Saturday, August 17, 2013

Suffolk Villages - Part One

 
Saturday morning we met at Liverpool Street Station to join a London Walk "Day Out" to Suffolk.  The station was packed with young people all travelling to the V Music Festival.  Wellingtons appeared to be mandatory!
 
We took a train to Colchester and then hopped on a coach.
 
Our first stop - Chelsworth.

Have you ever seen a prettier village?

We had the extraordinary opportunity to view a couple of private gardens.
This was the first garden - a lovely cottage garden.
 
The second garden was almost two acres in size.

It featured lots of wonderful benches and pots and gates and walls and even swans.  A true labor of love.
 
Lots of lovely plants abounded. One of the garden rooms featured scented plants.

To top it off, the Garden Dog entertained us with his antics!
 
The village of Chelsworth pioneered the Open Garden scheme some 40 years ago to raise money for their parish church. 

It's a lovely 14th century structure.
 
From Chelsworth we were off to the village of Long Melford.
 
Long Melford had a couple of nifty letter boxes.
 
It too had wonderfully colored houses. 

Many of the cottages displayed name plaques.
 
Sloping and sagging - no straight lines for these homes!

I was pleased to see lots of medieval glass in the windows.  I think it is the little details - doors, window, paint color that make the houses special.  It was impossible to pick a favorite.
Here's an even older letter box - A Victoria!
 
We then headed off to the village of Lavenham - that requires a post all of its own.

11 comments:

hazel c UK said...

You certainly get about Beth. I love the little village with the open gardens how lucky to be able to visit the gardens. Now Long Meford is very familiar for I have a brother living there and know it quite well also Lavnham I have a sister living in Sudbury and lots of nieces living in surrounding villages. So glad you had a good day and these London day out sounds great.

Enjoy your last little time in t UK.

Hugs
Hazel

Summer said...

What a wonderful place and a great collection of photos. there are some beautiful places to visit here in the uk. love your blog.

Vickie said...

Whoo! Hoo! I am loving the chocolate poodle in the garden Beth!! ;)
What gorgeous homes in the villages. They remind me so much of my beloved Greendale, where we owned "an original" for 10 years.

Margaret said...

Love seeing all the beautiful sights. Lovely gardens, lovely houses.

CalamityJr said...

What lovely gardens. This appears to be quite a relaxing day for you - still adding to your sights and memories, but with your love of gardens this must have been wonderful!

Melissa said...

Beautiful photos! I was intrigued by the garden photos, especially of the flowers in the lower right (3 flowers) I've never seen before.

That's a cute dog.

That's a lot of walking you do every day! You must feel very fit (or very tired!).

Chris said...

What lovely villages! Gorgeous gardens too.

Barb said...

That is a great little village with beautiful gardens!! Of course, a beautiful Church.

Mouse said...

gorgeous gardens and cute poodle too :)
would love to live there :) love mouse xxxxxx

Annette-California said...

Beautiful villages, I still can't get over all the incredible gardens. Such charm everywhere! Love the poodle:) I knew Vickie would love seeing her. love Annette

Melanie said...

Cutest.dog.ever.???