Several weeks ago, I booked a visit to a private garden in Swallowfield. Handpost is a 4 acre garden, owned by Garden Designer Faith Ramsey. (Her business is My Country Garden ) I needed a reasonable size group, and asked Breeze Champs Sarah and Rosie from Cookham/Maidenhead if they fancied bringing along a few ladies to join us? They loved the idea. Unfortunately Rosie wasn't well enough to ride today, but drove instead to join us there. And one of their riders had last minute problems with her bike, so she also drove.
Since we were a large group we started from 3 locations, our aim to offer a ride of around 22 miles. I nearly had a disaster meeting at Cantley this morning with the Cockham ladies, since although I said Cantley, I gave them the postcode for Morrisons! Oops! Thankfully it was questioned at 8am, and corrected just in time. Sorry about that! 😳
My group went via Woosehill Cyclepaths, Blagrove Lane to FBC (with a quick loo stop there), then the Greenway to Arborfield, over Farley Hill to Swallowfield. We returned via Beech Hill, and Shinfield to Cutbush Lane paths through Lower Earley. Route link (Map photo at end of blog. )
Jill set off from FBC. She went via Bramshill, Mattingley and Heckfield. Returning via Arborfield.
Cathy and Hazel left from Montague Park to Crowthorne, Moor Green Lakes, and Bramshill. Also returning via Arborfield.
The lanes and paths were all looking gorgeous this morning., so we all had a lovely ride in sunshine.
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| Arriving at Handpost, Swallofield. |
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Faith gave a short talk about the garden, then we were free to wander to enjoy for about 45 mins.
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| There were lots of Aquilegas. You can see why they are names "Granny's Bonnets". |
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| Blue Iris, with dark Maroon Centaurea. (could be variety Jordy?) |
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| Iris, pale blue Camassia, with lots of Alliums behind. |
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I love this dark blackcurrent Geranium Phaeum.
One of the earliest Geraniums to flower and happy in shade. |
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| The scent from the Wisteria was beautiful |
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| Euphrobia Palustrus by the pond |
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| Nodding heads of Geum Rivale |
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| Plenty of open space too. |
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| The grass paths mown, with the wild flower meadows doing their thing. |
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| Camassia Paler blue variety. |
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| Faith chatting with some of the ladies |
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| large flowering Clematis in the herb garden |
At 12 sharp, tea and cake was served. And we all spread out to various seating areas. Although some definitely hovered near the cakes! 😉
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| Rosie, quickly getting a Breeze Champ jacket on! 😂 |
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Amazing. Absolutely everyone is looking at the camera..
... apart from baby Fern.
Left to right above. Back Row Barbara, Sandra, Gill, Karen, Andrea, Amanda O, Lindsay, Rose, Denise,Kim, Hazel H, Louise, Amanda T, Amy, Caroline R, Daphne, Caroline G, Angie, Pam, Clare.
Front Row . Linda C with baby Fern, CHAMPS Rosie, Cathy, Sarah, Anne, Jill, Hazel K. |
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| Wokingham's new Breeze Facebook Banner! |
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| 12.30. About to split into 3 groups for our separate return routes. |
I said I would copy Faith on my blog, so an opportunity to THANK her once again for sharing her beautiful garden with us this morning. Everyone really enjoyed a leisurely 90 mins relaxing and chatting in your garden. Thank you too for excellent cakes.
Thanks to everyone who joined the ride this morning. Too many to talk to, but think I just about managed to at least say a quick hello to most. Map for my route below. Anne
