The joys of ambling…

Monday is my day off.   Monday is also a day of innocence, when I have not got round to looking at the calendar and acknowledged what deadlines are approaching.  After all, why sacrifice the moment, when it can be savoured.

Today had been potentially earmarked as a ‘garden day’.  Work needs doing before the ground gets too cold, but sufficient had been achieved over the weekend.  We determined that the soil improver, purchased at £2 a bag from the Household Waste and Recycling Centre to help lighten the clay, needed a day to settle. With the sense of urgency reduced we departed on a fact-finding mission to the glories of the gardens at Hidcote.

While the trees are still quite green, Hidcote was looking decidedly autumnal. Some borders had already been quite heavily pruned. The irises, for instance, had been cut down to just an inch or so.  

Because of the cloud cover, the plants were still embellished with early morning droplets of dew and rain, looking very attractive despite the lack of sunshine.

We admired some low-level plants with pretty leaves. 

 

Hidcote is somewhat lacking in plant labels, so a nearby gardener was asked if he could offer an identification.  He confessed that he was just a volunteer, but he was certain that 'the guy in the hat' a few yards further on would have the answer.  Words of wisdom were sought from 'the guy in the hat'.  He came to examine the plant.  

He paused.  

"I know it begins with A...."

He pondered. 

All the other volunteers stopped work and looked expectantly at their chief, waiting with anticipation.  Would he pass this test of plant identification?  

From deep within his floral memory bank he retrieved an answer. 

"Achilliea" he pronounced triumphantly.  

The volunteers smiled happily and continued their tasks, satisfied that their boss had passed the test.  

The sun shone even brighter.

We treated ourselves to some soup in the cafe.

"It is cabbage soup", said the assistant apologetically. It contained cheese, so what was not to like! The accompanying bread was good too!

October is one of the 2 major birthday months in our family, so having enjoyed the glories of Hidcote, we headed off to find a garden centre, as they usually stock a good range of birthday cards. The National Trust do sell cards, but they weren’t quite what was required.  We discovered a new-to-us garden centre just outside Stratford.  I mananged to solve several birthday dilemas, but I cannot tell you what my purchases were, for these things must be revealed first to the recipient - one of the major rule’s of birthdays!

So an 'amble'y day, was also a successful day.  

After dinner I remembered Sunday, so out came the Concordances, as I started to look at the reception Jesus got at the beginning of his ministry.

Here endeth the first day, of the week.