I promised you a gentle stroll this week, far from the bustle of the city. Burton Agnes, in East Yorkshire, will deliver in spades. I can find you a bench or two to loiter on, and maybe a game of chess or snakes and ladders. Too taxing? You can do what I did, and simply stand and smile.
There’s much to smile about at this Elizabethan stately home. The elegant facade looks over a sweeping expanse of the Yorkshire wolds, but the owners have retained a sense of playfulness in the gardens. They are a joy to behold.
When I was there they were setting up a grand marquee for the July jazz event. The weather was steamy, as it rarely is in England, and the ice cream vendor was in full flow. Or should I say scoop?
You’ll know by now that I have a thing for water lilies and reflective surfaces. I could have played all day.
Gryphons, lions, statuary, all come as standard in these formal gardens.
But come on! We’ve mosaics and a rose garden yet to explore.
Can you see what lies beyond the rose arbour? Anyone for chess? Or draughts? Maybe the ladies would be better at snakes and ladders.
The rooms lead one to another, with tantalising glimpses of distraction. The reflections soon entrance me all over again.
The roses smell wonderful and I bury my nose deep into their luscious beauty.
‘I’ve found an elephant’, says the other half. Really? And a very endearing creature he is too.
It’s such a delightful garden, with so many aspects. Do you remember the wire mesh gardener tending his veg? He’s here too.
I believe there’s an Open Day for charity, so I can join Jude’s Garden Challenge this month. I expect she’ll be disappointed there’s no cake, but I have a good reason. This was the second garden we visited that day and we’d already eaten. It was quite a long way from home, but well worth the journey. I’ll show you the other garden soon. That was a water lily bonanza!
A closer look at these gardens and instructions on how to get there are on the website. I’m off to put the kettle on for breakfast.
Many thanks to all of you for being such loyal supporters. Every week I’m delighted by the contributions you make to my walks. If you’d like to join me and haven’t done so it’s easy enough. The details are on my Jo’s Monday walk page. Just click on the logo above. If I spot a good walk when I’m reading posts, I’ll simply ask if I can include it. We have some great ones again this week.
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Starting with some beautiful gardens from Lady Lee :
Cathy takes us to a stately home in the US, as well as it’s lovely garden :
Winterthur Museum, garden & library : a Delaware country estate
I’m discovering that Jackie is rather fond of history!
A hot, prickly walk from Ana. And keep an eye out for rattlers! Heavens!
The trail to Gorman Falls at Colorado Bend State Park
Liesbet uses camping as a means to an end- ‘roaming about’, of course :
The Art of Being Flexible (and Realistic)
I always like something a bit different in my walks. How about this one? Thanks, Shazza!
A great one for the bird watchers from Denzil this week (paying attention Becky?) :
Het Zwin Nature Park on the Belgian Coast
This is a country I’ve always wanted to visit, and a very beautiful post from Maris Travels :
The Pyrenees are equally beautiful, especially if you’re with my good friend Drake :
Warsaw street life and a fantasy of umbrellas – it’s Meg, of course!
Vignettes from a morning walk-6
Meet newcomer to my walks, Stephanie and the crew of S.V. Cambria, with a bit of a mystery :
A Walk on the Wild Side/Downtown Ocean Falls
Yvette embraces summer with her usual enthusiasm, and beautiful Crepe Myrtle :
Street Shots (#summer2016 a to z Letter S) summer walk with Jo
Come and be nosy with Susan (and me) while we look over a few fences :
Some people keep on dangling serious temptation my way. You know who you are, Carol!
Becky and birds are synonymous, aren’t they? Even in Lymington, it seems :
Didn’t get very far because of the birdies
That’s it for another week. I hope you enjoyed reading as much as I did. Now, where can I take you next week? Take care till then.
restlessjo 
Absolutely gorgeous photos! I would love to sit and watch the geese, expecting them to move around (and waiting for a long, long while 😉 ) Lastly, 1598???? You Brits do build to last, don’t you?
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Oops – I just googles “Brit” and perhaps it’s not as nice an expression as I thought? My most sincere apologies (from a really stupid Yank)
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It’s ok- you’re lovable 🙂 🙂
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I must admit, I looked twice at that too 🙂 It IS an Elizabethan house. Incredible, isn’t it?
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Lovely gardens and I do love water lilies too.
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I have buckets full of water lilies still to come, would you believe? 🙂 🙂
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I love places like this! Glorious!
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It really is a wonderful garden. Nice to have your company 🙂
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Thanks Jo for a nice walk! I also love the reflections on the water and play around with photos to find an original one. And the elephant watering the plants with its trunk is so cute! I think I’d have stopped for an ice cream at the beginning of the walk 🙂
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We’d just come from another garden and I was still full, Laia, or I’d have been in the queue too 🙂 Thanks for your company, hon.
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Oh, one of the loveliest garden you have taken us to so far Jo! Adore the mosaics and the plater with yellow daisies. And little jumbo hiding in the bushes 🙂 The next one sounds a treat 🙂
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It’s a very classy, English sort of a garden with a hint of fun, Madhu 🙂 I’ve seen some beauties this year! Got your blogging mojo back yet? Hope all’s well with you.
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All well, and feeling like I can finally catch up! 🙂 Thanks Jo.
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That’s good news! I’ve just checked back in on WP. I was booking an Airbnb in Edinburgh to meet Jude 🙂 🙂
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You had a lovely walk! Thanks for sharing it with us at http://image-in-ing.blogspot.com/2016/08/a-little-dab-of-color.html
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Glad you enjoyed it and many thanks for sharing. 🙂
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You do take us on such great jaunts, Jo. Love the composition of the first photo especially. We seem to fly off with Mercury (?) and into the garden. Actually I could do with some wings on my head. Am sure it would give brain a lift. And those geese. The ‘want’ chord has been well struck. I can just see them on the bit of my lawn that I haven’t dug up.
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I have a topiary ‘would be’ squirrel hiding among my pots if that’s any good to you, Tish? 🙂 Yes, I could do with a touch of the Mercury’s these days. 🙂 More excitement! I’ve just booked my room up in Edinburgh so I am, finally and at last, going to meet Jude. 🙂
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Now I’m confused. Edinburgh? Jude is on safari from Cornwall? I’m not keeping up. More than one set of wings required down here.
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Sorry, Tish- I’m terribly good at confusing people. Ask Sue! 🙂 I assume too much sometimes. Jude is travelling up for a conference with the OH.
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A magnificent garden. Thanks for taking us there, Jo.
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Glad to have your company, Draco 🙂 🙂
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I love water lilies and reflective surfaces, too, Jo! And you’ve found some beautiful ones here. What a gorgeous garden! The pink roses are spectacular!
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Such a lovely day we had, Debra! First a garden with the National Collection of water lilies, and then this one! It was total joy. 🙂 🙂
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JO after a hectic day I read this post and feel zen like. Ahhh like walking there with you. Sign me up for outdoor chess I love playing, although I’m not very good. We don’t have water lilies here, just too bloody cold. When I see them when we travel the child in m e watches for a frog bearing resemblance to Prince Charming to be sitting on one. 🙂
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I think I saw him, Sue, but he leaped when I bent down to kiss him 😦 😦 Such an idyllic place! I’m glad you enjoyed it with me. 🙂
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Fine posts. nice blog .. Congratulations. … Welcome to see my creations: http://www.paintdigi.WordPress.com
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Thank you 🙂 Nice to meet you. I’ll come and say hello in a little while.
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Welcome
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Very lovely! And a good selection from your links too. Something for everyone I’m sure.
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Thanks, Anabel. Yes, some great walks this week. 🙂
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What a nice place, it’s elegant without being boring, nice touch of classy quirkiness 🙂
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I liked it a lot, Gilly! We did a water lily garden the same day and that was immense too. 🙂
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What a beautiful place for a walk. The flowers are gorgeous and I particular love the water lillies. I look forward to seeing more of them. Thank you, Jo/
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This has been a great summer for gardens around here, Isabella, and I especially like this one. Thanks for your company, hon. 🙂
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A really gorgeous place to wander, Jo. Love the statues and water lily ponds, especially. Your rose shots are exquisite. Is the first image male or female? I’d get very tired, standing on one leg for years on end and in all weathers. 😕
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He does look a bit the worse for wear, Ad, but in the circs, I think he’s holding up rather well. 🙂 🙂 Thanks, sweetheart. It was a lovely place to be on a sunny day.
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I’ll have to take your word for it. I’m glad you looked to see. 😀
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Fantastic pictures again, Jo! Thanks for sharing. 🙂 As to “Burton Agnes”: I love those English place names. Where else in the orld could you find those lovely quaint names? 🙂
Have a wonderful week,
Pit
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Thanks, Pit 🙂 I love the name too. It really was a gorgeous garden, this one. Have a great week yourself! 🙂
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I enjoyed your walk today. Lions, flowers, reflections, mosaics what more could I ask for? I also have water lilies this week!
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Can’t have too many water lilies 🙂 Thanks, hon!
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A gorgeous garden and I too enjoy the little extras like the elephant. I can imagine you burying your nose in those delicious roses since I was tempted to sniff the photos!
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The roses were glorious, Carol. 🙂 Thanks a lot for your company. All well with you?
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A little more history today, but in a new neighbourhood!
http://junkboattravels.blogspot.ca/2016/08/canary-district.html
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Of course! 🙂 🙂 Many thanks, Jackie!
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