling good produce.

This dapper gentleman has been selling ice-creams in Broadway for over thirty years!  The vanilla-bean in a small cone was delicious and it went a long way in restoring my humour after that steep walk!  

The Broadway Cookshop

A very old Wisteria spanning three buildings

Look at the age of this Wisteria.  It is chained to the old stone walls.  I have seen photos of the climber in flower and it is a wonderful sight!  Great colour choice for the door.

Our stay at Dormy House (above)  just outside Broadway was great.  A great deal of money has been spent on updating this hotel and it shows.  

This delicious salad was a favourite choice.

DAYLESFORD

Visiting Daylesford was a highlight.  Although we have been to Daylesford in Pimlico many times,  it was our first visit to the Oxfordshire Farmshop.  Being a fan of all things organic and healthy,  I felt so at home here and we were impressed by the quality and variety of  the produce. We had lunch at the Farmshop and ordered roast chicken which was delicious.  The service was warm and friendly,  and I look forward to future visits!  The Haybarn is their Wellness centre and is filled with the beautiful Bamford body products, candles and more.  It smells heavenly in there and if only I had had more time,  I could have had one of their treatments.

On another day, we had lunch at the Wild Rabbit in Kingham which is also part of the Daylesford experience.    How could I resist roast beef and Yorkshire pudding?  So tender and delicious and served with home made horseradish sauce.

Fresh flowers and plants outside the Farmshop

The front entrance to the Wild Rabbit.

Our final night in England,  was spent in Oxford at The Old Parsonage Hotel.  We enjoyed a delightful dinner with friends at Gees.

Another very old Wisteria in the courtyard at The Old Parsonage.

Gees - which is in housed in an old greenhouse.  Surrounded by 'walled gardens'  it was a delightful experience.  The photo above is not my own.  The next stop is Boussac in France and then on to Gordes where we are meeting all the family.  

LE MANOIR AUX QUAT'SAISONS

I know it's been all about gardens on this blog lately,  but I do want to share our one night's experience at Le Manoir aux quat' saisons,  Raymond Blanc's famous hotel and restaurant,  just outside Oxford.

We visited Le Manoir 29 years ago!  I'm not sure why we waited so long to return,  but what a credit to Raymond Blanc that, after all these years, the hotel has gone from strength to strength.  Michael and I were hugely impressed with the outstanding service.  I don't think I've ever experienced this level of cosseting before!

  

Our welcome was warm and efficient,  our room and of course, the dinner,  was superb.  The gardens have changed and there are numerous garden sculptures creating whimsy and humour.  Chris Beardshaw has recently designed a new flower meadow, planted beneath some old apple trees.

The English Water Garden is fed by natural springs.  These gardens were originally dug by the monks who occupied the site in the 16th Century.

The vegetable and herb gardens are very impressive.  The gardens are organically managed. 

The approach to the hotel.  Note the mortar and pestle on the left.

One of the three sitting rooms.  

The wide passages outside the bedrooms

Our beautiful bedroom, 'Hollyhock'.    What a treat it was!  Once the Master bedroom of the Cromwell family.  The wallpaper is hand painted.

A beautiful soap next to the bath and a little muslin bag provided so that the guest may take it home.

The food was out of this world...

The abundant breakfast buffet

The gardens at Le Manoir are special.

A view through the wall to the water garden below.

Unusual way of growing Ceanothus on decorative trellises.

A little buxus collection

I spy more Aliums

Loved this dark ruby Astrantia

Rows of Hidcote Lavender lining the pathway

Chris Beardshaw's flower meadow.

'The two acres of vegetable gardens are overseen by a bronze scarecrow, modelled on Raymond Blanc himself!'

The Japanese Garden and below the English Water Garden.

I do hope we will return very soon to this wonderful place.