There’s something about this picture of a Lancashire country idyll that I like. The hillside garden looks serene; the house and land on the far side of the wall have a hazy romance. Inside the walled garden, the soil is rich and well-cultivated. It’s winter, and the garden is girded against the twin assaults of rain and freezing temperatures.
The arched garden gate is an elegant detail to enjoy. Visually, it connects and opens up rather than barring our way. Fingers crossed we all heed the plea to close the gate behind us to stop the free-roaming chickens following along in our wake and making merry with any seeds or crops they find.
The old, fruit bearing branches have been pruned back to spiky stubs strong enough to carry this year’s crop. (Eventually. I hope nobody in the UK is expecting apples or pears to appear on these trees – or those in any part of the country – by 29th March 2019. Just saying!)
Susan Rushton 
Wonderful! Love the door in the wall, too.
It looks like there is a large copper planter too, that many gardeners would be happy to fill.
Magical. Oh, to have a walled garden and hills beyond.
It’s a lovely view – the garden has many, partly by nature, partly through art.
Love walled gardens and the door is sweet.
I always like arched windows and doors – I put it down to Jackanory!
hee hee you made me laugh with your ‘spiky’ apples and pears comment!
This is such a fabulous walled garden . . one of those things I’d love to have.
You’re right, that was a little spiky. Now I have to explain it to those whose news is not already full of it.
Good luck with the explanation!!
What? Not raining home-grown fruit and veg by 29th March? I’d better start stock-piling dried fruit now I think.
I’m not a lover of gardens in winter but I do like your photograph.
I’ve just treated myself to some dried peaches and cherries.
It’s a lovely scene!
Having four distinct seasons gives us an appreciation for a well cared for garden at rest.
I am torn: I don’t know which side of the wall I like better. I guess neither is so charming without the other, though, so I have to like both. It’s a lovely, peaceful square, spikes and all.
I think it’s the other side of the wall that draws me in this picture.
I like seeing gardens in winter, put to bed, resting, pulsing with quiet life.
I agree.
Really interesting garden. It looks like an organic cemetery with posts and gnarly plants marking the graves.
You’d certainly think that when you saw all the windfalls in the autumn.
I love those knobbly branches and the view beyond.
If there’s an art to pruning, these gardeners know it.