There is no reason for this post other than for the simple fact that spring is a time for flowers and I like flowers and I like spring so I thought it would be nice to share a few photos with you. That’s all!
So, as promised, here they are. Before I go on please, if you want to experience a vision of really great flower photographs, do visit a couple of lovely ladies who just happen to have stunning blogs:
Theresa at dba Third Hand Art – for gorgeous photographs and digital art too
Jude over at Earth laughs in flowers…, – beautiful flower photographs
Meanwhile, here are mine:
Firstly, these are taken from Barrington Court, a National Trust house and gardens not far from us. If you want to visit just the gardens and the workshops, which are open during normal business hours and include a pottery barn, fabric shop, hand-made jewellery and woodworking shop, you don’t have to pay a parking or entrance fee. Always on the look out for freebies, that I am!
A truly beautiful place if you want to take a long walk within some tranquil and immaculately cared-for grounds.
I was rather taken with this fountain:
Not to mention the walled garden with the hidden doors which reminded me so much of one of my all-time favourite books, The Secret Garden.
What’s not to love about that story?
These next photographs were taken during a walk through the gardens of Minterne Magna, a gorgeous, privately owned estate situated half-way between the towns of Sherborne and Dorchester in Dorset.
Watch out for this magnificent stag, he appears out of nowhere….
…but don’t worry, he’s not real. He’s made of willow!
Just had to share, this is St Andrew’s Church at the entrance to the gardens. It dates back to late medieval times and contains memorials belonging to the Digby, Napier and Churchill families.
St Andrew’s Church, Mintern Magna
(c) Sherri Matthews 2014
Then just to round off:
Today I took my usual walk around the neighbourhood. When I left my house, the sun was shining but it was a little chilly. Then dark clouds rolled up and I got caught in driving rain. Determined to carry on, the clouds parted and the sun shone again, drying me out just in time before my return home. You never know what you’re going to get around here!
Enjoy your spring wherever you are today, my friends, and see you soon 🙂
A View From My Summerhouse 
Such lovely spring flowers! And thanks for the link Sherri 🙂 I love Barrington Court – we stopped there on our way back to Surrey from Somerset almost 5 years ago http://wp.me/p3jVw4-nZ
lovely Jekyll inspired gardens. I adore her work. Now you have me confused. Do you live in Somerset near the Dorset border then? I thought you were closer to the coast for some reason. A pretty part of the country. I’m wondering whether we should be looking in that region (though it’s excruciatingly expensive) as it would be closer to the grand-kids.Well at least the ones in this country!
Jude xx
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Hi Jude, at last, phew…what a week. You are more than welcome, and I’ve left a comment on your Barrington Court post… 🙂 xx
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Thanks Sherri. We are re-evaluating our priorities now. Let you know how we get on 🙂
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Looking forward to hearing all about it… 🙂 xx
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Mmmm, I love flowers, Sherri. Your photos are so bright and crisp, I can almost smell them. I love the feeling of the rustic and old architecture of the hidden doors, garden walls and St. Andrews church. It’s interesting how you and I must be on the same wavelength, as I’m working on a post with pictures and a video on a walkabout I recently took close to home.
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Hi Pat! Thank you, I thought of you when I put this post up hoping you would enjoy a little taste of some English countryside close to where I live! I’m looking forward to your post, catching up today… 🙂
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Ahh, you’re always welcome, Sherri. I’m catching up, too, and trying to get back in gear on the internet.
It’s snowing here and has been over Mother’s Day weekend (8″ and still snowing). Throws me back into hibernate mode but working on poking my nose out again.
The post has been slow going — I don’t know why — ran into some techy things on video edits and the words are stuck. I’ll keep working at it, though, and will get it. 🙂
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I’m SO glad you didn’t resist the urger to share spring flowers with us, Sherri! These are delightful…especially the “Private” entrance door! Imagine opening THAT door and what you might see, hear, smell…and feel!
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Ahh…I’m so glad too that you enjoyed this taste of some of the countryside not far from where I live. Knowing how much doors mean to you (loved your last post as you know!) I had you in mind very much with this door photo…and yes, just imagine…really stirs the senses doesn’t it? Thank you Marylin 🙂
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Beautiful photos Sherri, I particularly like the secret garden one 🙂
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Thanks so much Mikey, so glad you enjoyed it 🙂
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I thought it was a real stag! 🙂
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HaHa! I wondered if I could trick anyone! I was given quite a stir I have to say when we first came across it, thinking it was real too! Very impressive isn’t he, but glad he wasn’t real being so close by 🙂
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Ah…I’m completely relaxed now, Sherri…thank you for that! These are all such beautiful photos. I agree with Marylin, oh the door marked “private”…I’m dying to know what is behind that door. Would you be willing to go back and investigate, perhaps open it? 🙂 Just kidding!
Thanks for brightening up my day! xoxo
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So glad to brighten your day Jill, thank you!! It’s been an absolutely manic week for me, hence the lateness with replying and working on my post for later today but I’m glad that these photos brought you some relaxation! Isn’t that door wonderful? Ties in with Marylin’s ‘door’ post as a good writing prompt…and yes, the mere fact that it says ‘private’ just begs for it to be opened so that we can take a peek at what beckons…and don’t tempt me Jill, haha 🙂 Happy Friday, see you later… xoxoxo
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the photos are a treat to look at. I love the book you mentioned too and would like to recommend another book. The Forgotten Garden by aussie writer Kate Morton.
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Thank you Sharon, so glad you enjoyed these photos! Many thanks too for letting me know about The Forgotten Garden, I’ve never heard of it but will definitely look out for it 🙂
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This has been a lovely tour. Thank you, Sherri. I enjoyed walking along and enjoying the view. Your pictures are amazing. I could almost smell the scented air and I know what you meant about The Secret Garden. That thought crossed my mind as well. You take fantastic photos. Thank YOU. ❤
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Tess, it was a pleasure to have you join me in this walk and so glad that you got to enjoy this view of some of the countryside where I live. You are always so complimentary about my photos, thank you so much!. I just point and shoot and hope they turn out semi-decent so it is always great to know that they can be enjoyed here. I would love to have a really good camera though…one of these days… 🙂 😉 🙂
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One of these days? Sounds like too long. ❤
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Yes Tess…come to think of it, it is too long…time to put that right and find a way…you inspire me so much!! ~~*-*~~ 🙂
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Ha. Sherri, you are way too generous. Don’t we all inspire each other? 🙂 🙂
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Yes we do, definitely 🙂 🙂 🙂
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Beautiful
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Thank you very much Andy 🙂
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I love The Secret Garden and to think there’s a real one there. Beautiful pictures.
Sunni
http://sunni-survivinglife.blogspot.com/
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Thank you very much Sunni. I came over to your site and tried to comment on a couple of posts but they didn’t publish. I’ll have another try a bit later but wanted you to know that I have been over there and loved your oriole post and photographs… 🙂
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As always some stunning photos and beautiful history in the mix. How I wish I had a Secret Garden door this minute 😄. Shame you got wet but the photos say it was worthwhile. Thanks Sherri. Susan ❤
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Thank you very much Susan! Wouldn’t a Secret Garden door be so wonderful? I was blessed to have had a garden to play in as a child which had a wall along one side, but it didn’t have a door! To this day, I long to have a garden like that again…well, we can dream, right? Yes, always good to get out and about in the fresh air rain or shine… 😉 x
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Beautiful photos, Sherri! I love flowers!!! 🙂
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Thank you so much Patsy, some flowers here for you from me 🙂
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Thanks, Sherri! 🙂
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🙂
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Beautiful! 🙂
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Thank you so much Lilka, and yes, I’m so glad to show you some English flowers knowing how much you love all flowers and how beautiful your own flower photos are 🙂
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Thanks for bringing us to the garden, Sherri. I can smell the new grass and the fresh air. I’ll go check the blogs you linked to. 🙂
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Thank you very much Imelda, always so lovely to have you take a walk through these gardens with me 🙂
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Thank you very much for the link Sherri. Your flower photos are just simply gorgeous! Would love to visit Barrington Court and Minterne Magna… someday.
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My pleasure Theresa, you know how much I love your blog and had to share it with others! I’m so glad you enjoyed these visits with me and you know that anytime you decide to ‘pop over’, you have a tour guide ready and waiting…and then we can go for a lovely cream tea afterwards 🙂
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Thank you for sharing…the images are so soothing and beautiful…just so refreshing to embrace. You made my day, thanks!
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Thank you so much Wendell, how lovely! I’m always so blessed by your visits here and to know that you enjoyed these photographs brings me great joy. Blessings to you dear friend 🙂
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Oh, The Secret Garden – something else we have in common Sherri, it was also one of my favourite reads. That willow stag gets about, doesn’t he- I’m sure I’ve seen him at Wisley!
Lovely pics. There’s nowhere nicer than England in springtime, is there?
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I had a feeling it might be Jenny! What a wonderful book to get totally lost in isn’t it? Haha, well, I guess that old stag does get about…Wisley eh? Hmm…I wonder where else he takes off to when we’re not looking… 😉
Thanks Jenny and yes, England in the springtime is a most beautiful place to be… and I’m so thankful… 🙂
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Good old British weather, eh 😉
I love the west country – born and bred there. My heart will always be with it!
I’ve never actually read The Secret Garden, but I used to adore the film as a youngster. Maybe I should make a point of reading it someday!
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HaHa!! Yep, that great British weather 😉 Nothing like it is there? But I always make sure to have my magical brolly on hand in case, as it does have its other, more practical uses 😉 You just never know what you’re going to get!
Oh Jenny Jen Jen, you must read the book, I adored the film too and I know you will feel the same about the book… 🙂
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Aha, nope! I heard someone refer to the British weather as “moody” the other day. You never know what you’re going to get, indeed. But moody does seem like an ideal word. It verges on bipolar 😉
I’m sure I would love the book (: I’ll add it to my reading list!
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Yes…I like that…definitely describes our weather! Have a great weekend Jenny Jen Jen, lovely seeing you here… hugs and blue skies.. 🙂
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Beautiful photos as always, Sherri. That garden really does look like the secret garden too.
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Thank you Rachel, another taste of England for you to welcome you back… 🙂
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Lovely spring photos, Sherri. Spring looks so vibrant your end of the world. I am amazed at how that tall tree of white flowers are almost touching the top of the wall…I would’ve thought the plant would’ve toppled over a long time ago but hey, the season spring surprises 🙂 Barrington Court looks like a big place to roam around. Never heard such a place like that with not only gardens but workshops too. You must’ve been so spoilt for choice at what to do 🙂
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Barrington Court is a delightful place to ‘roam around’ indeed Mabel! The grounds go on for ever. The caretakers at these kinds of places take really good care of the gardens to that visitors get to enjoy them. I wish I could get one of them to come over and do my garden while they are about it, lol 😉
Yes, the workshops were a lovely surprise. There is also a cafe and a shop, so a great, relaxing day out 🙂
So glad you enjoyed these photos, thank you very much Mabel, always a pleasure to have you here, sharing the view with me… have a lovely weekend 🙂
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Goodness these photos are beautiful. It seems we visit the same places and share an eye for beauty so I have posted a link here for you to some of my Dorset photos
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Thank you so much Brenda and also for your link. I’ve left a comment on your wonderful Dorset blog post, just lovely 🙂
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Fascinating and beautiful pictures Sherri! Thank you for sharing.
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So glad you enjoyed them Donna, thanks so much for coming by, always lovely to see you my friend 🙂
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Sherri, these are complete and utter flower-porn!! Holy Beauty!!! Honestly, the colors are absolutely stunning, I almost feel guilty looking at them! 🙂 🙂
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HaHa!!! Oh Maria, you bring such smiles to my day! Flower-porn? Well, that’s a new one on me…but so glad to know that you enjoyed this guilty pleasure 😉 Thanks so much 😉 🙂 😉
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Well, we always hear about food-porn and I don’t know if there is such a term as flower-porn but I thought it described the guilty pleasure perfectly! LOL.
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Well, you came up with the goods Maria…still smiling…actually, now I’m laughing…again…haha!!! 😉
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Extremely enjoyable 🙂
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Thank you so much dear Ilka 🙂
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That’s a great place to visit with a camera. Such a lot of care and attention taken in making those flowers bloom well, and such a lot of care and attention in your photos too.
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Hi Denise, and yes, both these places are a treasure to visit but I think that in May they are especially beautiful. The gardeners and caretakers really do put so much love and care into the gardens for all the visitors to enjoy. Many of them are volunteers so I believe. May time in England is so wonderful isn’t it? Thank you, I’m really glad you enjoyed the photos. I hope things are going well for you… 🙂
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Beautiful gardens and flowers Sherri. I loved the Secret Garden, one of my favourite childhood reads and I would feel the same seeing the walled garden with hidden door. Just lovely.
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Yes, I can just imagine us walking along and coming across our Secret Garden and ‘that’ door…oh the stories we could make up and tell!! A lovely thought, thank you Irene… 🙂
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Such lovely pictures my friend. Such a pleasurable time visiting your awesome blog!
Much love.
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Oh dear Seyi, how wonderful to see you back here visiting me in my summerhouse once again…bless you!. I’m so happy to know that these flowers gave you cause to smile…flowers for you from me with much love… 🙂
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Flowers abound in blogs since the beginning of spring. Your English gardens are lovely. The Walled one reminds me of Normandy very much. Not that far from England, they share a common history and a similar weather. Merci beaucoup, Sherri.
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Oh yes, I can well imagine the reminder of Normandy, although I have never been there. We did drive nearby on the way down to the Dordogne region a couple of years ago but didn’t have time to stop. We are going out again but flying this time. One of these days, hubby and I plan – God willin’ and the creek don’t rise!! – to take a driving holiday through France and Normandy is top of the list 🙂 So glad you enjoyed these English spring time flowers.
Merci beaucoup mon amie 🙂
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Gorgeous Sherri – the ‘secret’ garden ones are my favourite too – I’m planning a post on that theme sometime soon!
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Thank you very much Andrea, so glad you enjoyed it and I look forward to reading your post too 🙂
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Breathtakingly beautiful. So vibrant, refreshing and full of excitement. Nature in its best of blooms. Happy Mother’s Day my friend. Wishing you all the beautiful, joyful blessings in life. God bless.
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Ahh..thank you so much IT, so glad to know you enjoyed these flowers…flowers for you to send on to your lovely family for Mother’s Day celebrations :-)Your blessings of joy and beauty bless me greatly, thank you and I would send the very same to you my friend…God bless you always… 🙂
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If it were just a tad closer, I’d do some serious hanging out in Barrington Court!! Thanks for sharing the loveliness, Sherri!
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Well, I would love to hang out with you at Barrington Court Shel! Thanks for dropping by and so glad you enjoyed 🙂
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Your garden photos are lovely, Sherri. It’s been a crazy rainy/sunny day here today- no wonder everything is growing so well 🙂
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Thank you very much Jo, so glad you enjoyed them. Yes, same here. Very English spring weather and perfect growing conditions indeed 🙂
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These pictures are so gorgeous I want to hop a plane and come on over! Lovely.
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So glad you enjoyed them Renee, thank you very much and how lovely it would be to see you over here, anytime 🙂
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What beautiful gardens and flowers and so close to your home! I felt I was on a walk with you my friend. The photos were absolutely superb!! Happy Spring!!!! ❤
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Oh Diane, you would love these places, you really would, but until that day, so lovely to have taken this walk with you. Thanks so much for sharing this post too, and a very Happy Spring to you too my dear friend, and I hope it isn’t too hot… 🙂 xoxo
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Don’t you just love this time of year? I love seeing all the flowers. Thanks for such a cheerful post
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It really is a beautiful spring this year, remember how cold it was last year and it seemed to take an age to warm up didn’t it? But now we seem to be having summer weather! Thanks so much TB, so glad you enjoyed the pics 🙂
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How wonderful photos! Great post totally.
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Thank you very much Sartenada, lovely of you to stop by 🙂
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