This must surely have been my last National Gardens Scheme visit of the season. It took me south, just over the Somerset/Dorset border to a village called Ryme Intrinseca, and this working farm. “Ryme Intrinseca is generally regarded as one of the most interesting of all village names in the County of Dorset, and was so regarded by John Betjeman in his poem, ‘Dorset'” (source and further explanation here.) It was a chilly and overcast day, but I was well wrapped up, including gloves, and I really enjoyed my autumn stroll.
I drove past the farmhouse,
and into its yard to park. At the front of the house I took a plasticised map, with a few words on the back:
Having taken a quick photo of the formal garden, to which I would return, my route was via the vegetable garden to the long thin wooded area, back through the vegetables and round the garden, then into the orchard at the north-east of the plot. I crossed behind the farm buildings to the stables, then into the wild garden and wooded area, finishing in the paddock.
A tiny plaque on top of this sculpture, inscribed “JME 1936-2007”, says it all.
Moving back into the vegetables on the way back to the formal garden there are other delights:
Eventually, one is back in the lawned area in front of the house.
There were not just apple trees in the orchard.
Now into what is called the Paddock.
Emerging out on to the drive once more, I was pleased to see what is presumably the 250-year-old oak.
Someone with clearly a good knowledge of horticulture visited under the NGS scheme on a sunny day in March 2019 (that other era). Her blog is here.
Ryme Intrinseca is an interesting name for a town! Frankham Farm looks like a lovely place to visit, and I enjoyed the tour. The cork oak growing there is a fine specimen.
I fell for cork oaks when I was on a singing holiday with a Dutch group in Portugal. (Apart from the tutor I was the only English person – we worked in English!) I loved the shape of the cork oaks, as tended by the Portuguese farmers, and enjoyed the pigs rootling about underneath for the acorns.
Encore une sortie et un jardin intéressants. Déjà rien que pour le nom du village !
Avec les dernières couleurs de la saison, ces belles écorces et une pomme qui donne envie de la croquer !
Lavinia Ross said:
Ryme Intrinseca is an interesting name for a town! Frankham Farm looks like a lovely place to visit, and I enjoyed the tour. The cork oak growing there is a fine specimen.
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Musiewild said:
I fell for cork oaks when I was on a singing holiday with a Dutch group in Portugal. (Apart from the tutor I was the only English person – we worked in English!) I loved the shape of the cork oaks, as tended by the Portuguese farmers, and enjoyed the pigs rootling about underneath for the acorns.
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Musiewild said:
I love cork even more now! This has appeared in today’s ‘Observer’: https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2020/oct/24/the-house-that-cork-built-is-this-the-ultimate-eco-friendly-material?CMP=share_btn_link
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Olive Simpson said:
Fab colours this autumn – but some combinations there that are truly dramatic! Looks like a lovely place to visit even without sunshine. XX
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Musiewild said:
Yes, I must return in the spring, now that I have got into the habit of NGS visiting.
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thegardengateisopen said:
We too had a very enjoyable visit and thank you for mentioning my blog.
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Musiewild said:
I was pleased to be able to show how different the garden looked at another time of year, thank you.
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susanpoozan said:
I always like being taken on a garden tour by you, you include such an interesting mixture of subjects for your excellent photographs.
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Musiewild said:
I enjoy looking things up afterwards.
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susanpoozan said:
Very satisfying.
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tootlepedal said:
Bokeh is much prized and many photographers go to great lengths to achieve it. If that was your last garden visit, it was a good one.
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Musiewild said:
Until next year… whenever that may be in these weird times.
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maryh said:
A splendid record of your tour, with the close-ups and wider shots. Lovely autumn colours. Glad the app for identifying plants came in useful.
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Musiewild said:
Thank you Mary.
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Christine said:
Encore une sortie et un jardin intéressants. Déjà rien que pour le nom du village !
Avec les dernières couleurs de la saison, ces belles écorces et une pomme qui donne envie de la croquer !
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Musiewild said:
I wasn’t tempted at all – having no desire to sleep for many years (though it might be rather useful at present!)
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Christine said:
😉
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