Today we were supposed to be entertaining friends for lunch but sadly one of them was struck down with a migraine so we have postponed to another time. Those fudge brownies with fresh raspberry buttercream, baked on Friday night, will be travelling with us to Karen's tomorrow - we've been invited for coffee where we house-sat for three weeks, outside Dorking. We're keen to see how the house renovations have gone, and to see Bella the Exterminator and 'the girls' (chickens) again.
So... what to do with a whole afternoon up our sleeves unexpectedly?
For many years I've been meaning to visit the Royal Horticultural Society garden at Wisley, which is now only a 20-minute drive from us. A quick Google revealed that this weekend is the Taste of Autumn Festival at Wisley, so off we went.
The weather has been disappointing for me in the past few weeks. Here we are, halfway through Autumn, and we're yet to have a day under 14ºC. Today it was 20ºC! Where the HECK is the chill in the air, the hint of wintry days to come? On top of the unseasonably warm temperatures, it's been really, really humid. The Maree Curse strikes again. Yes, you're welcome Britain. Warmest Autumn since records began.
So... not ideal conditions for enjoying Autumn foliage but all the same we had a lovely day.
We enjoyed browsing all the stalls of artisan food and drink, and of course sampling some of the wares!
Wisley is such a beautiful place. It's the second most visited paid entry garden in the UK (after Kew Gardens), and about a million people pass through its gates every year. The attractions include a huge glasshouse that has desert, tropical and temperate zone plants. There are also Australian, New Zealand and South African gardens. Kevin felt the need to walk through the Australian section - enjoying the familiar smell of eucalypts. I didn't.
We enjoyed a beautiful stroll along the River Wey, through the pinetum to the bird hide. It was a relief to get away from the throng and from the ever-present roar of the motorway up the other end of Wisley. How I long to be back at the other end of Surrey! I miss the countryside. Living in the London Borough of Epsom and Ewell - leafy though it is - does not compare with quiet, thickly wooded surrounds of Frensham. I miss pheasants, people in wellies and sounds of silence.
All in all, a very pleasant way to spend a Saturday afternoon.
Until next time,
- Maree xo
Love the autumn colours Maree, even if the the temperature is a bit out of wack for this time of year. The opposite here, still cold in the hills. I know what you mean about missing the silence. When I go outside at night on the balcony here it is pitch black apart from my fairy lights, the stars and the moon and all I can hear are owls, the occasional wombat rummaging through the grass and sometimes an upset magpie that has had a dispute with a possum over a tree branch. At first the silence was so eerie - no cars, planes, nothing. I couldn't sleep - I never sleep anyway but the silence made it worse until I got used to it - but it is so nice not to have the P - Plater hoons doing their screeching circle work in the park like they used to at our old place - hopefully you do not have such people in the UK. It looks like a very pleasant area. Hope the motorway sound becomes less bothersome for you after a while. Best to you and KevinxxxKris
ReplyDeleteKris, the colours have really only just started to kick in during the past week - it's been such a warm Autumn. The next two weeks should see everything at its peak.
DeleteI can tell you I have not missed the Bogan factor. Luckily we rarely even hear a loud car here. It just doesn't seem to be a 'thing' in the UK - I think because the streets are so narrow and crowded and the motorways so choked... no point in having a hotted-up car!
And guess what - I saw my first deer outside our flat this morning! I surprised it in the carpark :-)