below: Overlooking the Kentish Weald
Churchill lived at Chartwell for more than forty years, and it was here that he gardened, painted, built walls and lakes, met with politicians, and enjoyed a vast array of friends. This wonderful description of a late night dinner there is priceless:
“In January 1928, James Lees-Milne stayed as a guest of Churchill’s son Randolph. He described an evening after dinner; ‘We remained at that round table till after midnight. Mr Churchill spent a blissful two hours demonstrating with decanters and wine glasses how the Battle of Jutland was fought. He got worked up like a schoolboy, making barking noises in imitation of gunfire, and blowing cigar smoke across the battle scene in imitation of gun smoke'”.
After Churchill died, Lady Churchill donated the house to the National Trust, and the house has been open to the public since 1966. We decided to take a day trip to visit the Old Man’s property. A train to Oxted and then a cab to Chartwell got us there easily.
The approach to the house winds along a gentle slope, featuring a couple of these gorgeous trees
and the charming Gavin Jones Cascade.
From here we wended our way up and through the grounds. There’s nothing like an old brick wall sheltering a sunken garden.
And then there is a lovely, long rose border
and some abundant rose petals:
And then these catmints.
I love the inscription: The greater part of this wall was built between 1925 and 1935 by Winston Churchill with his own hands
A few more beauties: cape daisy, oriental poppy and Turkish sage, Phlomis russeliana.
And here is the house, and a budding gardener!
Next up: inside the house!
Our first stop today was Hailes Abbey, a Cistercian Abbey that was mostly destroyed in the Dissolution, so all that’s left are some stones, pillars and arches. But when you look at the expanse that the church encompassed, you have a sense of how enormous it must have been. Unlike its sister Cistercian Abbey, 
Brexit loomed over this trip and we discussed it with people a couple of times. At the Abbey, the attendant told us that the EU had changed dramatically from when the UK first joined, now the EU dictated what each country could do. What if, he said, the US, Canada and Mexico were under one government, the American flag was taken down and the seat of government was in Costa Rica?? I have no idea if this is a real scenario, but somehow I think not. But if that’s how some people see it, it makes more sense that after forty years, some of them want to leave. In any case, Alison encouraged me not to engage the man on the way out, so we escaped.
Most all of the tables were booked for a Sunday roast, but we managed to slip in for sandwiches before everyone arrived. Just as we were leaving, several multi-generational family parties arrived. The English have a sense of ritual – Millennium memorials, Sunday roast, etc. – that we have never had. It may be a bit stuffy but it’s also comforting.
This was a very relaxing garden, perhaps because within the spaces defined by stone walls or boxwood, plants twined somewhat wildly with each other. Lots and lots of roses, like this ‘Trumpeter,’ 
since this is the home of the famously enormous Kiftsgate rose (past its bloom now), but also at this time of year dahlias, Japanese anemones, asters and various other beauties. 
The water gardens were especially beautiful and imaginative. Just look at this elegant installation, with its flowers that gently pour into the pool.
and I thought of how this house and garden would be wonderful for entertaining. I wonder how the latest generation, who must be about our age, are planning for the future.
Leaving Oxford on a bright, clear day, we picked up a little white Golf to carry us to Stow. Our first goal was Blenheim Palace, but Alison got an email from them saying that because of an “incident” they would not be opening until lunchtime. Since the park was still open, off we set.
we came to yet another Harry Potter tree, a cedar which has been propped up to keep it alive by the skin of its teeth. (This is the one that Severus Snape hung from in Order of the Phoenix, when he was being bullied by Harry’s father.) 
You can see that it is carefully preserved from any rabid fans who might be tempted to try the same.
From here I continued around the Queen’s Lake while Alison went back to the shops. Gorgeous views, magnificent trees, thank you, Capability Brown!
See?? We parked in the next street just beyond, and thanks to friendly neighbors who encouraged us to find our house, we had the strength to pick up our groceries and bags and go back along the narrow alley in search of Carter’s Cottage. 
It’s just two up, two down (mostly) but with a really good bathroom and a washer/dryer (mysterious like all British appliances, but we made it work). Here’s a look at the cottage, which suited us down to the ground. 
and then had a delicious dead chicken from Tesco, along with a salad and shortbread for dessert, which we seemed to need. Looking forward to a real shower, that does not require standing up in a tub or kneeling!
This morning we looked out the window at blue skies and decided to go to the Royal Botanic Garden while the weather held. We walked over to the North Bridge and picked up the bus, with a bit of help from the kilt-clad man at the door of the Balmoral Hotel. When the ticket taker told us the blue poppies were in bloom, that was all I needed to hear. They have a reputation for being extremely difficult to grow, and because they come from Nepal or China or somewhere I did not expect ever to see them. They were amazing, so blue and so many of them. 
A few more images that took my fancy:
though the majority of items were made of stone. Those who are interested can find more images of objects 
Then home to pack in prep for leaving tomorrow.
For the last few years (really), a little slip of paper has been floating around in the piles on the kitchen counter. I had planned to see Margaret Roach’s garden in Copake, New York, at her Open Garden Day as part of a trip to visit Uncle Buzz in Salisbury. Sadly, her garden was 
Caroline's Garden and Travel Record 