Sunday 18 July 2010

A Cotswold garden


Yesterday we went to Hidcote for my birthday. I had been wanting to go there for some time, so it was a lovely surprise when I discovered that Alan was taking me there. We are in the middle of re-landscaping our garden, Hidcote was a great place to get some ideas and inspiration.

The entrance









I liked this little area leading towards the restaurant.


As soon as we got there, we headed for the restaurant. I had a goat's cheese & beetroot salad, followed by Strawberry Eaton mess for dessert. All very nice indeed!



































The Vegetable garden









Caught doing a spot of shopping!


Another blue door...I am drawn to taking photos of doors, especially blue doors.



As we left the garden we had a little walk around the village.



We finished off by looking around the plant shop





I brought a few things back


On our return from Hidcote, Alan treated me to a meal in a lovely country pub nearby. So all in all I had a great birthday!

We were so lucky with the weather, despite having some rain this week it stayed away whilst we walked around the garden.

Wishing you a good weekend!

A bientôt!

Isabelle X

58 comments:

Anonymous said...

Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful!!!
Greetings from the island of Pag, where I am on vacation.
Zondra Art

*Ulrike* said...

Oh my goodness! I would love that for a birthday trip! Unfortunately all I would see is snow since I'm a January baby!!! You took so many wonderful photos, I love all of them all, each one showing the beauty of the area. I really like the one with all the wheel barrows lined up! You are right too, what a great place to get ideas especially with your house.
Hope you have a lovely weekend.
Ulrike

Unknown said...

G'morn ~ This would certainly inspire me for my gardens! Breathtakingly captured, ty for sharing.

Have a lovely summer's day ~
TTFN ~ Hugs, Marydon

Laura @ 52 FLEA said...

Happy Birthday Isabelle! What a wonderful surprise from your sweet husband! Thank you for all these wonderful photos...such a lovely place to visit! I adore all those blue doors too! I hope that all is well and that you enjoy the rest of the weekend...
Take care,
Laura

Marigold Jam said...

Looks like a lovely birthday treat to me! I love the gateway photos and the blue paint is lovely too. Where did you snap the tiles - was that in the ladies perhaps?!

Jane

cathleen said...

Isabelle...how lovely to take this little tour with you. I can't even begin to tell you how much I enjoyed looking at your photos. So much beauty in England! Happy Belated Birthday to you!!!

Claudia said...

The blue doors are so charming. What a wonderful place in which to spend your birthday. Glorious.

My Life of Domestic Bliss said...

Isabelle Darling, Beautiful! I want all of it here in my backyard! You took some super photos. I'm going to have to paint a door blue somewhere here at Bliss House. Have a great day! Lisa

Amanda Makes said...

I'm so glad that you had a lovely day! All those doors! Doesn't it make you want to see what's on the other side of all of them? Lots of love, Amanda xxx

Daniëlle said...

Wow, such a lovely gardens!
I can believe you will get a lot of inspiration over there, very nice.
Have a nice Sunday!
Dani

The Vintage Knitter said...

I've never been to Hidcote before, but after looking at your beautiful photos its something that I'll have to put on my 'to do' list. Those blue doors do stand out, but very tastefully and as for the greenhouse - I would love one of those!

salty pebble said...

what a dreamy way to spend a birthday treat- such beautiful gardens- your hubby is a darling for sure to take you to all these beautiful places- very romantic ;0)xx

ted and bunny said...

Hidcote is one of my favourite places...and Eton Mess is my MOST favourite pud!
Glad you had a lovely day, and fab weather to wander around
Have a good week
xx

koralee said...

I so love visiting your pretty world..pure joy my friend!
xoxoxo

KC'sCourt! said...

Looks very pretty. Another place to go on my list to visit!
Julie xxxx

Andi's English Attic said...

Happy Birthday.
What a lovely surprise to visit somewhere you've longed to go - and such a beautiful place.
I love the pics of the doors and gates in the garden, especially the first one. xx

Country Style Living said...

It looks lovely and sounds great too...love all the nooks and cranny's, doors and gates. Thankyou for the lovely photo's.....

Kar said...

Happy Belated Birthday dear! What a wonderful place to spend your very special day. Not sure I would have wanted to leave. :)

Anonymous said...

What a lovley day out, beautiful!!
Vivienne x

Unknown said...

Well, I see....next year we can come and visit YOUR garden;)...enough inspiration for 5 houses!!!:)

Greetings
Lynda

Sarah said...

What a great day out - we love Hidcote, it's not too far for us and the grounds are beautiful.
x

A time to dance said...

Oh it looks such a lovely place, I will have to pay a visit next time I am down that neck of the woods...thanks for sharing...I want to paint my front door blue now...

bellaboo said...

What a wonderful way to spend your birthday! Just the sort of day out I would like too.

Bellaboo :0)

The Cloth Shed said...

Beautiful photos....and what a great way to spend your birthday.
You must have lots of inspiration for your own garden now....
Julie x

Bernideen said...

Happy Birthday and what a fun day it was! Lovely photos and beauty!

Funkymonkey said...

Hidcote's lovely. If you are in the area again visit Kiftsgate just a mile or so down the road. Very different to Hidcote but just as beautiful in its own way.

Tracey

Angel's Attic said...

Looks like you had a great day out in a very beautiful place. Lovely photos.
Enjoy your week.
Nickyx

petals and vintage said...

Hello Isabelle, Wonderful photos and thanks for taking me on a tour or another amazing English village. Absolutely in love with those blue doors.
Pam.

Victorian1885 said...

Happy Belated Birthday! What a beautiful place..thank you for sharing your bit of Heaven!

Wanda

Monica said...

Really fabulous, Isabelle! Thanks for bringing us along with you!
Monicax.

Enitram said...

Ce fut donc un super week-end dans un merveilleux jardin!!!!!!!
Bonne semaine!

loveandlilac said...

Lovely photos! I haven't been to Hidcote for years. I get your thing for blue doors - I've always had a thing for blue shutters, like you see in France.

Victoria - Florence and Mary said...

It looks gorgeous!

Victoria x

June said...

Hi Isabelle,
Hidcote and it's gardens are beautiful! I love all the stone buildings and lovely paths. I just bought 19 'Hidcote' lavender plants and planted this month. It's my favorite variety of lavender.
I am so glad you had such a lovely birthday. It all looks like the kind of time I would have enjoyed. You have such a thoughtful husband Isabelle.
hugs

It's me said...

Wooooooooooowwwwwwwwwwwwwww.......what a pictures !!! ....i love them all...what a perfect day your birthday...............happy summer week darling.....hugs from me.....

Debbie said...

What a beautiful place for a birthday treat. Your photos are just lovely too. I think a trip to Hidcote is a must next time we are in the area. And those blue doors! I have a thing about blue and have just bought a pretty blue to paint my front and back doors. And I have a blue workshop!

Anonymous said...

What an absolutely wonderful way to spend the day. The photography is beautiful. I am glad the weather stayed nice for you.

Beck said...

Gorgeous!!! Thanks for sharing these beautiful photo's from your special day. What an inspiring and lovely place to visit. I loved the garden and the rustic arch, all the flowers and especially the blue doors. Happy Birthday to you xo

Josephine Tale Peddler said...

Hello Isabelle, I've been looking forward to your birthday post and you didn't disappoint. As another poster said I feel like painting my door blue now. I expected to see John Nettles and the cast of Midsomer appear in one of those shots. Terrific inspiration for any garden. xx

Unknown said...

What an enchanting place to visit. A perfect Birthday gift. I love the Cotswold cottages and gardens. This one is amazing.
Karen

Pearl said...

Isabelle the pictures are fantastic it was like walking through a dream. Thanks for sharing!

Unknown said...

Ååååå så vackert,vilka vackra bilder och grattis i efterskott..:))...Ha en toppendag..Kram/Annelie

PASSIONEDECO FRANCESCA said...

Good morning dear Isabelle!
You always make my day with your beautiful pictures of your beautiful England!
With love,
Fra

Anonymous said...

this is such a beautiful and very romantic looking place what a lovely birthday treat you had

andamento said...

Wow, gorgeous photos. Looks like a lovely place to visit. I like the blue doors too. Belated Happy Birthday!

sarah-jane down the lane said...

Your photos are so captivating Isabelle, really magical. I long to go there too. I love the paint colour, gorgeous.

Happy Birthday to you, glad you had a beautiful day,

Sarah x

Flaviana said...

Dearest Isabelle
I'm so sorry for being late wishing you a happy birthday! From what I can see it was an amazing day you spent in a wonderful place.
Love,love, love the images, the place looks fantastic!
Hugs from me
xxxx

LissyLou said...

how lovely! Happy birthday xx

Tiedupmemories said...

Wow! Just Beautiful and full of inspiration! Thank you for sharing these lovely photos! Happy Birthday!

Maura @ Kisiwa Creek Photography said...

Hello Isabelle, what beautiful photo's ....I love the Cotswolds. I was in Bourton On The Water with my Sister and her husband on our way to Cornwall in 99. I LOVED it. The colour of the stones on the houses has such a wonderful glow. Thank you so much for sharing your Birthday outing with us...and Happy Birthday to you! Have a wonderful Wednesday....Maura :)

Madelief said...

Hi Isabelle,

I wish I had gone to Hidcote as well. It looks beautiful! All those flowers!

I wanted to thank you for your advise about places to go to around Bath. We visited several of the villages, houses and gardens you mentioned. We enjoyed them very much!!!

Happy evening!

Lieve groet, Madelief

Soňa said...

Beautiful,beautiful,beautiful blog...Soňa

Kali said...

Isabelle, Happy (belated) Birthday wishes to you!!
What a gorgeous trip and photos ... thanks so much for sharing, and making an old gal like me, on the other side of the world smile :)
xo, Kali

Val said...

What a lovely place! I just stumbled upon your blog, and was so happy to see such beautiful pictures. How I wish I could visit as well...but alas, I'm on the wrong side of the ocean! So pretty, though. Thanks for sharing!

Simplement ... said...

Pousser la porte d'un tel lieu, c'est entrer de plein pieds dans la Beauté, le Romantisme ...
Merci pour le partage de cet endroit merveilleux.
Marie-Ange

Home and Lifestyle said...

Congratulations and thanks for sharing your pictures! I like them, especially the blue doors!

Lovely greetings, Ingrid

Lisa said...

Absolutely stunning! What a perfect place to visit on your birthday.
Lisa x

Beedeebabee said...

What a perfect way to spend your birthday! Happy Birthday Isabelle!!! ;) Paulette