Rousham House and Gardens

Hi Everyone,

This week I took a trip with some work colleagues to see Rousham House and Gardens roughly 12 miles North of Oxford. This beautiful 17th century building and surrounding land represents the first phase of landscape gardening with its idyllic ponds, romantic statues and enchanting woodland paths. The gardens feature classic 17th and 18th century designs with a surrounding ha-ha and a folly in the distant skyline known as the 'Eyecatcher'.

http://www.rousham.org/

Ha-has were used to create a sunken barrier between gardens and fields which kept animals away from the house while preserving the natural uninterrupted view to the landscape beyond. A folly is a building built for only decorative purposes such as a sham ruin on the horizon or a mock ruin set in woods.

One of the many stone statues  placed in key positions around the woods.

Fairly easy to find the house has a small car park and a ticket machine where we paid the fee of £6 per person to enter. Upon arriving at the house we decided to begin by following the path which led us through the woods and back to the house via the walled garden. Winding through the wood the path takes you on charming walk back in time and across the world to Ancient Rome. Past grey stone statues of gods and past the seven-arched praeneste decorated with coloured stone urns you turn the corner to a large octagonal pond fed by a grotto set into the hillside. The grotto is a nostalgic salute to classical Italian Renaissance design. Covered in dark moss and contrasted with vibrant ferns the grotto cools an observing guest which its gentle trickle of water. 

The seven arched praeneste.

The grotto at the octagonal pond.

The path leads on with a rille set in stone curving through the woods to bring you to the 17th century cold bathing pool and wash house. Built in the late 17th century the bathing pool was primarily used in the summer and autumn by guests and house residents to bathe outdoors. Although inviting on a hot day I can't help but to imagine how cold the bath must be some days and shiver.

At the end of the woodland walk the path ends with the gate to the walled garden. The walled garden encompasses herbaceous borders, beautiful dahlia beds, a small parterre, vegetable beds, a pigeon house and espalier apple trees. The bollywood coloured cultivars of Dahlias are a surprising and outstanding change to the romantic Italian feel the woods envisage. The walled garden shouts summer with its ripe apples and pears and colourful cut flower beds.

At the end of this great tour of the gardens we headed back to the ticket machine shelter to pick ourselves up some free apples held in crates from the espalier trees in the walled gardens.

I will definitely be visiting Rousham House and Gardens again. It has become one of my firm favourites of this summer. It is well worth a visit if you are in the area but be aware that no dogs are allowed on the grounds or children under the age of 15.

Thanks for reading,

Curiously Muddy.

P.S Some more pictures from the day.

The Dahlia border.

Red and White Dahlia in the border.

The octagonal pond.

Milton Keynes

Hi everyone,

This weekend I spent the day in Milton Keynes exploring and shopping, mostly shopping. Famous for its roundabouts Milton Keynes has plenty to offer for those looking for an easy day trip. Although interesting I thought the town felt soulless and harsh with concrete and glass featuring heavily and streets and roads set out in a grid patterns with no deviation.

An overall thought provoking day out but I won't be rushing back to Milton Keynes soon.

Thanks for reading,
Curiously Muddy

Buckinghamshire Railway Centre

Hi everyone,

Exhibit at the Buckinghamshire railway centre.

Last Sunday I spent a couple of hours at the interesting and informative Buckinghamshire Railway Centre. Run under the passionate care of volunteers the centre includes a small cafe and gift shop, a railway museum, free steam train rides and a miniature railway for children and adults. 

http://bucksrailcentre.org/ 

When I arrived at the centre's car park I was pleased to find plenty of car parking which slowly filled up throughout the morning. After paying the ticket entry fee -£11- I began to wander through and around the train exhibitions. Roughly following the map I was given I found my way to the miniature railway ride. Set separately from the rest of the train lines it provides an area for children to play freely.  

The miniature railway offers children and adults a chance to enjoy a short ride through the trees surrounding the centre. I enthusiastically paid the ticket master £1 to have a go.  In and among the trees were old battered toys tugging at the strings of nostalgia and offering added curiosity to what would be around the next corner.    

Feeling like a kid again, I happily decided to follow the circular route indicated on the map which took me over the old railway bridge past the museum and back to the cafe where I started. 

Before I left I got the chance to experience the steam train ride which takes you back and forth around the centre's railway tracks in a well cared for and loved steam train. 

Museum wall featuring railway signs from across the country.

A great morning or afternoon out for both adults and children alike which I really enjoyed and would highly recommend to those passing through the area.

Thanks for reading,
Curiously muddy

University of Oxford Botanic Garden

Hi Everyone, 

Last week I had the pleasure of being able to visit the University of Oxford Botanic Garden. In the centre of Oxford it is fairly easy to find as it is it well signposted and the website gives accurate information on the best way to get to the garden via car and public transport.

https://www.botanic-garden.ox.ac.uk/

I was very fortunate that day as the sun was shining brilliantly and the temperature felt almost Mediterranean. With the beautiful sunshine though came the inevitable need for sun cream and ice lollies. Upon arrival I was greeted by two polite and friendly members of staff who as I paid for my admission charge - a very reasonable £5- gave me a map and pointed me in the direction of the small coffee stall beside the canal. With coffee cup in hand I found my way to the small conservatory and glasshouses.

Although small, these glasshouses have an excellent range of well-cared for plants showcasing  favourites such as Begonias, Fuchsias and Pelargoniums as well as many others. The glasshouses have been split off into sections such as the Palm house, the Succulent house and the Carnivorous house allowing visitors to appreciate plant diversity at its best.

Begonia sp. in the conservatory.

The glasshouses led me out into a new area of the garden focusing on medicinal and culinary herbs. The elongated rectangular beds were vibrant with colour, and recognisable plants such as Runner Beans and Lavandula were dotted throughout the display. 

Set against a wall, the herbaceous border was in full swing and stole the show with it's towering perennials and bursts of colour.

The herbaceous border in late August at Oxford Botanic Garden.

Although the herbaceous border was indeed spectacular, my favourite area of the garden was the grass borders reminiscent of Piet Oudolf's designs.These grasses had thrown up golden seed heads while purple Echinacea and blue Echinops captured my attention with their flashes of cool colours as I followed the flowing paths through and around the borders.

Grass wildlife borders.

I really enjoyed my visit to University of Oxford Botanic Garden and I would highly recommend that if anyone is in the area then they schedule in part of their day to visit.  


Thanks for taking the time to read my post.
Curiously Muddy.

From the old things to the new.

Hi everyone,

I have decided to revamp my blog and use it to review places I visit and share my experiences while I am studying my one great passion- gardening- because of this I have decided to delete all my old posts in an effort to use this blog solely for the purpose previously mentioned. I am hoping to update regularly, probably once a week, but I know I am not very good to keeping to a schedule so it may be longer between posts. 

I hope you all enjoy reading and thank you very much,

Curiously Muddy.