It's always a pleasure to visit D, who must be one of my oldest friends.
I've known D for almost 40 years and her partner Adrian for almost as long.
A is not only a great cook; he's also a keen gardener. He cultivates a 'wild garden'.
D and I have a lot of shared interests, including photography, art and books; so we had a lot to talk about.
Boy, did we talk!
(D and A had been to Hatfield before, but they'd not visited the East Garden before.
This is the family's private garden, which is only open on Wednesdays. So, we struck lucky!)
And to Essex, to Marks Hall, a very attractive garden and arboretum that that has only recently opened.
New to D and A, too, then
We also went to two exhibitions at the Fitzwilliam Gallery, Ruskin's Turners and Watercolour - Elements of Nature. I particularly enjoyed the latter exhibition, which included miniatures by Nicholas Hilliard and Isaac Oliver, botanical drawings by Pierre-Joseph Redouté, as well as a series of superb landscape watercolours by John Constable, Peter de Wint, John Sell Cotman, Samuel Palmer, J. M. Whistler, John Singer Sargent, Paul Cézanne, Camille Pissarro and Paul Nash. I confess I had never heard of Peter de Wint, before now.
I enjoyed a wonderful three day break, which was only marred by the journey.
Whilst it had taken five hours to get to Cambridge the journey home took nine hours!
What a magical garden and you sound to have had a wonderful time with your friend...there's nothing like friends from way back to inspire chat is there! Those exhibitions look fascinating and I love the Harvesters that you have shown us here.My brother in Lincolnshire is harvesting at the moment, but it doesn't look quite as romantic as that!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Jane. I hope your brother's harvest is now safely gathered in. We went to Lincolnshire on a regular basis, for many years. It's one of my favourite counties!
DeleteSuch a talented lady. I am so glad our paths have joined!
ReplyDeleteOh, thank you!
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