Last Sunday, we headed off to Montacute House in Somerset. Not the brightest of days, but that was OK. We were looking forward to showing the children the house’s art collection. Especially along the 53 metre Long Gallery.
I hadn’t realized that they had a room of samplers, which were beautiful and varied. I could have easily spent more time in there, studying the stitches. Intricate designs and motifs. 
You can take photos inside. I felt it would have got in the way, so all my photos are outside. I found the huge box hedging which inspired me over a decade ago, to do the same in our garden. I bought one plant and took cuttings. I now have a well established hedge and other plants around our garden. Not on the same scale.
The children had fun trying to figure out how they achieved a uniform flat top on such a large area. They came up with a few over the top ideas.
They enjoyed exploring the garden. Finding an archway through the wibbly wobbly yew hedge, down to the Ice House. They tell me.
The children loved the fish in the fountain. The wind blew the spray of the fountain around, dowsing passers-by every now and again. The children soon worked out the the fish would follow them around the pond. Possibly mistaking us for the member of staff who fed them.
The fish have inspired me. Hopefully, I’ll share a new craft project soon, based on the fish and their intricate markings.
It’s still early in the year. The orangery is closed for repair. I loved the borders filled with a sea of tulips. Shoots of peonies, showing promise. All protected by a cage of woven twigs.
I have plans to replicate the interwoven pattern made by the dwarf lavender and the box hedge. Very clever.
The day may have been windy and cold, but we enjoyed our outing. Heartily glad of the cake and hot drinks in the courtyard cafe.
Linking up with Fiona at Coombe Mill again. A wave to all the other #CountryKids.
Wow those fish are huge! Looks like such a wonderful place to visit and what a lovely building too. I love the colour of the stone #countrykids
It’s called Ham stone and it is such a warm colour. The fish were huge and quite friendly. I think a bit of fish tickling may have happened, before I caught up with the children!
What a beautiful place to be able to explore, there’s so much to see and do just in the grounds I imagine the inside of the house is just as exciting. They’ve really gone all out on their landscaping, it’s amazing how flat the top of their hedges are, I wonder how your kids thought they got it so even. It’s great that the fish follow you around the edge of the fountain, I bet gave the kids a laugh. Thanks for linking up with me on #CountryKids.
The views from the house are so well staged. The landscapers knew what they were doing. There were a few totally outlandish suggestions, including helicopters and dangling gardeners from rope, which would be amusing to see, if nothing else. 😀
I’d love to visit. That looks absolutely stunning! Love places like this. It allows you a glimpse of the past 🙂
The house is stunning, too. I realise I didn’t include a photo of the front of it. The children come up with such interesting questions and assumptions about the past, that I can’t help laughing, sometimes. We do have great conversations about how it might have been in its hey-day.
Wow, what an absolutely gorgeous place!! I’d love to go there, looks like a great day out for the little ones too 🙂
They did enjoy it.
That looks like such a beautiful place to explore, my son would love those fish too #CountryKids
They were a hit with my children.
What an amazing garden. I wonder if that cage is to support the peonies when they do flower? They are such heavy flowers that they usually flop over that is a lovely way to support them if that is what it is for.
You could be right. Just looked back at my unpublished photos. I really ought to use the same system with my peonies. Far prettier than the wire frames I’ve used in the past. I have a lot of willow and hazel that would be perfect.
This house is very similar in lots of ways with Hartwell House up this way. A lovely way to spend your time, we go up there a few times over the summer.
Totally agree. It is a great way to spend a day. I’ll have to look up Hartwell House.