Filed under Gardens, Heritage, Out & About

Blenheim – The Italian Garden

The Italian garden is situated in front of the private part of Blenheim Palace and not open to the public.

The garden enjoys a delightful, sheltered position, bordered on two sides by the Orangery and the East Front. Despite its name, the Italian Garden would not look out of place at a French chateau. With its precise, evergreen topiary, patterned beds, luscious orange trees and the scented pink blooms of the rose ‘Caroline Testout’, it is beautiful in all seasons. As a centrepiece it has the stunning, gilded Mermaid Fountain by the American sculptor; Waldo Story.*

*From the Blenheim Palace guidebook printed 2014

Tags: Blenheim Palace, Garden, Oxfodshire

10 Comments CherryPie on Jun 4th 2015

Filed under Gardens, Out & About

Blenheim – The Water Terraces

Undoubtedly the majestic Water Terraces on the west front are a major part of the 9th Duke’s outstanding legacy to the Palace. A remarkable 20th century achievement, they have been compared to the Parterre d’Eau at Versailles. The Duke took his inspiration from Bernini whose river-gods fountain, now on the lower terrace, is a scale model of the original in Rome’s Piazza Navona.*

In 1929 when the work was virtually complete, the 9th Duke wrote: “Pray tell Monsieur Duchene that the ensemble of the terraces is magnificent and in my judgement far superior to the work done by Le Notre at Versailles. The proportion of the house, the terrace and the lake is perfect.”*

I shall finish with a picture from my previous visit to Blenheim, which was in 2004. It was taken from the top of the slope in the picture above, looking back down on the water terrace. Where do all those years go?

*From the Blenheim Palace guidebook printed 2014

Tags: Blenheim Palace, Fountain, me, Me by another, Oxforshire, Portrait, Water Terrace

8 Comments CherryPie on Jun 3rd 2015

Filed under Heritage, Out & About

Blenheim Palace

Blenheim Palace was built in the early 18th Century to celebrate the victory over the French in the War of the Spanish Succession.

In particular, it was built as a gift to the 1st Duke of Marlborough, John Churchill, the military commander who led the Allied forces in the Battle of Blenheim on 13th August 1704. It was Marlborough who personally received the surrender from Marshall Tallard, leader of the French forces, following the battle.

To honour the Duke’s heroics, Queen Anne granted his family the ruined Royal Manor and park at Woodstock, along with the promise of funds needed to build a house to mark the victorious occasion. In return, the Duke also ensured that the Palace became a monument to the Queen.

At Blenheim I took two very important decisions; to be born and to marry. I am content with the decision I took on both occasions…” Sir Winston Churchill

Sir Winston Churchill proposed to Clementine Hozier at the Temple of Diana on 11th August 1908.

The year 2015 marks many important anniversaries in relation to our ‘Greatest Briton’, Sir Winston Churchill. These include the 50th anniversary of his death, the 75th anniversary of his first becoming Prime Minister, and the 75th anniversary of his ‘Finest Hour’ at the Battle of Britain.

In this key anniversary year you can read up on all things Churchill from his history, events around the country and news on a new website that aims to centralise all activity.

Tags: Blenheim Palace, Churchill, Oxfordshire, Winston Churchill

16 Comments CherryPie on Jun 2nd 2015

Filed under Anecdotes, Gardens, Science & Nature

Twinkle Twinkle Little Star…

…or is it a planet…

Three planets are clearly visible at nightfall this month: Venus, Jupiter and Saturn. Mercury is fading – whereas Mars has already disappeared – into the glare of sunset.

Evening planets in May 2015

Brilliant Venus in west from dusk until late evening

Fading Mars lost in the glare of sunset

Bright Jupiter from dusk until late night

Saturn from nightfall until dawn

Mercury at dusk, sets around nightfall

Brilliant Venus in west from dusk until late evening. Venus – the brightest planet and third-brightest celestial luminary overall (after the sun and moon) – climbs higher up at sunset, and stays out later after dark, than it did in April 2015. In the Northern Hemisphere, Venus stays out until late evening, and in the Southern Hemisphere, Venus sets by mid-evening.

Throughout May 2015, brilliant Venus beams like a lighthouse as darkness falls! At mid-northern latitudes, Venus stays out quite late, possibly after your bedtime. Be sure to catch the wonderful presence of the moon in Venus’ vicinity for several days, centered on May 21.

At mid-northern latitudes, this dazzling world sets about three and one-half hours after sunset all month long. At temperate latitudes in the Southern Hemisphere, the queen planet’s visibility improves throughout May, setting about two and one-half hours after the sun in early May, and three hours after the sun by the month’s end. From either the Northern or Southern Hemisphere, Venus – the brightest star-like object in all the heavens – totally predominates over the western sky as darkness falls.

Tags: Cherie's Place, Jupiter, My Oak Tree, Planet, Saturn, Sky, Star, Venus

6 Comments CherryPie on Jun 1st 2015

Filed under Faith Foundations, Gardens

Cherie’s Place – Thought for the Week

Lord, make me an instrument of thy peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love.
Saint Francis of Assisi

Tags: Cherie's Place Thought, Dorothy Clive Garden, Love, Peace, Understanding

25 Comments CherryPie on May 31st 2015

Filed under Anecdotes, Gardens

Fond Memories

I can’t leave you with ‘My Oak Tree‘ looking in such a sorry state so I leave you on a happier note with one of my posts for Vision & Verb:

From Little Acorns

I often take photographs of what I refer to as ‘My Oak Tree’. Of course the old oak tree isn’t mine, it is part of nature. The tree isn’t even in my garden; it is in the garden beyond the bridle path that runs behind my house. I am very fond of the tree and it provides beauty and interest throughout each of the seasons of the year. It is now so large that its branches completely span the bridle path and reach into the back corner of my garden.

A recent comment on my blog mentioned that it was a shame about the ivy growing on the trunk because it would kill the tree. I used to think that too but, since I first thought that several years ago, the tree has grown around 10 feet (3.048 meters) and I noticed many trees in Shropshire sharing their space with ivy so I have dismissed the idea.

After the recent blog comment I decided to check the facts. I found that ivy is not a parasite and it does not kill the tree. The aerial roots are not penetrative and the ivy’s roots are firmly in the ground beneath the tree. The relationship between tree and ivy is symbiotic. The ivy attracts wildlife so the oak tree is always full of life. Visitors to my tree include blue tits, great tits, coal tits, wrens, sparrows, blackbirds, pigeons, insects and, on one memorable occasion, a poplar hawk-moth descended and settled on me just above my waist. This was quite alarming because poplar hawk-moths are quite large (wingspan 65-90 mm). Luckily it didn’t flap around like moths normally do; it just glided in and came to rest gently. It was coaxed off me and went to settle inside the kitchen for a short time before going back to its natural habitat outside.

I have both memories and photos of beautiful sunsets through the branches of the tree and of sitting in the garden watching the sun go down. Of hearing the leaves rustle in the wind watching the seasons go by. Of the rebirth of the leaves and buds in spring, the green of summer, the autumnal hues followed by the winter view. The weather in autumn determines how quickly the dead leaves fall from the tree; in some years the winter view is bare branches or, in others, there is a golden glow throughout winter due to the leaves not falling from the branches.

I have always had a fondness for trees because of many childhood walks where my dad encouraged me to identify different trees by their bark and leaves. I have got a bit rusty on tree identification since then but I still enjoy woodland walks and immersing myself in the beauty of magnificent trees and the wildlife they attract.

15th April 2012

Tags: Autumn, Cherie's Place, My Oak Tree, Nature, Oak Tree, Spring, Summer, Tree, Winter

19 Comments CherryPie on May 29th 2015

Filed under Anecdotes, Gardens

Branch Trimming – Day Three

Sadly they did come back for the remaining branch and now we are left with almost no tree at all… Something will have to be done to that part of the garden to regain some privacy!