Hi everyone! I wonder if anyone guessed where we might have visited last week?
It is somewhere we used to pop into on a whim in pre Corona times!
This time we had to go on line and book in for this visit. We had a Midday entry so we took the 12 minute drive and arrived almost exactly on time!
There were warnings on the road telling us that if we hadn't booked we would be turned away!
This is similar sign by the gardens for anyone who thought they could walk in without coming in their car!
This was taken on our way out but you can see that it was one way only to get in which set the tone for the rest of our visit!
The last time we visited Quarry Bank Mill at Styal was back in March....Link here....now the daffodils are gone and and we also saw lots of flowers that we had missed!
There are crops in the field by the path up to the garden entrance - the only place we could not avoid being passed by a couple walking towards us who hadn't got the sense to walk in single file - the path is quite wide but not the required 2 metres!
Once in the gardens it was one way only and reminders to keep apart.
The newly built visitor centre and cafe waiting to open - who knows when?
The greenhouse roped off but we could see the grapevines growing well!
We had a peep into the small greenhouse too
A couple were sharing a picnic by the sweet peas
No access to our favourite way down by the steps - probably because the handrail would be widely used!
We could still look down there though
Next we came to one of my favourite areas - the Peonies and Irises, sadly most are dying off - still beauty in decay though!
A peony and iris clinging to each other!
We followed directions to the path down to the lower garden.
The bees were loving this
As you can see from this flower it had been raining (when we left home actually) but although it was windy and cool in the car park it was quite warm in the sheltered gardens!
A better view of the new visitor centre.
The directions led us to a path we had never been on before
Even smaller sets of steps were roped off
We were pleased to see that not all rhododendrons were finished.
You can see how steep it is down to the lower garden - thank goodness the path winds it way down slowly!
The gardeners are working hard
Here are the Irises that were on my last post!
Lots of folk having picnics...not for us!
The sun shone briefly and hubby had a shadow for all of ten minutes!
A view we have never seen before as we were not allowed out onto our usual route back!
This is where we came in....
...and went out!
Back in the car park we had a drink of water and a biscuit and it is here I will join Bleubeard and Elizabeth for T Stands For Tuesday.
The whole trip took us just over an hour and a half and we were home in time for lunch....
..one of our favourites, Fish Finger sandwich and salad, and more water!
I do hope you aren't too tired now,I was going to post my latest Journal page but I will save that for my next post if you would like to see it.
Thanks for looking! Take care, we still live in dangerous times!
Chris
16 comments:
Looks like you had a great trip out, thanks for sharing the lovely photos. And your lunch at home looks better than a picnic. Now I'm craving fish fingers again! Happy T Day, hugs, Valerie
It looks like it was a beautiful walk, even if some of the flowers were past their prime. I'm glad you got to visit there again, even if the path was one way. I haven't gone for any walks so far this year. I didn't want to risk going on a trail that was open and running into someone not following the distancing and face mask rules, etc. Happy T-Day!
oh what a beautiful place to spend a pre-booked time! the peonies are especially gorgeous!
Boy, it must have felt good to go on an outing like that. They certainly have it well organized. Most of the gardens look lovely, but, as you say, there's beauty in decay too.
Happy T-Day! Hugs, Eileen xx
So glad you were able to get out and enjoy those gardens. I know how much you love them, Chris. I suspect this new path you had to take also showed you areas you hadn't seen before and you were able to enjoy many of the usual areas, too. I wouldn't eat in the park, either. Looks like you both had plenty of energy and two drinks for us, too. Your food looks grand, and water is always a treat for me, at least when it doesn't come out of MY faucet. Thanks for taking us with you to the gardens and for sharing your meal and water with us for T this Tuesday. I promise not to cry over the peonies.
Oh so nice that you were able to get to that gorgeous garden and grounds again! The photos are just beautiful. I also love the lunch you got to enjoy afterwards. Happy T day!
Hi Chris, thank you so much for sharing this lovely garden area with us. What a beautiful place-hugs Happy T Kathy
A beautiful outing. The flowers just gorgeous even the ones that had passed. Fish fingers makes me think of the 11th Doctor. Fish fingers and custard. 😺 Happy T Day
Oh what beautiful gardens! thank you for sharing your photos of the day. always a treat to see flowers and paths, and your hubby enjoying his meal. what a good sport he is about it! it's encouraging how some of the public places have adapted for the necessary distancing and still be able to be open. Creativity comes in many forms. Happy T day Chris! ;)
Beautiful trip! I checked our Botanical garden on Monday, still closed...
So, thank you for this treat!
Fishfingers in a sandwich? Funny.
Belated happy T-day!
It sounds like you enjoyed your trip out Chris, even though you had to book in advance you seemed to get reasonable weather that day.
Belated T day wishes, have a good rest of the week.
Yvonne xx
Lots of places around here are also doing pre-booking. It is smart. But, we don't have any gorgeous gardens like this around us. Wow. That was truly a feast for my eyes. And worth booking. Thanks for bringing us along and I hope it was a great T day Chris. Now it is my turn to be behind. Hugs-Erika
Our local landscape arboretum is the same way. You have to book a time slot to either drive or walk. I haven't yet. It just wouldn't be the same. I like to wander when I'm there. Take photos and walk as I please.
Happy T day!
Even though there were areas you couldn't enter--what a beautiful visit! Yes, stay safe. :)
What a wonderful walk through the gardens at Quarry Bank Mill. It's one of my favorite gardens too. (My sister lives in Prestbury, so every time we visit her we would also visit the gardens at Styal.(We had NT membership when we lived in the UK).
Most flowers had gone over, but you have been to parts you hadn't seen before so that was a plus.
Thank you for taking me through the gardens.
I'm sorry I'm so late in commenting. I never got round to it.
Sending you hugs,
and a belated Happy T-Day!
Lisca
Wow, so nice to get tickets to visit this fabulous place! The gardens and flowers looks so amazing 😁. Love that photo of your hubby too, such fun ...lol 😉. Sorry I'm so late visiting, I'm not sure where this week has gone and for some reason I thought it was Wednesday today ...lol 😁. Happy T Day wishes! Take care! Hugs, Jo x
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