Six word Saturday

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One more shout for Capability Brown

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I don’t suppose too many of you have heard of Temple Newsam.  This Tudor-Jacobean house, on the eastern edge of Leeds, was the birth place of Lord Henry Darnley, the notorious husband of Mary Queen of Scots.  The 1500 acre country park has grounds beautifully landscaped by Capability Brown. Currently managed by Leeds City Council and open to the public, it’s a fine breath of fresh air in the city.

A wedding was taking place whilst I was there, but the grounds were free to roam.  There’s a Home Farm and playground for the youngsters, and a lake with perfect ‘Pooh sticks’ bridge.  A rhododendron walk and extensive walled garden suits us mature folks.

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I was greatly smitten with the conservatory.  Long and thin, it’s a maze inside, full of enticing plants, including the National Collection of Coleus.

I’m dedicating my gallery of leaves to Verena.  Though it’s not quite what she intended, the Autumn challenge, Festival of Leaves, has begun again and you might just want to join in.  Pop over and say ‘hi’.

The above gallery is for Jude, who’s gallivanting around the country and not here to defend herself.  Tee hee!  I love it!

And who can resist bougainvillea?  The stables and courtyard have been converted to tea rooms, of course, and there’s a restaurant in the walled garden.  What more do you need?

To mark the 300 years anniversary of Capability Brown, an exhibition explores the landscape of Temple Newsam through time.  This link includes a rather fine video.  And then it’s time to find six words for Cate.

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122 comments

  2. I do remember Temple Newsam from way back – my sister studied at Leeds and lived there for a few years afterwards. I don’t remember the grounds being this lovely though – perhaps they invest more in their upkeep than they did 30 years ago.

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    1. Hooray, Anabel! You’re the 4th person to recognise them 🙂 🙂 That’s quite a surprise to me because they are a little off the beaten track. I know there has been renovation ongoing to the house, and it’s now a smart wedding venue. The formal gardens close to the house are needing some TLC but the walled garden was immaculate. Maybe a bit at a time 🙂

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  3. I have come to a conclusion that you have more than two legs, and that you can time travel. 😀 🙂 I mean, you really are everywhere and you seem to have all the time to walk around these awesome places, blog and do everything else. I don’t know how you do it SuperJo. 🙂 Loving the bridge pic.

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    1. Bless you, hon. 🙂 I’m a retired lady with a reasonably cooperative husband who likes gardens. That accounts for a fair bit of activity. 🙂 And I don’t do a lot of housework 🙂

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  7. Jo, a perfect beautiful start to my Saturday! Love the flowers and petals which are so delicate and sheer. The bougainvillea reminds me of those in Florida, although those were rather weary with the heat and lack of water.

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  10. What a beautiful country park to walk and roam around. From nature to olden times architecture. I really like that little bridge – it looks so cute. The orange-red flower blooming downwards looks like an upside down tomato 😀 Do you know what flower it is? I enjoyed this walk with you, Jo.

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    1. I didn’t name the flower for Jude because I wasn’t sure, Mabel, and I knew she’d know. 🙂 However, my gardener husband says it’s an Abutilon. Hope he’s right! 🙂 :)Thanks for your company, hon.

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  11. Hi Jo,
    Another of your wonderful walks! Thanks for sharing! Whenever I see those lovely gardens, I miss them here and long to get back to Britain! Well, we’ll see when that opportunity will arise. Can’t be too soon!
    Have a great weekend,
    Pit

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    1. Leeds has vastly improved over the last few years, Judith. My son went to Uni there and has settled in the city so I’m back quite often and I like it a lot. It has great character and some fine modern architecture too. 🙂

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  14. Brings back really happy memories of visiting lots in the early 1990s. On my last visit Alan Bennett was filming something in one of the rooms, and they clearly decided it would be fine to have visitors in the background. Only thing is we didn’t realise they were actually filming so my mum and I were chatting quite loudly as we enjoyed looking round. We heard a harrumph as we left the gallery and realised what we had done. I only then went and bumped into the next day inside the City Art Gallery! Fortunately he didn’t recognise me as I crept away that time!!!

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    1. You did make me chuckle. 🙂 🙂 I can well imagine it, and thanks for standing up for Leeds. That makes 3 people who are familiar with this place, and quite surprises me. I wish I’d gone inside now, but it was a glorious day and we were just having a bit of a nose around. There was a Beer Festival on in the gardens and if James had known he might have asked a couple of mates over.

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      7. I don’t know Jo, I think Greeks have to pay taxes now so I am expecting some price increases. Exchange rate not so good either. I will report back when I return. Anyway, who cares, it costs what it costs!

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  16. I’d forgotten Pooh sticks. Had to google it. I love your coleus gallery and your gallery for Jude with the cheeky aside. You do get around! Have a totally pleasant weekend, garnished with a hug or two. Mine is lazy – dinner out tonight with two of Franki’s friends from England who are overnighting here: then open day at Ro’s work tomorrow. She seems to be in charge of pin the tail on the donkey.

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    1. I wish I was nearer. I love pinning tails on donkeys 🙂 🙂 Incapacitated with silly foot. This was a few weeks ago when we were in Leeds with James. Got to get my garden posts up before summer’s over 🙂 Hugs, darlin!

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      1. How much damage to your foot? I was just about to commiserate via your comment on my blog when I got sidetracked by your 6 word Saturday post. These incapacities happen so quickly. Heal quickly!

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    2. My own silly fault! We were heading for home and I got Mick to pull over so I could take some heather shots. Jumped straight down into a ditch and knocked myself sick! Laughed/cried for a bit- which the sheep found highly entertaining- then took a couple of shots. 🙂 I can walk on it again and hopefully it’ll be fine for Edinburgh.

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      1. Sorry to hear about the foot! Hope it is fine for Thursday – buy one of those elasticated ankle sock things, they do help! (Though you might look a bit silly)

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      2. I’ve got one. Mick sometimes has knee problems. Did the wet crepe bandage and all that stuff but it’s still very sore and a bit swollen this morning. Hoping I haven’t chipped the bone. Silly old sod! 🙂

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      3. If you cast your mind back to last August when I was pet-sitting my ankle accident took me 4-5 days before I could really bear any weight on it. MIndst you, you have a lot less weight to bear! I hope you are OK by Thursday.

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  19. I do like Temple Newsam. Gorgeous building, and they have some beautiful exhibits inside. I loved the lacquered furniture, that’s the thing I most remember. Don’t remember the gardens though. Perhaps because it’s council run it doesn’t get so much publicity? Or maybe cos it’s a fair hike out of the centre?

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    1. I was sorry I didn’t go inside when I looked at the website, but we were just literally getting a breath of fresh air on a sunny afternoon, with our son James who lives in Leeds. I was surprised at so much green space so close to the city, but we were in a car, of course. The formal gardens weren’t very well maintained but everything else was looking good, and really busy, which is good. 🙂 🙂

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