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PHOTO GALLERY |
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Enid
Blyton's House
(28
June 2007)
click
on photo for larger image
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It
was during a very wet Wimbledon first week that the visit to Enid
Blyton's House, Old Thatch, at Bourne End in Buckinghamshire took place.
However, the rain stayed away and we found a lovely thatched cottage
with a beautiful garden to match on the edge of the Thames. On coming
through the gate there was a real cottage garden feel with a mass of
plants jostling each other.
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The
First Sight of Old Thatch
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On going round the corner of the house the
style changed dramatically to a formal path running along the side of the
house. The path was flanked with formal box hedges in rectangles with
white cosmos in the centre of the rectangles. Behind there were
beautifully clipped yew trees, which gave a formal look to this part of
the garden.
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The
Formal Walkway
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Continuing on the garden took on a less
formal look with lots of hidden secret corners everywhere, with a surprise
round each, little ponds, surrounded by plants and ferns, along with
walkways and arches of flowers and lovely shrubs. There was a little bit
of formality in that the edges of the lawns were beautifully clipped and
Jackie Hawthorne, the owner with her husband David, checked that no one
was standing on the edge and destroying it.
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A
Hidden Pond
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Having gone round the gardens we then met at
the back of the house where we were able to sit outside and were given a
glass of wine and nibbles. The nibbles were much more than we had expected
and were a wonderful surprise. They were not just crisps and peanuts, but
cooked nibbles. One which was particularly different was slices of sweet potatoes
that had been put under the grill and then topped with a secret topping,
which resembled a mayonnaise type dip, but tasted fantastic.
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Sitting
Down for Wine and Nibbles
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David and Jackie had only opened their
garden to the public four years ago although they had never planned to do
this. Everyone was very glad that they had as it gave them opportunity to
have a very enjoyable evening in the tranquility of such a lovely place.
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