POD was beside herself with excitement at the prospect of jumping in muddy puddles. Waterproofed from head to toe she must have said “we jump in muddy puddles” at least ten times before we left the house.
We’ve visited The Royal Landscape before, its a man-made landscape that’s been shaped and planted over 400 years. Covering a thousand acres of garden and parkland, you’ll find the Virginia Water Lake there and its surrounding Georgian landscape. Not to mention two Internationally famous gardens – The Savill and Valley Gardens.
It wasn’t the day for browsing the gardens so we opted for a walk in the parkland. There’s a lot to see 
too whether it be the 100 foot Totem pole, a cascade, an obelisk raised by George II and part of a ruined city imported from North Africa.
The 100 foot high Totem pole was erected in 1958 to mark the centenary of British Columbia as a Crown Colony. POD enjoyed looking up it whilst gripping the railings.
She was in here element here. There were muddy puddles everywhere and we even came across a pond with both brown and white swans. Birds sat comfortably in trees surrounding the lake.
The knobbly trees were fascinating. Several looked like they had faces and one even looked like it had the head of a rhino! We also saw acorns and chestnuts on our travels.
At the waterlily-filled Cow Pond, the heavens opened. Taking shelter for a short while, we all donned our waterproofs and continued walking. The monsoon like rain did keep us entertained though and POD was happy, it meant even more muddy puddles!
We’re linking this post up with Country Kids over at Coombe Mill. If you have an outdoor post you’d like to share, click on the badge below.
Imagine my delight when an email arrived with an invitation to enter the RHS’s first gardening blogging competition. They’re looking for posts about all things garden including days out at gardens and flower shows, gardening activities for kids and what’s happening in your own garden.
Many garden related posts have been written over these past months. But it seemed appropriate to reflect on what we’ve been up to at RHS Wisley given we’ve spent so much time there recently. Based in Surrey, it’s renowned as a world class garden that captures the imagination with richly planted borders and luscious rose gardens.
Our first visit this year was to see the butterflies in their state-of-the-art Glasshouse. As a keen photographer I was delighted to capture The Owl species even if it meant hovering my lens over someone’s shoulder! POD absolutely loved seeing them too and saying hello to the ducks afterwards was almost as exciting!
What’s amazing about RHS Wisley is that it changes every time you visit. A pond we’ve previously seen encircled by ducks for example was filled with Waterlilies and surrounded by fabulously lush scenery last time we visited. It’s funny how somewhere can ooze such peace and tranquility even with a toddler in tow!
The canal and Loggia always looks rather splendid but even more so on a sunny day. The adjacent walled 
garden provides the perfect place to stop and take it in amid a sea of purple and white.
We’ve wandered to the Arboretum and Fruit Field to see ripening grapes and an orchard with apples, pears and berries. At the broadwalk on Battleston Hill we’ve found Hydrangeas with large pointy heads not to mention award-winning Dahlias, Blackberries and Clematis.
The huge cathedral-like Glasshouse showcases a mind-blowing collection of plants across three climatic zones. It’s a bit like walking into a jungle with all the palms and creepers everywhere. I love it in there.
We’ve seen beautiful and exotic plants including difficult to grow, rare and endangered species.
We’ve also had a peek at the Garden Photographer of the Year exhibition there and an impressive Fuchsia display. The waterfall is always a beautiful sight – amazing how falling water instills a sense of calm.
RHS Wisley has varying events on throughout the year – one of which is The Scarecrow Trail. Designed by local Women’s Institute members, 100 uniquely designed scarecrows are dotted around seven acres.
With the theme ‘Strictly Scarecrows’, mostly were based on the TV programme although there were a couple made of straws and bubble wrap. There was even a crow created from bin bags, cut into strips like feathers. Our favourite scarecrow was Mary Poppins although POD insisted on introducing “Rabbit” to nearly all of them.
Finally, my love for close-up photography took us to our first Wisley Flower Show which is described as a spectacular yet informal late summer show. You can browse, buy and obtain advice from around 50 nurseries and garden trade stands including RHS Chelsea and Hampton Court Palace Flower Show medal winners. There’s also an Expert Zone offering advice and demonstrations from nursery owners and Wisley 
garden staff.
The most amazing explosion of colour greeted us when we arrived. There were wonderful displays with everything from Canna, Lillies and Clematis to Bonsai trees, Hostas and airplants. Not forgetting an array of unusual house plants and rare tropical varieties. We also saw the The National Dahlia Society Show which was pretty special.
I’ve taken hundreds of photographs at RHS Wisley recently – the slideshow showcases just some of my favourites. It really is somewhere that captures the imagination, whatever the time of year, and it’s a great family day out. It’s for that reason I’m entering PODcast grappling with a box of frogs into the RHS Gardening Blogs 2013 competition.
We’re linking this post up with How Does Your Garden Grow? at Mammasaurus. If you’d like to join in, just click on badge below.
When POD was a baby we signed up for a swimming course with the view to building her confidence. She loved it and was photographed under water just 3 months later. Incredible really.
We returned for a second term as she was enjoying it so much. But a few weeks in, our visits to the pool came to an abrupt end. POD continued to enjoy being dunked under the water but I broke my wrist. Badly. With one of us out, sessions became more difficult. When the term ended we decided not to renew.
It was almost a year before we were able to start again. This photograph was taken at the beginning of that first session. It kicked off really well initially but three dives proved one to many. With cries of “get my out” and much screaming we left the pool before the class finished.
The next week it was clear she was terrified. She gripped Daddy so tightly you could see the strain in her fingers. After ten minutes in the pool we decided to leave. We were advised to continue trying so each week we arrived and each week it was the same, out of the pool within ten minutes. For the last session both of us were allowed in the pool. There was a slight improvement in that POD loosened her grip but she was still scared. We left it for six months after that.
Yesterday we took POD to the local sports centre where they run a toddler session. We hoped it would provide her with the opportunity to get used to the water. There was a crab, whale and turtle to sit on, a jacuzzi-like pool and a pirate ship. Not to mention water slides and shutes.
POD was apprehensive at first and insisted on being carried. But over time, she was walking in the shallow waters holding Daddy’s hand. Gradually she let go of his hand until finally she walked freely in the water issuing the occasional instruction as to where she wanted to go.
Although she had no interest in the toddler group, where the water was much deeper, POD braved a water slide on her own and lay on Daddy’s tummy down a water shute. She stayed in the pool for almost an hour!
It was amazing to see her confidence build during that time. And by taking little steps, we hope she will learn to love the pool again just as much as she loves her bath!
We’re linking this post up with What’s The Story? on PODcast and Magic Moments at The Oliver’s Madhouse.
Hello everyone and welcome to What’s The Story?
As always, all the stories you shared last week were great reads. Autism Mumma wrote a post about two best friends, Lilinha Angel’s World wanted to turn back time and Family Four Fun captured a great moment on the school run. We also read about Chelsea Mamma’s daredevil husband jumping out of a plane, Suzanne from 3 Children and It braving a zip wire in France and Our Time of Gifts surrounding herself with pears!
Great photos included offerings from Catch a Single Thought, Verily Victoria Vocalises and Mum Turned Mom. Not forgetting that wonderful capture from A Party of Seven.
What’s The Story? is all about sharing the stories behind your favourite photographs. To join in all you need to do is share a photograph and describe the story behind it. You can say as little or as much as you like.
You can select a photo taken at ANY time – there are no restrictions on when it must have been taken. You might choose a photo you took recently or an oldie. New posts are always the best but you can link up older ones should you wish as well. What’s The Story? is open from 6.30am every Monday until the following Sunday.
Help yourself to the What’s The Story? badge and do share some comment love on your fellow bloggers posts too. Have a great week everyone.
After the wonderful airplants and Dhalias from the Wisley Flower Show, this week we’re back at The Doves.
The Sunflowers POD and I planted as seeds earlier this year are beginning to bloom. Hurrah! Although the bees had all but disappeared, they’ve been back with a vengeance dancing around the first fully opened Sunflower. This despite being blown around in what were some really gusty winds.
A lonesome ladybird was huddled in one of the unopened buds, you could almost see it straining it was clinging so tightly!
The photograph you see of a green door is a very special place, it’s a new outside toilet. The POD Father has worked really hard flooring it with leftover wood and tiling around the sink. It’s rather lovely there now, he’s done a superb job.
We’ve seen lots of rather delicious looking blackberries and apples appear in the garden recently. Although the birds are beating us to it, there is definitely some fruit there for the taking!
The upside of the wet weather is more macro practice with the humbug snails. It’s such an incredible sight seeing them hang off the stems of our Red Hot Pokers which in themselves look rather striking with their 
blackened pods.
The Canna’s bright yellow petals have now disappeared leaving behind rather interesting buds. Their stripey leaves do look rather beautiful littered with rain drops.
Autumn is definitely upon us. A walk in the woods with POD was a wonderful reminder of how good a smell it is though. And I loved seeing the excitement on her face when she jumped in her first muddy puddle!
We’re linking up to How Does Your Garden Grow? with Mammasaurus. Click on the badge below to join in.
This is the view from the balcony of a riad we stayed at in Marrakech. The photograph was taken in 2010 before POD arrived. We decided to go to Morocco for a long weekend without really knowing what to expect.
The taxi we had from the airport dropped us off in a dusty street and pointed at an alleyway when we asked where our riad was. The sense of unease was quashed however when we located a big black door with a beautiful riad the other side. It was a place of calm, a stark contrast to the mayhem we’d just experienced. Our room was wonderful and a roof terrace provided a superb location for breakfast. The door you see to the left was where we ate dinner and chose wine from a secret menu.
Outside this place of beauty, all sense of direction departed you. Even though we knew exactly where we were heading, there are so many distractions, we soon lost our focus. It was a mistake to stare at a map like a couple of lost tourists. Within minutes we’d been approached by locals keen to show us where to go.
Totally lost it wasn’t long before we selected someone and headed through a labyrinth of alleyways. There seemed no logic to any of them. We did end up where we wanted to be.
The best way to get around the Medina is by foot. Other than scooters, that appear from all directions, it’s closed to traffic.
There was an endless maze of markets and the souks comprised of alleyways of small retail outlets. If you ventured in, it was presumed you would purchase. A mix of specialisms covering everything from carpets and textiles to spices, clothing and blankets. Not forgetting alligator skins.
The renowned Djemaa El-Fna square was home to juice vendors, henna tattoo artists, astrologers, magicians and monkey trainers. We were collared by the snake charmers when one of their ‘team’ discovered us taking a photograph from way back. Before we knew it we both had snakes round our necks.
Although real snakes they appeared dead to us. We were asked to hold each just below it’s head, presumably to show unsuspecting tourists they were alive. They resembled something you’d find in a party shop rather than a reptile enclosure!
It was a truly memorable weekend and it may have also have been where POD was conceived. She did arrive nine months later after all.
We’re linking this post up with What’s The Story? on this blog and Magic Moments at The Oliver’s Madhouse.
Thank you to everyone who joined in with What’s The Story? last week. So many fantastic posts.
The photographs that made us smile came from Catch a Single Thought, Only Best for Baby, The Brick Castle and Mud Mud Marvellous Mud. Wonderful captures included White Feathers & so much more…, Man and Buggy and Lou’s Lake Views.
Stories that were simply beautiful came from Red Peffer, Super Busy Mum and The Syders. Not forgetting The 40 Year Old Domestic Goddess who took us back the London 2012 Olympics.
What’s The Story? is all about sharing the stories behind your favourite photographs. To join in you just have to share a photograph and describe the story behind it. You can say as little or as much as you like.
You can select a photo taken at ANY time – there are no restrictions on when it must have been taken. You might choose a photo you took recently or an oldie. New posts are always the best but you can link up older ones should you wish. What’s The Story? is open from 6.30am every Monday until the following Sunday.
The What’s The Story? badge is below and do share some comment love on your fellow bloggers posts too. Have a fabulous week everyone.
