Fowberry Mains Open Garden

Hello! Aren't the Delphiniums above GLORIOUS! They are in one of my favourite Open gardens, and last Sunday was the second time I've visited this garden.

The photos I took last year are quite different to the photos I took on our most recent visit, they show the spectacular views from the garden, you can see last years photographs here.

Last year I went on my own, Hugo was busy, but this year we went together, en famille, with the doggies. I was so looking forward to this return visit, and sharing it with Hugo. Not all gardens welcome visitors taking their dogs, but surprisingly, quite a few do. We're always very careful to check on the Open Garden website, to see if dogs are allowed. If they aren't, it isn't a big deal, we just leave them at home, or with their Auntie Anne. This garden had nothing about dogs not being allowed, and Hugo double checked. So it was with some dismay that on walking up the drive to this house, the man who owned the house marched up to us, and I really mean MARCHED, and informed us in quite an aggressive tone that dogs are not allowed in his garden. Well, we did say that we'd checked the website, and there was nothing to say dogs are not allowed, whereupon he insisted that there was. We remonstrated that honestly, if there had been, we would have left the dogs at home. So he strode, or marched, over to his desk, leafed through the Open gardens booklet, and then let out an "OH!" And admitted that nothing was there to say dogs aren't allowed. At this point, his Mother-in-Law stepped in and tried to smooth things over. She would take the dogs no trouble at all, they couldn't be left in our car because it was a hot day, and she asked Mr. Officious if she could walk them across the yard, to which he did not look pleased, infact seemed very unwilling. We ended up tying them to the desk, paying our entrance fee, and heading straight for a cup of tea, and cake.

Whilst we were sitting eating the delicious cake (and this was the best we've ever had at an open garden, the food was better than delicious!), the wife of Mr. Officious came over to us and apologised profusely, said we could have the dogs in the garden, and generally made us feel much better. Infact she was really very lovely, and was worried that they had neglected to state there was no disabled access, as well as no dogs, in the info on their garden.

But you know what? It was difficult to enjoy the garden after that initial little encounter. We felt very ill at ease. These Open gardens are meant to be relaxing and enjoyable and happy occasions. We left the dogs tied up at the desk, and could hear Douglas crying to be with us, which was a bit embarrassing. Hugo ended up carrying him around in his bag, whilst leaving Ellie tied up. It was all a bit ridiculous really. I did manage to have a quick wander round the garden, feeling uncomfortable, but enjoying the beauty of the garden, and it really is fabulous, I love it.

What I'll do is let you wander through my photos, enjoying the abundance of flowers, the touch of wildness, the exuberance and joy that's gone in to making this garden.

Hugo lurks with Douglas, above.

I was rather taken with this Rose in the picture above, and apparently it was getting a lot of attention from visitors to the garden.

Let's have a closer look shall we..............

Although this Rose is more puple in colour it's called "Rhapsody in Blue", from David Austin, you can find it here. I've had a Rose die on me in one of my pots, so this could be a contender as its replacement.

So there we go, a beautiful garden don't you think? I hope you enjoyed your little saunter through the garden....................... Have a lovely weekend! Love Vanessa xxx

 

Comments

[Sue]

I need delphiniums. What a perfectly heavenly garden despite officious owner. Thank you for sharing your lovely photos.

[Kate]

Gorgeous indeed.
Oh for enough space for some Delphiniums!

[June]

Lovely photos. Shame your day was marred by this man. Some people can behave badly. I remember a woman in an antiques shop asking us to take Our Daughter out of the shop as she had a sweet in her mouth. She wasn't playing with it - putting it in her mouth and taking it out otherwise I would have understood some of her concern. Her attitude made me want to take the sweet and stick in on the furniture but that would have been childish!
June

[Annie]

I love to visit gardens that allow dogs, I always feel as if that means the garden owners will be people I could enjoy a cuppa and a chat with. I don't quite understand people who don't like dogs, well nicely behaved dogs with responsible owners anyway.

Wilbur the mini wire says 'Hi again' to Douglas and Ellie by the way :D

[Carole]

What a lovely garden, but what a shame about the bad start.
Love Carole from Rossendale xx

[Catherine]

I'm glad the day turned out better than it started. The flowers are breathtaking! Cx

[Liz W in Missouri, USA (With Lucy)]

Well - perhaps Mr. Garden was having a bad day and you happened upon him at just the wrong time. But it sounds like Mrs Garden was perfectly lovely. I'm sure in the end Ellie and Douglas were none the worse for wear - but it is a shame that you had discomfort in such a lovely place. You're right - the rose is beautiful - I don't think I've ever seen one like it. You certainly seem to have caught the garden at it's best with everything blooming and showing off so beautifully. It looks like a nice day.

[harmony and rosie]

What a miserable old so-and-so, he definitely got out of the wrong side of bed that morning. Such a shame too, because the garden is stunning, such a riot of colour.

Wishing you all a happy, sunny weekend xx

[Teresa Kasner]

Dear Vanessa, thanks for sharing so many wonderful photos of that garden. Sorry you had to deal with an old poop. Glad you got to see it anyway. Buddy waves his paw at D and E. Hope you pop over to my blog and read my story about my rock festival.. :-)
((hugs)), Teresa :-)

[clare]

WOW i love your blog, I am so glad i found it, what FAB flowers. I have just started knitting and crochet lately, very new to it, but completely addicted already!!! Love the little slippers on your side bar!

[Helen]

Gorgeous garden pictures, I would so love to grow delphiniums but as soon as I plant some the snails just munch them all up! The colours in your pictures are so beautiful, what a wonderful garden - shame about the upsetting incident though, hope it didn't spoil it too much for you. Have a great weekend, Vanessa.
Helen x

[ilsa-fay]

Absolutely gorgeous garden -the delphiniums and foxgloves are breath-taking! I just adore that blue rose! I'll have to try and get one of those. Stunning!:-)

[Jenni at Baa-me Kniits]

What a shame about the 'dog thing'....you would have enjoyed it so much more without that bit of palaver!

The flowers are lovely and that rose is amazing...purple!! Who knew?? :-)

[Jenni at Baa-me Kniits]

What a shame about the 'dog thing'....you would have enjoyed it so much more without that bit of palaver!

The flowers are lovely and that rose is amazing...purple!! Who knew?? :-)

[Victoria]

Why doesn't my garden look like that! x

[bohomumma]

what a shame, I know just what you mean, something like that just marrs the entire experience, leaves you wrong footed for the rest of the day. Sounds like Mrs Garden was much nicer - why bother opening up your garden if you aren't going to be welcoming to people who are, after all paying over their hard earned money to make the effort to come and visit. Flowers do look lovely though, and I thought your dress looked fab (been catching up on a few posts!)

[Jessie]

Hi Vanessa, what a terible shame that man was so rude. I feel sorry for his poor wife don't you?! I had a similar incident happen to me while visiting the mechanical music museum in the Coltswolds. I ended up in tears when the rude horrible man there shouted at me. I hope this doesn't put you off going again, although I must say I won't ever ne visiting that museum again! Your photos are beyond stunning by the way! :)xx

[Catherine]

What absolutely gorgeous photos. Thank you so much for your lovely comments on my trio of make-do-and-mend cushions.

I have been scrolling through your earlier posts and I did not know which to comment on first, they are all so interesting. But the post about the vintage knitting patterns is brilliant - thanks too for all the links to suppliers, pattern resources and more.

xx
c

[Siobhan]

I would have been upset by the dog thing too. I think I would have stomped around that beautiful garden rather crossly. What a shame he was rude - especially when he found the error to be theirs. I can imagine he is going to have a dog filled summer, if the brochure doesn't say otherwise.

The garden pictures though are beautiful. I can only imagine the work that must go into something like that. At least the cakes were good. The rose really is beautiful isn't it? A gorgeous colour and most unusual (at least it is to me). Actually it reminds me of a dearly loved dress I had that my mum made for me as a child.

[Stephanie]

Dear Vanessa,

I am so sorry your day was clouded by such a grumpy man. Your poor dogs and poor you. I imagine you tried to enjoy the beauty around you - for that garden really is magical - while seething inside.

Sigh!

Anyway your photographs of high-summer flowers put a skip in my step first thing i the morning. It's the structural beauty of flowers and plants that fascinate me as well as the colours, of course. Don't get me started on the architecture of gardens; it's one of my favourite subjects.

Stephanie

[Mellissa]

Hi Vanessa, what a beautiful garden and lovely photos. It was a shame that you had such a bad reception with the doggies. I feel like a social outcast sometimes with mine (he's a jack russell x with beagle), as not everyone is doggie friendly. Love your blog and will pop back to read more soon. bee x

[Lynne]

What a shame, I can well imagine that would have marred the visit for me too. Having said that, you did get some fabulous photos. Love the one of Hugo with Douglas peeping over his shoulder.