As you know I went ABROAD in the SPRING TIME to take in some WONDERFUL OLD GARDENS!

I think I will let YOU WANDER THE GROUNDS through my lens and take it ALL IN………..

I had NEVER heard of GREAT DIXTER before.

As we drove up the driveway I had tears in my eyes……….I had know idea what awaited me or WHY I was reacting that way!

CHRISTOPHER LLOYD’s house where he was born.

Great Dixter was the home of gardener and gardening writer Christopher Lloyd (1921-2006), who developed it into a hub of ideas and connections that spread out across the world.He loved Music and SIR PAUL Mc CARTHY was a good friend of HIS and GREAT DIXTER.He lives just down the road………in a small town called PEA……….something!!!!

As our Guide spoke this door OPENNED and two barking DACHSHUNDS came bouncing out at FULL SPEED! Behind them was the GARDENER with a tray of TEA.He was headed down to his office as he lives in this GRAND OLD HOUSE now that CHRISTOPHER LLOYD has passed.

FACTS ABOUT THIS BREED……….

The AMERICAN MEADOW he wanted to create with seeds brought back from the USA!

I like the petals MORE than the FLOWER HERE!

They look like EYES!

The BARN that houses the HOPS is from THE ELIZABETHAN TIMES.

As most of you are aware THAT is my name……..Elizabeth and as most of you are unaware I ALWAYS have HOPS hanging in my living room!!!!!!

I ADORE BARNS…………………just for your FYI!!!!

I WANTED TO RE-FURBISH ONE IN FLORENCE and MAKE THAT OUR HOME years ago but as you can see THAT DREAM NEVER came TRUE!

Here we have the GARDNER headed back to the house with the tray and empty cups!

There were TWO dogs one wasNOT leashed so he must have sprinted ahead!

NURSERY where you can purchase plants.

This house was not huge to begin with but was added on too over time.

The last addition being in 1910.

The compost PILE.

THAT RAY OF LIGHT???!!!!!!

There it is AGAIN!!!!!

I think CHRISTO was following me around the GARDEN in a form of a STREAK of LIGHT!

This was BEAUTIFUL………….a border of Highs and Lows.

These are stairs that were made in a circular fashion.

WORKS doesn’t it?

I would NEVER have thought of THAT!

Now, I want SOME!!!!

ME

looking oh so AMERICAN in my YUME CAFTAN from CYPRESS!

I only BUY the MEN’s style as they are long enough for me to wear without leggings.

YES!

This is a MAN’s PINK CAFTAN!

I always dressed my BOYS in PINK when they were small………..it is a VERY EUROPEAN Color did YOU know THAT?

A wall in the old chicken coop made with recycled roof tiles!!!!!!!

DON’T YOU LOVE IT?!!!!!!

Sunken Garden and The ELIZABETHAN BARN in the background.

They were BIG into POTS!

THE HOUSE of GREAT DIXTER where CHRISTOPHER Lloyd was born.

A project of re-thaching …………

Christo as HE was called was an ECCENTRIC MAN.

He wrote a monthly column for COUNTRY LIFE MAGAZINE for 39 years!

His Mother had all the BOYS do NEEDLEPOINT as children……………remember there was NO Television or internet back in the day!I of course, LOVED THIS as well………………his pillows and chair cushions still reside on the seats they were made for!Many were Flower motifs!

There was an old horse pond that was used back in THE DAY; for taking the swelling out of the horses ankles where CHRISTO would nap or take his TEA after a meal…………..he would listen to the visitors as he was half way hidden by the grasses and either invite them to SUPPER(HE was a VERY GOOD COOK!)or invite them to take some TEA with him on his blanket by the pond!Or engage in a conversation if HE didNOT like what he heard!!!!!

HE SOUNDS like a WONDERFUL ECCENTRIC MAN I would have been KEEN to meet!

I am currently reading EVERY BOOK I can get my hands on about GREAT DIXTER.

This book below is a GEM.

People who knew him in LIFE have written THEIR stories or memories to share.I ENJOYED THIS BOOK VERY MUCH.If you have been to GREAT DIXTER or are headed THAT way YOU may want to track down a copy of this book as it really gives you an insight into WHO HE WAS.

Now, that I have VIEWED these photos once AGAIN

I feel the NEED to get out THERE and F I X my Garden!

Wish me LUCK!

PERHAPS, I SHOULD CHANGE!!!!