Wednesday 16 May 2012

Coming back to... Castle Combe!


Most of us living in the south west of England have been rather starved for even the tiniest ray of sun lately, so when Saturday morning offered blue skies and a beautiful bright bulb high up above, we skipped out the door, hungry to soak up the light. Being a keen bluebell fan, I convinced the rest of the family that another walk in and around Castle Combe would be a rather splendid idea...


As you come in to this lovely village, you are met by a sweet sign, putting a smile on your face and invariably your foot on the brake. Just after we moved to the UK and went for spring walks in this area, I - with my Swedish default spring flower perception- , started oooh-ing from afar at the sight of what I thought must be white anemones (Sw: vitsippor). But soon the smell caught up with me and I realised the white carpet was wild garlic! Horrified and confused as my senses were, I did not know if I ought to stop and admire what my eyes were soaking up with delight, or follow the desperate instinct of my nose, which howled: RUN, RUN!

"Safe" in the village, some more olfactory-appealing flowers 
can be admired in well-manicured borders here and there...


 ... many a lieutenant's/bleeding heart pounding with feverish floral infatuation...


... and the golf course offering tranquility with its almost unnaturally green grassy hills.


And all of a sudden, there they were, the bluebells. Perhaps not a massive forest, but filled with an abundance of sweet little bluebell heads, watching carefully where this young gentleman would next put his feet, willing them not to crush their bowed blue little necks...






Watching the buds yearning for the same light and life as us light-starved humans, forcing their way through the thin, protective shell that was their guardian until they were ready to "fly", it is magical, is it not?! For many years, I rushed past this precious spring event (I still do, sometimes), but when you take the time to stop and really look, it is like witnessing the Maternity Ward of Mother Nature from front row seats. Awe and humbleness sitting right there beside us.


Castle Combe, a stunning, stunning little village, 
and one we love to come back to again and again! 
(You can find more blog posts and photos under Castle Combe in my Categories.)


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Cesar's Trädgård


Today I would also like to draw your attention to another wonderful place in Sweden I myself dream of visiting one day. My dear blog friend Charlotta, with the blog Cesar's Trädgård (Cesar's Garden)  - and her family - share Voltaire's famous motto "Il faut cultiver notre jardin" ("Let us cultivate our garden"). They have strived to create a garden paradise focusing on an enhanced quality of life and the joy of growing things. Charlotta and her family welcome us all to be inspired by visiting Cesar's Open Gardens,  Cesar's Shop and their "farmer's orangery" in Älmeboda (between Emmaboda and Tingsryd in southern Småland, Sweden). Click on the company names above to read more.

Wishing you a fabulous gardening season, Charlotta!

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Go Wild Landscaping

Do you remember the blog post a little while ago from my sister-in-law's garden? Since I posted that, I have learned that in addition to her own wonderful work with her garden, my sister-in-law also enlisted the help of garden designer Andrew Marshall at Go Wild Landscaping, so credit should also go to him for that gem of a garden. If you live anywhere in Oxfordshire, Gloucestershire or Bucks., like what you see in my sister-in-law's garden and need a little help creating your dream garden, clicking on their company name above will take you to their website).

***

Last, but not least, a warm thank you for visiting and for all your kind comments. 
I apologize for being so absent on your blogs and I hope that 
I will one day be able to come and "see you" and say hello.

Wishing you all a fabulous rest of this week!
Helena

30 comments:

  1. What a beautiful outing. Stunning photos. Diane

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  2. Ååååååhhhh så vackert!!

    /kram

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  3. What a wonderful way to spend a sunny weekend. The wild garlic photos are fantastic.
    Paul

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  4. Vad härligt med ett livstecken från dig! :)
    Som vanligt är det alldeles underbara bilder du bjuder på! Det är ju verkligen som en sagovärld, det där Castle Combe!

    Stor kram till dig, goa fina du! ♥
    / Jonna

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  5. Det är så roligt och titta på dina bilder, otroligt vackra miljöer. Och undrar om det är samma vildlök som växer på Öland, förstår att det inte alls doftade vitsippor.
    Här kom värmen nu på em, slog om tvärt. Bara och hoppas att den håller sig kvar ett tag.
    Kramar
    AnnaMaria

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  6. Hej Helena,

    Kan du springa över och reservera stugan åt mig på första bilden är du snäll?? Jag är helt såld på den och flyttar in omgående! ;) Amen det är ju inte klokt så vackert det är i Castle Combe! Förstår att du och familjen dras dit som magneter så snart det finns tillfälle. Jag får lust att springa fram och krama om dessa sandfärgade stenhus och dra ett djuuupt andetag långt ner i de färgglada rabatterna hihi!

    Rolig historia om vitlöken, de lurade mig med, men menar du att den sprider vitlöksdoft där de uti backarna står?

    Skönt med vår minsann, men här skyndar den långsamt fram. Vilket i och för sig är bra så vi får njuta ordentligt. Nu har vi en långhelg att se fram emot. Hela familjen är ledig tom söndag, härligt!

    Nu ska jag bläddra upp och ta en titt till på dina alltid så fina bilder :)

    Ha en fin vecka - kramar Sanna

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  7. I was feeling a little down today. Looking at your lovely photographs of this beautiful place has perked me up a bit.

    Thanks
    Sue

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  8. Beautiful images as always! I have always loved Castle Combe - I used to visit there a lot with my husband before we were married, so it holds a special place in my heart - such a beautiful and magical place.
    Paula x

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  9. Dear Helena,
    I had a very bad day in my job today and I visited your blog just to relax from it all... I found your bolg some months ago and I was fascinated from your photos. We visited Great Britain last year and we are thinking to go back this summer - we were in Cornwall and near Bath and we want to see Bath and the surrounding landscape again. So your photos are our hints to learn what we can visit there if we can make this holiday in Great Britain real. Thank you so much or all thes wonderful photos, for the descriptions of the gardens, the flowers and of your life. Visiting your blog is a little holiday itself.
    Greetings from South-Western Germany (Palatine),
    Claudia

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  10. I have just discovered your beautiful blog! I cannot wait to spend an hour or two taking it all in.

    Have a great day, Elizabeth

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  11. My darling friend all that super gorgeous images make me think more and more I HAVE to come again in England to see these marvelous landscapes (and may be meet some friend)... =)
    All is beautiful and so calming, and your photos fantastic!
    A big hug
    Silvia

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  12. Så vackra vårbilder du visar...ser underbart ut...jag borde åka till England den här tiden på året:)Här är också våren på väg...men någon riktig värme har vi inte just nu. Ha en fin helg. Kram Maria

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  13. Underbara vårbilder och man ser grönskan verkligen har fått sitt! Oj, så det har regnat hos er och så skönt att ni fick lite sol till slut!

    Vilken ljuvlig landskap!
    Hoppas att ni får behålla solen och ljuset nu!

    Önskar dej en härlig helg!
    Kramar
    Lisa

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  14. A stunning part of the world, I adore Castle Coombe.....your photos are simply GORGEOUS!!

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  15. Hi Helena
    Thank you for that wonderful trip to Castle Combe. What a beautiful place. Oh... you don't like wild garlic? I love it...especially with some eggs, cream, salt, pepper and little sip of sherry in a frying pan :o).
    Have a lovely day!
    Alex

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  16. Beautiful !!!...love Ria....xxx...

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  17. Visit your Blog is like leafing through a beautiful picture book
    compliments

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  18. Kära Helena,

    Åh, en tur till min favoritby tillsammans med min favoritguide! Det var precis vad jag behövde ikväll efter en något turbulent dag. Att då kika in här hos dig och njuta av dina fantastiska foton och vackra ord är som balsam för själen. Tack finaste Helena!

    Sköt om dig!

    Kram Lotta

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  19. Beautiful and inspirational post. Your photography is amazing!
    xo,Lissy parker

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  20. I so enjoyed your expression "Mother Nature's Maternity Ward" and the wonderful tour of this beautiful place.

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  21. oh i so adore castle comb but through your lens coupled with your way with words, i enjoyed this escape with you helena

    happy sunshine!
    debra

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  22. So beautiful post and photo,dream place:)
    Hugs Nely!

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  23. Merci pour ces fabuleuses découvertes, l' Angleterre est magnifique! la météo en France n'est pas printanière non plus!

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  24. Finaste Helena.

    Tack för din hälsning, och för att du "ser efter mig" från din sida av världen. Nu är jag tillbaka, tror jag. Jag hoppas livet är vackert mot dig, att du skrev betydde väldigt mycket för mig.

    All värme,
    K.

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  25. Nå synes jeg virkelig du skal samle bildene dine,vennen og gi ut et bok!! Nydeilge bilder,Helena!! Du skuffer aldri!
    Klem♥

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  26. Otroligt vackert! Jag visste väl att Du skulle bli vitlöksfantast förr eller senare Du också!!! :-D
    Kram,
    Lena

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  27. What a beautiful place, that is like green paradise where I could stay the whole day.
    Kram, Henrietta

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  28. Just a quick hello, as I take my breath. I just found your blog and immediately "followed". I will look forward to your visiting my blog and commenting.

    Helen xx

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