A sub tropical garden with breathtaking sea views

Over this weekend we visited a Sub-tropical garden on the coast nearby at Abbotsbury. It felt as if we had travelled more than 10 miles (16km) from home as we walked among the exotic plants much more common in exotic locations.


We have been here before, although it is many years since we last visited and we didn't realise until recently that dogs are allowed in. The gardens were established in 1765 as a kitchen garden for the nearby castle (which is no longer here). With its mild climate the Gardens were a popular place to grow the many plants and seeds discovered by plant hunters in the 19th century. Like many large gardens it declined after the two world wars and brambles and thick undergrowth were cleared in the 1960's when the restoration began.

The magnolia walk is new since we last visited and as you climb the hill the view gets better and better....


At the very top it opens out into this breathtaking scenery. I could have sat here for hours looking at the sea!


Weymouth and Portland is in the far distance, the bank of shingle is the Chesil beach, and the salt-water lagoon is known as the Fleet.

The sheep and lambs were too busy to admire their surroundings!

 In the other direction is West Bay (Broadchurch) and Lyme Regis.

/
Back in the woodland area of the gardens, azaleas were in full bloom and the trees towered over our heads.


The lily and fish pond with lush trees and undergrowth stretching as far as the eye can see.


This beautiful bleeding heart plant was thriving in the shade of the walled garden.

This will be the first of many visits we plan to take here and I'm sure you will be invited along too! Sometimes it is so easy to overlook visiting places that are nearby, does this happen to you too?

Have you visited Emma at Emmie and Emma at home ? She is a textile artist and maker and I have admired her work since I first discovered her many, many months ago. I asked her whether she could make me a
Westie felt brooch and this is what she sent me, isn't it lovely? It looks so like Daisy.



As we were sitting in the garden with a coffee this afternoon a squirrel appeared on the trellis. I wish I had followed Nina's example and had a camera to hand. By the time I had got the camera the squirrel was long gone, but it didn't stop Daisy looking for it! A few weeks ago at lunchtime an adult fox quite casually wandered across the lawn. Twinkle, who is a tiny cat, was in the garden at the time but was luckily fast asleep under the horticultural fleece that was covering some seeds in the vegetable garden. Also, recently, I was having difficulty in getting water out of the rose of a watering can. I took off the rose and gave it a hard shake, assuming it was a snail that was blocking it, and to my surprise out fell a newt !


As many of you have noticed I have changed my banner and background I felt like a change! I hope it hasn't confused you! Welcome to my new followers Primroses and Petticoats Teresa Maria at An Amateur's ventures on lifeLuisa,Angels door, Lilan, Yonks, and Danielle. If you have a link that I haven't added please let me know.

Congratulations to Carolyn from Draffiin Bears who wins my giveaway book by Joanne Harris Peaches for Monsieur Le Cure. from my French link party post Thank you for those who took part I'm sorry you couldn't all be winners.
Sarah x

Comments

  1. Wonderful photos the lambs look so sweet. Love the photo of the newt too. Mx

    ReplyDelete
  2. Wow! Pictures of my most favourite area in the whole wide world!!! Have had a very quiet weekend, after a very traumatic couple of weeks, re-charging the batteries and just being grateful!! So your photos have cheered me no end!! Am looking forward to accompanying you next time you venture Abbottsbury way again!! Hoping to be there myself in September!! Kindest regards, Heather X

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sorry you have had a traumatic time I hope things are better for me now and I'm glad my photos cheered you up.
      Sarah x

      Delete
  3. I visited Abbotsbury many years ago and really loved it. It is well overdue a return visit. I do so agree that it is easy to overlook places on your doorstep. It is something we intend to remedy this year!

    ReplyDelete
  4. What a lovely place to visit - great scenery too. Lovely to find a newt in your garden and I think my mum would like a westie brooch too!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Dear Sarah, congrats to your daughter on finishing her second year at uni! time goes fast! LOVE the brooch, so sweet and very much like Daisy! ~ and of course I loved seeing those beautiful lambs! Sarah I smiled at your fear of water too! (my post) I did think you would have water wings, my friend! ~ With kindest thoughts...Maria x

    ReplyDelete
  6. Hello Sarah,

    Breathtaking scenes from your place today and loved seeing the sea view and wonderful garden.
    Love the sweet little brooch and darling photo of Daisy looking for the squirrel.
    Merci! I was so happy to hear that I am the lucky winner of your kind giveaway and looking forward to reading this, sounds lovely. I will send you my address and thanks again.

    Happy week
    hugs
    Carolyn

    ReplyDelete
  7. gorgeous gardens and cute lambs!
    i love the felt brooch.
    x

    ReplyDelete
  8. What an amazing place, so very pretty. I like the look of your Blog.

    ReplyDelete
  9. I love following along on your trips. The scenery is so beautiful and I love the Westie brooch! X

    ReplyDelete
  10. Hi Sarah
    What breathtaking photos! Oh I am with you, I could sit there all day and look at the sea.
    This is, without a doubt, a place I would truly love to see in person.. Thank you so much for sharing your memories. The sheep and little lambs are adorable.
    How funny! A newt fell out of your watering can? A little lizard fell out of my once.. I could not understand why on earth the water was not coming out... Turned upside down and there he was..

    Emma is a very talented artist... It looks just like Daisy...
    Congratulations to dear Carolyn.. What a lucky lady she is.
    blessings,
    Penny

    ReplyDelete
  11. Love the new-look website! As someone from a young country, I'm always really intrigued by your historical walks. How cool would it have been to see the kitchen garden of the castle (if it were still there)! I would have been excited to see the fox too - I don't think I've ever seen one in real life! x

    ReplyDelete
  12. A change is as good as a rest! Stunning views there......I need to see the sea, very soon! :) x

    ReplyDelete
  13. Dear Sarah
    you have uplifted your blog look with great success.It's really a well done work and it matches with all the concept.
    This place is magical as the photos you took.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Stunning views Sarah, What a lovely walk I took with you. I do believe i could sit there too all day and watch those views.
    I am now becoming a fanatic! as one would say.. i take my camera everywhere. I snap this and snap that.
    Your new header is super.
    happy Tuesday to you Sarah..thank you for sharing
    val

    ReplyDelete
  15. We went along the coast towards you in February, and passed Abbotsbury. I saw the signs, but we had the dog with us so didn't stop. Now I know more about it and that it's dog friendly I think we'll go that way again and stop off for a visit in spring/summer months, so thanks for the info. It's very hard to visit places near where you live especially when working all the time. We found this happened where we lived before, and now regret we didn't get out more. Something we are determined not to do now. Love the new look for the blog. I was cutting the hedge yesterday and a slow worm popped it's head out-nearly chopped it in two!

    ReplyDelete
  16. I like the new look! Well done :)

    Aren't those baby lambs cute?

    ReplyDelete
  17. It is years since we visited Abbotsbury , but what a beautiful place it is! Thank you for a virtual walk around the gardens. Hopefully we will have a day down there this summer ( if the rain stays away for long enough!).

    ReplyDelete
  18. Lovely photos Sarah- Chesil is amazing isn't it? fabulous newt too- I'm v envious! CT x

    ReplyDelete
  19. lovely pics, we've had great weather for bank hol but today is miserable again!

    ReplyDelete
  20. Love your new background and banner.I've been wanting to change mine as well, but haven't found the time. There's still a dried hydrangea in the snow as a picture there now ;) O well, maybe when temperatures finally start to get better I'll feel like changing it.

    What a lovely garden you took us to. Amazing views as you say, and such beautiful surroundings, trees and other features. A beautiful place to visit. You're so lucky to have that at only 16km from your home.

    Bye,
    Marian

    ReplyDelete
  21. My husband's work meant that we moved every few years - knowing this meant that we explored each place we lived quite thouroughly, and we lived in some lovely places! Holidaying at home is another way to look at it - you seem to take this approach Sarah - thanks for sharing your visits to such interesting places

    ReplyDelete
  22. Really like the new header! This looks a fab place to visit. We have been to the Swannery next door a few times but not visited the gardens. It's now on our to do list! Great brooch - my mum would love this as she has a westie too!
    June

    ReplyDelete
  23. Great post and I like the new look too.
    I look forward to visiting the garden again with you as the seasons change.
    xxx

    ReplyDelete
  24. Abbotsbury looks a lovely place to visit with some beautiful views of the sea. I feel that we should really visit local places more; we always talk ourselves out of it because there is so much to do in the garden etc. But we should really find the time. I love Daisy's fascination with the squirrel - and love the little newt, too.

    ReplyDelete
  25. Love the lush green against the blue skies and sea. Finding new places nearby seems to be happening to us too - having moved less than a mile to our new house we've discovered many new walks including a beautiful wood. Great new look :) Claire xo

    ReplyDelete
  26. Oh, Sarah! Your lovely pictures inspire me to visit again. Ever get that homesick kind of feeling? I've got it big time! :'( But please keep the camera rolling. I always enjoy a taste of home! :D heather, AU

    ReplyDelete
  27. I love it all . I see these pics I feel connected to it all. Just loved it all .. hugs and thanks for sharing .. blessed by seeing it

    ReplyDelete
  28. Precious Sarah!

    I missed your darling post when you first put it up! OH HOW ENCHANTING IS THAT BROOCH!!!!!! I must go pay her a visit! Looks just like sweet Daisy, to a "T"!!

    The beaches, the sheep, the quiet, the sea air....I want it all!!! Anita

    ReplyDelete
  29. It's so easy to overlook the place where you live and the attractions it can offer, maybe that's because we tend to think we have all the time in the world to do it and we keep putting it off. Here in Berkeley we have a 900 year old castle still inhabited by the original family and open as a tourist attraction and yet many of the people who have lived here all their lives have never been inside.

    That garden looks wonderful, what a great place to spend a nice sunny day and those views are just amazing.

    ReplyDelete
  30. Hi Sarah,
    What a beautiful place to spend a day. Love the photos of the sheep. I would love to find a place with green hills and raise some sheep. Sweet photos of your Daisy. What a cute felt dog too. It's wonderful to see what creative ways crafters use felt. I'm glad you enjoyed my photos. Have a wonderful day.

    ReplyDelete
  31. I have a lovely woodcut of Chesil bay with a man launching his boat from the singles. I keep meaning to visit so this post has given me a nudge to do something about it, hopefully soon.
    We may have had lots of rain and chilly weather, but doesn't the countryside look so verdant, lush and green?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. We have had lots of rain too this week but the countryside is looking wonderful around here too. Your woodcut of Chesil bay sounds good.
      Sarah x

      Delete
  32. What a beautiful place to spend some time, perfect for a picnic day I think. And I love the new banner. x

    ReplyDelete
  33. What a totally amazing place and just look at that weather! You are so right about neglecting places on your own doorstep, we are making more of an effort this year (weather permitting) to do more 'local' trips, which is why I'm trying to feature a different place each week. x

    ReplyDelete
  34. I love the new blog header! You live in a very beautiful area. I am always amazed at the pictures you have from places within a stone's throw of where you live.

    I love the Westie brooch!

    ReplyDelete
  35. It certainly is breathtaking.And the sheep.The babies are so cute.of course my fave other than the views is the pond.I raise Koi and I'm always so happy to gaze upon fish.They make you so relaxed.
    Thank you for sharing,
    Marie Antoinette

    ReplyDelete
  36. That is one of my favourite parts of the UK - I would very much like to visit Abbotsbury.
    Thank you for your kind words on my blog x

    ReplyDelete
  37. Your banner looks lovely Sarah and suits the time of year perfectly! The garden/arboretum looks impressive. We always enjoy visiting places like this as well. There is so much that inspires you. Happy to hear your husband is doing better!

    Much love,

    Madelief xox

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Comments are the best thing about blogging so please join in and brighten my day!