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Last Thursday I emerged from my winter hibernation long enough to meet up with the lovely Lazy Trollop and the Highly Organised Helen Reeley at wonderful RHS Wisley in what is becoming an extremely enjoyable December tradition. The gardens couldn't have looked more festive with a sharp layer of festooning frost making Wizzers more wonderful than Oz. And accompanying us on our meander not a munchkin but a fat little robin who took a great liking to Helen and her hat.
There is so much at Wisley to see that even when the car parks seem full it is always possible to escape the crowds and find a quiet corner but on frosty Thursday we didn't need to as few had braved the cold. What a treat they missed!!
Even when cut down and decaying, gunnera still retains its architectural attraction (clic on any picture to enlarge)
We are always drawn to the Piet Oudolf borders, fabulous in summer with their rich tapestry textures in winter they excelled themselves, the beautiful brocade background of lace-leaved eryngiums appliquéd with sparkling beads of ice like the most fabulous couture ball gown.
Arching grasses piped with slivers of snow,
We were mesmerized by the borders as I still am by my photos, difficult to know which one I love the most. Zooming in and cropping them turns even the smallest detail into a fabulous picture.
A bewitching winter bouquet
A captivating contrast between the dark and dying stems and white frosted foliage
Did Piet design these borders with the knowledge they would be resplendent in summer, agreeable in autumn but totally spellbinding in winter? The man's a genius! but you all knew that already.
Eventually the call of cake is too strong and we drag ourselves away from the borders to the cafe with the robin sat directly outside the window by our table eyeing up my banana cake jealously.
A quick wander around the glass-house
after the festive delights of the borders the Christmas tree looked a little dull until Lazy Trollop and Helen brightened it up!
Inside the unusual 'poncey etta' trees looked more festive!!
Out into the rock garden - another of my favourite haunts and our rocking robin rejoins us, not too happy that we didn't save him any crumbs!
When I was a child I thought that Jenny Wrens were robins' wives.. a notion I didn't question until a few years ago when I suddenly thought "that can't be right." It is too charming not to be right and so I still believe it.
A wintery cobweb that looked unreal like a westward leading 'star of wonder' guiding us into the alpine houses.
We laughed all day as we always do on our meet-ups. The warmth of friends and the wonders of Wisley - better than any Christmas party!
And of course no party is complete without the inevitable Matthew Wilson tease!
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Lobster Massacre
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