photography – TRAVEL WORDS

A Garden Walk

Athelhampton Hall, a 15th century manor house, was purchased in 1891 by Alfred Cart de Lafontaine. He commissioned Francis Inigo Thomas to create new gardens. He designed a series of linked gardens with ponds, ham stoned walls and raised terraces which have been maintained and improved over the centuries.

The Great Court with the dominant yew pyramids

The raised stone terrace with a pair of garden pavilions – the houses of Summer and Winter, each with an ornate decorative stone. This is Summer.

The Corona Garden is the principal focal point of the garden rooms, with a scalloped wall and obelisks.

Lion’s Mouth Garden is now a Mediterranean style with donations of plants from Tresco Gardens.

The walled kitchen garden has a tunnel of roses and laburnum.

Lupins, Laburnum, Fringed tulip, Choisya, Common broom, Pink Peony, Yellow ‘Molly the Witch’ peony

Shady walk close to the White Garden and Rose Garden

Ranoms / Wild Garlic near the River Piddle

West Lawn with the 25th century Dovecote. Which does house doves, but unfortunately I was too slow to capture them flying out.

I had a very pleasant wander around the 5 acre grounds on a sunny day. I spent some time sitting in the Lion’s Mouth Garden with a book, relaxing in the sunshine with just birdsong before continuing my wander. I finished with a very nice lunch in the Coach House restaurant. The Tudor house is open for visiting.

Jo’s Monday Walk

Athelhampton House & Gardens
Puddletown
Dorchester
DT2 7LG

Sculpture by the Lakes

Simon and Monique Gudgeon are the creators of Sculpture by the Lakes, with over 100 sculptures in this 26 acre sculpture park many of them around the level meandering paths around the North Lake and Rainbow Lake. It makes for a lovely leisurely stroll through native trees and planting. There are several waterside venues available for private hire and an excellent Pantry offering self-service fresh, seasonal food with plenty of seating outdoors and around the park where to relax and unwind.

Showcasing the work of sculptor Simon Gudgeon and more than twenty other sculptors among the garden designed by Monique.

As Jo loves to be beside water I am sure she’d love this walk:

(please click on an image for an enlargement)

This is a Charles Elliott ‘Verdigris and Gold Sail Sphere’ Handmade Metal Garden Lighting Sphere Sculpture

“Search for Enlightenment” by artist Simon Gudgeon.

‘Leaf Spirit’ by Simon Gudgeon (close-up)

‘Allium’ by artist David Cutler. (close-up)

‘Sphere’ by Simon Gudgeon “Use what talents you possess: the woods would be very silent if no birds sang there except those that sang best.” Henry Van Dyke

‘Isis’ by Simon Gudgeon. The sculpture is inspired by the Egyptian Ibis bird, a wading bird characterized by a long, down-curving bill.

“Family Group” sculpture by artist Beatrice Hoffman

Set in 26 acres alongside Dorset’s River Frome, with lakes, streams, meandering paths and plenty of places to sit it’s somewhere you can leave your busy life behind and enjoy peace and tranquillity in a beautiful and serene environment.

Jo’s Monday Walk

Azalea Steps

Spring Greens

There is nothing like observing the fresh new greens of spring and the stillness of water on a hot day to bring a sense of serenity: a state of calm, peacefulness, and tranquility. Inner peace and stillness.

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #348 | Serenity

Planes, Trains and Automobiles…

In 2005 we decided on a trip to Canada, starting with a flight to Toronto, a train to Vancouver and a ferry over to the Island where we hired a car to get around to some amazing places. So join me on my Canadian trip of a lifetime.

Air: The following images are taken on coming in to land at Toronto as we circled right over the city. Sometimes even having a seat with a wing view can be interesting too.

Sunlight on Wing

Toronto’s CN Tower from the air

Tommy Thompson Park

Train: After a few days exploring Toronto and a quick trip down to Niagara Falls we joined the Canadian train departing from Union Station in the country’s largest city to cross through some of Canada’s most sparsely populated regions. On the first day the panorama changes from the glass skyscrapers of Toronto to the pine trees of Sioux Lookout. Day two took us to Edmonton, crossing Winnipeg River, the Prairies and the lakes of Whiteshell Provincial Park. On the third day the train steadily climbs through the foothills of the Rockies, crossing several rivers and glacial lakes of the most stunning colours. After Jasper the train winds its way through the Yellowhead Pass, the crest of which marks the border of Alberta and British Columbia. The Canadian is in sight of Mount Robson for 16 km before turning sharply south and descending. In the early hours of the morning the mountains suddenly fall away and the Canadian follows the flat green fields along the Fraser River. It arrives at the Pacific Railway Station in Vancouver after a long and astonishing journey.

Via Canada

A Sunset on the move

Grain silos in the Prairies

Boat: On reaching Vancouver the next step of our journey was to travel on the wonderful BC Ferries up and along the Sunshine Coast then over to Vancouver Island. I’m not a very good sailor, but would go on these ferries any time, and if you are lucky, as we were, you might catch a glimpse of a pod or two of Orcas.

Crossing to the Island

Looking Back

Just in Case…

Of course there are many other types of boats on Vancouver Island, so here are a few of the smaller ones.

Comox Harbour at sunset

Ferry Boat Victoria

Houseboat – Fisherman’s Wharf

Road: Of course the journey would not be complete without the use of our lovely Lincoln hire car. She enabled us to get off the highways and to more remote places that were not easily accessible by public transport. On and off ferries to explore the smaller islands of Hornby and Denman, over a logging route to visit Telegraph Cove, along the Pacific Rim coastline to Port Renfrew, Ucluelet and Tofino, and north to Alert Bay. But my first journeys in the car were in the environs of Vancouver – to the fabulous UBC Anthropology Museum, Van Dusen Gardens and over the Lions Gate Bridge to Grouse Mountain.