Tuesday 11 June 2013

Spring in the garden

Hello dear blogging friends.
We are back and blogging again after a gap. Time flies by and we can't believe its been so long since we posted.
We can't wait to visit you all.


A rare moment reading a magazine and soaking up some sunshine with Mr Bingley.

 petals (like snow) in May


On Sunday, there was an Open Gardens charity event in Binfield Heath.
7 gardens were on show. 
My favourite featured a canopy of Wisteria and a Golden Shower Tree (Cassia fistula).
It was devine. 


The Alliums are up and almost fully open.
Such bonny flowers.

Lord and Lady Nuffield and their home.

The National Trust have just taken over Nuffield Place, the home of 
William Morris (1877-1963), a car manufacturer (Morris Minors) and Philanthropist.

These are his tools, housed in a walk-in cupboard in his bedroom (yes!).

I love his travel set.

Lord Nuffield gave away so much money during his lifetime. 
The equivalent of £600 million.
His wife often used the bus.
No airs or graces and their beautiful, modest home reflects this.
The garden is being restored according to the plans laid out in the 1930s.

Worth a visit.

25 comments:

  1. That was good to read and more than interesting too.

    BTW, my son and his new bride (as of May 25) only just came back from London...where they went for their honeymoon. They stayed at a hotal in the central part of London the whole while and were able to walk to all of the historic locations they were so eager to see. They did take the underground to some other places of interest. They were blessed with superb weather too.

    Boys, you look wonderful and perhaps your mama will be able to capture you running in the garden. Always a treat for me. xox

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  2. I always enjoy your posts.
    Seeing what you and the boys have been doing.
    If I lived near you, that tour would have been something I'd do.

    Pet those two cuties from me,
    JC

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  3. Darcy and Bingley...so good to see your handsome faces and oh how pretty your grass looks

    The garden tour pictures were wonderful. So pretty and colorful.
    We just love seeing how folks lived. We've watched several PBS programs on homes on tour sponsored by the National Trust...just lovely too
    Hugs Madi your BFFF and the Mom

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  4. It's so nice to see you and all those flowers sure are pretty!

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  5. That wisteria and Golden Shower Tree combo is outstanding.

    Great to have you back!

    Purrs,
    The Chans

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  6. Nice to see you back. Your garden is looking pretty. My wisteria is just starting to floer - it didn't floer at all last year!

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  7. Hello welcome back! I love garden visiting, one of my favourite passtimes especially when tea and cakes are involved too. I'm glad Bingley and Darcy are enjoying the sunshine, so is Marmalade too!

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  8. Those are such beautiful cheerful flowers! The boys must be enjoying their lovely garden. :)
    Good to see you back!

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  9. Beautiful gardens and we loved the tour! Happy Tuesday, furriends. XOXO

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  10. Dear Helen,

    Good to hear from you again! This weekend you did what I like best: visiting country houses and pretty gardens. Nuffield house looks worthwhile visiting!

    Happy week,

    Madelief x

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  11. The tour of the gardens must have been amazing, glorious.

    I can imagine it would be rare to find any "aristocrat" who was without airs, as you put it! They were quite the philanthropists.

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  12. So lovely to catch up! And to catch the boys in action, holiday action too. I could totally relate to the desire to take up holidays permanently.

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  13. Glad to see you back here, what a lovely relaxing garden you have and what pretty gardens to visit nearby:)

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  14. Mr Bingley and Mr Darcy!! So so so good to see you are all back in blogland!! Yay!! And what a beautiful ethereal post!! Perfect petals, wafting wisteria, gorgeous gardens and the amazing Nuffield estate!! Fantastic!!

    Take care
    x

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  15. We are so happy to hear from you! And your garden is beautiful...what a great place to hang out, right, Darcy and Bingley??

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  16. What a generous man - puts our current greedy bankers with their ever increasing bonuses to shame. Glad to see you back in Blogland.
    June

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  17. It's so nice to see you again, dear friends. We've missed you so! Thank you for showing us your beautiful garden, and for sharing all about the Nuffield Estate. The Nuffields sound like they were kind and wonderful people.

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  18. Nie to see summer has come to you!

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  19. I shall have to tell my Mom about the tools in the bedroom!! I think that's about the only place my Dad did NOT store his tools and other treasures!!!
    Welcome back!

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  20. Interesting!
    I'd buy a ticket to visit tour your garden...beautiful.

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  21. Hi again Helen,

    I wanted to stop by and wish you all the best for tomorrow's Draw on my giveaway. Here's hoping...

    Brenda

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  22. All of these gardens look amazing. Thank you so much for adding all the awesome photos. The Nuffield home is gorgeous and it is wonderful to know that they were such wonderful kind hearted people.

    Judy @PhD On line

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  23. Beautiful kitties in a gorgeous garden =)
    I've always wanted a garden-a bit difficult whilst living in an apartment in the middle of the city :)

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  24. You are beautiful, and so is your garden! Nice to meet you! Me-Ommmmm

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