Well, it was the greyest weekend in Dorset. The flat grey light of late January, the month that seems to last always about a week too long, and that certain knowledge that we still have harsh winter days to come. (although I will say, it was a beautiful sunshine-filled day in London today).
So I couldn’t help, tonight, casting my eyes back to High Summer 2023 – mid June to mid July.
How extraordinary the intense blue of a high summer sky, how ridiculously leafy the green, how absurdly the flowery, it all seems to our eyes that are now used only to bare twigs, brown earth, grey sky. 
A good friend of mine always says that March is the hardest month, because you realise just how long it is before the spring really strikes, how many weeks to go before the leaves really break. But what would summer be without winter, and vice versa.
From time to time it’s good to jump ahead to the future by looking back. And no better need of these photographs, of Charlie’s serene, summer-bursting garden, than right now.
It’s not much to go on, just yet, but look at this daffodil that I spied in Red Lion Square walking up from the station to the office this morning. 
This was a very short blog, but I think a necessary one.
-
An English Vision - Traditional Architecture and Decoration for Today - Signed
Vendor:Ben PentreathRegular price £ 45.00Regular priceUnit price per -
P&H London Souvenir Tea Towel
Vendor:Pentreath & HallRegular price £ 9.50Regular priceUnit price per£ 0.00Sale price £ 9.50 -
'At Home With Ben' Greeting Cards - Pack of 8
Vendor:Pentreath & HallRegular price £ 8.50Regular priceUnit price per -
Diana Soap- Basil & Neroli Blossom
Vendor:Bridie HallRegular price £ 22.50Regular priceUnit price per
13 comments
I was in England in mid July for a farm wedding and to see my family – it was glorious. I spent a few nights in an AirBnB high on a hill overlooking the Somerset countryside surrounded by 50 shades of green and some black and white beauties. I walked down into Bruton along secluded, overgrown footpaths and holloways; so, so beautiful.
Such inspiring colors. The magic of nature. Only the bird song and butterflies missing.
Ah. So lovely. We’re having extremely cold temps in the northeast corner of the USA this weekend and your green summer photos are just what I needed. Also, there’s a chance we will be moving from our urban/suburban home, where most backyard fences are 6’ high, to a country spot. I’m saving some of your garden photos to inspire us to put up open, rustic fencing – just enough to keep the dogs from wandering too far. Peace.
So wonderful and inspiring to see your garden and the daffodils arriving. I can remember going to Blenheim Palace one day and walking the grounds and seeing so many daffodils, it was glorious. I can’t believe how your season is so far ahead of mine in Canada, where tomorrow it is going to be minus 27 degrees at nightfall and today is bitterly cold out, as coming back from a long walk. Snow and ice on the ground everywhere and someone even made a snowman in one of our grocery stores. I so hope to be visiting London soon to experience the beautiful nature. Thank you for bringing it to me again. As mentioned many times in my comments, nature is so uplifting in these times and yours is the best. Love those Sweet Peas climbing. My poor English Ivy on my trellis is looking sad from the cold and snow and I hope it regains it’s life. Looking forward to more. So missed the Winter Antique and Decorative Show at Battersea and hope to arrive in London for next one and the Summer Exhibition too.
Such beauty and such abundance! Thank you! Summer will be here before we know it :)
Inspirational blog today. Thank you Ben
Oh I do agree Ben, roll on summer! I have just spent an afternoon in my garden and done too much as usual!!Just wish I could send you photos of my garden in the summer! Thank you for the wonderful photos.
yes indeed – “a necessary one”. what do we do if not buoy ourselves with HOPE ? Monochromatic winter landscapes, pure and subtle though they be, with bare branch and clarity of form, inspire the lithographer’s eye more than mine. The over-the-top flow’ry bower (with pup peeking through), the mid-afternoon tea table beckoning , cattle lazing on verdant hillside are where my weary gaze longs to bask in. Thank you for the reminder of what’s to come – hope it hurries !!
Thanks for sharing beautiful summer days with us Ben. Remembering the beautiful scent of Roses and Sweet Peas and a few days of immense heat (!) reminds us that Spring and Summer will soon be with us again and the short days of Winter will be over. Waiting for our sleeping gardens and countryside to awaken and burst forth is something to look forward to with anticipation and joy!
One daffodil in January is a VERY big deal! In northeastern Pennsylvania we don’t see them until April… for us February is “the longest” month.
Hang in there, and thanks for the lovely post.
How very cheering! And definitely necessary. Thank you for once again being spot on.
Thanks for the beauty.
For all of us struggling through winter these pictures are a delight. Thanks for sharing.