Samstag, 19. November 2016

Roadtrip: Milford and Furzey Gardens


Ever since coming back from Scotland and the Lake District I haven't really been on the road. But I took last Friday off, determined to make my annual November journey to the seaside. I don't really know why I have settled on Milford-on-Sea as the place to be almost each time, probably because it is the closest and I know the route by heart.

The morning started off quite grey and bitterly cold but the sky cleared while I had breakfast in the cafe on the beach. It was very windy and the crashing of the waves incredibly loud, the spray washing over the promenade at times.

On each trip to Milford I try to visit at least one of the gardens in the New Forest and because I had passed the sign for Furzey Gardens many times I spontaneously decided to make a stop on my way back. Furzey Gardens was a wonderful surprise, even this late in the year there was so much autumn colour that it was almost overwhelming. The garden works closely together with The Minestead Training Trust, a charity that supports and trains people with learning disabilities and their Chelsea gold-medal winning garden of 2012 has been recreated in one of the garden areas. I can't wait to go back again in the spring!

I hope you are making the most of November by cuddling up on the sofa with a mug of tea, a book and maybe something furry and purring for company ...

Much love,
Qaroline

Before breakfast ...

After breakfast ...

Waves crashing up to the Milford promenade.

Furzey Gardens - I loved that there were labels on a lot of the trees and shrubs. The flame-red shrub is an Enkianthus perulatus.




The "Gold" Chelsea Garden

There is even some winter blossom about ...

Some amazing structures ...

The gunneras all wrapped up warm for winter.