I often share a series of images taken in a particular garden, but today, I’m leading you through a succession of green landscapes. You’d need a week to explore them all in real life, to say nothing of the seasons, but while we can only travel virtually, why not make the best of it?
Something formal, to get us off on the right foot, with an object lesson in how to shape and edge a lawn. I love the way the gnarled tree casts its shadow over the green and the tulips seem to nod towards it.
A covered walkway will help us to get the hang of imaginatively traversing from green to green – there’s no need to scan luggage or show travel documents for this trip.
I’ll be offering a choice of resting places during our journey. The first is flanked by roses and foxgloves; the second is at a quirky little garden that deserves to be more widely known:
If ever an area could be said to be busy with green, this is the one.
Feel free to linger – these places aren’t made for rushing around, and a virtual garden never closes its gates. Those who are itching to get on can take off into open countryside towards the wind farm on the crest of the hill…
or – especially recommended for people who have not had much chance for scrambling in a while – can climb here:
Don’t go wild – we don’t want anyone to slip and turn an ankle or worse, and have to spend the rest of the journey in Accident & Emergency.
You might still be scrambling or rambling, but I need a rest. Peeping out under the canopy of an oak tree towards a stand of bracken lit by the dappled sunlight of woodland will suit me, or if that’s too impressionistic, try this:
Contrasting nature’s unbounded garden with a human-centric one – and finding them much the same – brought Andrew Marvell’s lines to mind:
Annihilating all that’s made
To a green thought in a green shade.
I’ll leave you with a link to Life in Colour which inspired this post and a hat tip to those of you who are celebrating Saint Patrick’s Day.
Susan Rushton 
Such a beautiful post! I especially loved the first two shots and York Gate is one that’s escaped me too. I remember suggesting it to him that knows about these things and receiving a shrug đŸ˜¦ You do gardens and prose so well! đŸ™‚ đŸ™‚
You’re very sweet! York Gate is not a big garden but I often find myself thinking about it. You can see a creative mind at play.
I wondered whether the green was intended as a tribute to St. Patrick, and finally your last sentence confirmed it. Speaking of whom, we watched a documentary the other day which gave St. Patrick credit for the spread of literacy in Ireland, and thence into western Europe in general.
Then I am very grateful to him.
A lovely journey, Susan, thank you!
It’s nice to have virtual company đŸ™‚
Amazing journey Susan – and I’d totally forgotten about St. Pats until I reached the end of your post! I guess the pandemic got me on that one – ugh. Lovely images of refreshing beautiful green.
I suppose it has brought worse problems than that and I’m sure any Irish person would tell you it is never too late for a little celebration.