Thursday, March 25, 2010
Plants and Westerham
We chose the right day to go out. Yesterday in Westerham there was not too much rain - today has been different.
Bill wanted to get to our favourite garden centre - it is in Betchworth and it is called a plant centre, for the emphasis is on growing things rather than the range of items often to be found in a garden centre - no furniture, no ornaments, no food.
Bill wanted plants to grow up the new trellises he erected last week.
At first I thought we should leave it until the afternoon.
But I heard from a friend in Melksham that she was enjoying sunshine and I assumed it would reach us during the morning; so, we set off.
We chose a clematis and a honeysuckle.
"Right", we should have said, "we have got what we came for. Time to go"
But did we listen to such good advice? No way!
There were such lovely plants.... "Oh, just one of these, Bill!" and "Look, the violas are superb and on offer" and so on.
We also bought compost, fertilisers and fat balls for the birds.
"How many people", I said to the woman at the till, "come in for 2 plants and leave, spending £100 pounds?"
She said that lots of people do it!
It was raining by the time we left and has rained hard a lot since.
Now, back to yesterday.
Before we visited Quebec House, birthplace of James Wolfe, we wandered in to the village for some lunch.
Our route took us through the churchyard.
The church was open. We were greeted by a very friendly woman who chatted about all sorts with us. She was there to do cleaning.
The font and a 17th century gravestone.
The woman we were talking with is a bell ringer. This is the spiral staircase up to the bells in the belfry.
4 views of The Green.
Bill and lovely Georgian style house across The Green.
Bill took a series of pictures of interesting door knockers.
These cottages were named "Doorknocker Cottages" by us.
Pretty cottages between the Tudor cafe and the church gate.
Walking back to the car park, through the church yard and by Church Cottage.
The path took us past houses and back gardens.
Bill wanted to get to our favourite garden centre - it is in Betchworth and it is called a plant centre, for the emphasis is on growing things rather than the range of items often to be found in a garden centre - no furniture, no ornaments, no food.
Bill wanted plants to grow up the new trellises he erected last week.
At first I thought we should leave it until the afternoon.
But I heard from a friend in Melksham that she was enjoying sunshine and I assumed it would reach us during the morning; so, we set off.
We chose a clematis and a honeysuckle.
"Right", we should have said, "we have got what we came for. Time to go"
But did we listen to such good advice? No way!
There were such lovely plants.... "Oh, just one of these, Bill!" and "Look, the violas are superb and on offer" and so on.
We also bought compost, fertilisers and fat balls for the birds.
"How many people", I said to the woman at the till, "come in for 2 plants and leave, spending £100 pounds?"
She said that lots of people do it!
It was raining by the time we left and has rained hard a lot since.
Now, back to yesterday.
Before we visited Quebec House, birthplace of James Wolfe, we wandered in to the village for some lunch.
Our route took us through the churchyard.
The church was open. We were greeted by a very friendly woman who chatted about all sorts with us. She was there to do cleaning.
The font and a 17th century gravestone.
This is the font where James Wolfe was baptised.
Also baptised here were 2 of the children of Winston Churchill, who lived at Chartwell - within the parish of Westerham.
This window was designed by the Victorian artist, Burne Jones.
It was put into the church to commemorate the life and death of General James Wolfe.
It was put into the church to commemorate the life and death of General James Wolfe.
Brass plaque with James Wolfe details.
The woman we were talking with is a bell ringer. This is the spiral staircase up to the bells in the belfry.
The Green at Westerham. Many attractive cottages surround the green.
There are statues of both Wolfe and Churchill.
4 views of The Green.
The 2 modern views actually do show changes - Wolfe is on The Green in the first and Churchill is on the 2nd of these two views.
We had lunch in The Tudor Cafe - to be seen in the above pictures with the church spire almost growing out of its roof.
Bill and lovely Georgian style house across The Green.
Bill took a series of pictures of interesting door knockers.
These cottages were named "Doorknocker Cottages" by us.
Pretty cottages between the Tudor cafe and the church gate.
Walking back to the car park, through the church yard and by Church Cottage.
The path took us past houses and back gardens.
One garden was fascinating, with a mass of interesting things to enjoy.
I loved this garden family.
Labels: Places in England
