We begin in Spring and end in Summer. I last managed to blog in early May, and here we are, tipping into late June. It’s actually been lovely to look back at photographs of the last 10 weeks and see how much changes. Time feels like it flies, for all of us, perhaps, but then you remember quite how much has happened along the way. I like a bit of a rear view mirror in life. There’s nothing nicer on a Sunday evening as we just pass the longest day of the year than to look backwards, as well as think about the rest of the year to come.
The May garden was that moment of extraordinary intense green; always, like nothing else, it takes your breath away the moment the trees come in to leaf. 
Lunch at Bettiscombe one weekend on a boiling hot day. 
Then down to Cornwall – back to Prussia Cove, sparkling, blue sky, blue sea. 
With my friend Ruth, and Leo from the office, I made a long-overdue pilgrimage to the remarkable Newlyn Copper Works. Michael gave us an incredible tour. He has recently been making lights for a Cornish project of ours. 
It was a fleeting visit to Cornwall, and I was back up to Dorset again. Brilliant mornings.
And verges filled with Cow Parsley. 
Dinners with friends. 
The saturated greens when rain sweeps through. 
Quiet times are the best. 
I was up in Edinburgh for a brief night, here’s a little walk down Ann Street, my favourite of all in that city that is such a happy place for me, showing our friends Austin & Spenny all my favourite corners….
And to Kay’s Bar, surely the best spot in the whole of Edinburgh on an evening after supper. 
The next day we went over to the bothies via Ardkinglas, again. 
A fantastic tour, where I soaked in many details I’d missed the time before…
And then a walk in the gardens, filled with rhododendrons and azaleas. 
We stopped at a rainy Inveraray….
But of course the sun broke when we arrived at the bothies. It always seems to, I’m not sure why? 
Sibyl’s happiest place. 
Breakfast….
Followed by coffee morning in the village hall…
And then we drove down to the Mull of Kintyre for a wonderful lunch with Tom & Lisa at Carskiey, dreamiest house in Scotland. 
Back home after a long day. 
Then down to Oxfordshire, for our friends Luke & Duncan’s happiest of weddings. 
And then finally, home. The pasture was being cut for silage. I love that moment. The whole countryside looks like a giant Hockney drawing. 
New calves in the paddock.
And bunting going up. Jubilee time. 
A golden ray of sunshine for the Queen that night. 
On the Friday we popped over to see Julian and Isabel and their remarkable garden, so new, so incredible. 
Lunch with the Schuberts on Saturday; Will & Brandon, and his Mum & Dad over from Texas. 
Happiest of days. 
And then Jubilee Sunday in the village. Here’s Charlie, learning that his cake is the winner of the competition (I suppose it goes without saying!!).
The cows are peaceful on our morning walks…
Sparkling sunshine in between summer clouds…
A garden filled with flowers now. 
Full moon rising.
the longest evenings…
brilliant mornings…
And best of all – look what we found in the chicken shed one morning!
Happy summer.
20 comments
I am coming to England tomorrow …and the Hampton Court GArden Show is the first on my list.
Your posts are such a balm. All the Beauty.
I see you still have it bad for the dear corgis. I do too.
great photos as usual – well worth waiting for! how fast time is flying; savour every minute and count our blessings daily!!
Absolutely amazing photos and so nice to see how you have been spending the past few weeks with travelling, visiting friends having guests and going for dinners and lunches. I must say Charlie’s cake was very impressive and I loved the way you decorated your home for the Jubilee celebrations. Also you friends you visited with the magnificent garden of many Iris’s, my favourite. Brings back memories of my 3 years living in England and having a garden brimming with them. Loved seeing Luke and Duncan’s wedding, nice surprise to see. I read Luke’s column in the Financial times and have had advice written to me. Just love the town hall coffee times, so quaint. Hope to be visiting London in September to attend the Design Fair. Your garden looks magnificent. All the best to you both and thank you again for these lovely times with you both and photos.
Love your photographs. All wonderful. Very glad I bought 20 Jubilee tea towels. Lots of happy friends.
I live in New England, and Colorado. I loved the visual tour of Pentreath. You people live very well. Thank you for the wonderful photographs. Julie Smith
Once again, you allow us to bask in the beauty surrounding you. Even from afar, it’s a treat.
I second the suggestion of sharing your posts in a book. What a joy to be able to have them right at our fingertips.
Thank you!
Some of the most memorable images ever men! Congrats to Luke and Duncan. Congrats to Charlie for the cake win!
Glorious traveling with you. And God save our gracious Queen!
Such lovely words, images, and thoughts. Your posts are like receiving letters from far-flung friends, always something special to read and ooh-and-aah over the photos. Thank you for continuing to post to your blog and for searching out the beauty in people, architecture, and nature.
Absolutely beautiful thankyou for sharing. Ive missed these. Such a treat.
as ever, a beautiful record of the life of a modern English country gentleman!
Glorious! Thank you for sharing. Made my day.
One of your best ever. All gardens and houses looking spectacular in the sun. Fireworks of colour- & as for that hen and her brood.,,, Perfection. 🌟👏👏
So enjoyed this blog! Fantastic photos as always! Thank you & please keep them coming!
Nothing better than the anticipation of finding one of Ben’s glorious emails to start the day. Thank you. Happy day to all.
Thank you for another beautiful post. You are the best.
Thank you for a real summer treat your photos are glorious such a happy blog.
What a glorious blog, a feast to all the senses. Glorious gardens, stunning countryside, weddings, the Bothies & Scotland , the Bunting for the Queens Jubilee and Charlie’s cake . We are blessed to be included in your life and the sense of peace and calm is most appreciated . Thank you Ben .
Please, please, please put all your blogs into one great big glossy book. I could spend hours and hours looking at your glorious photos and reading your kind words. Doing so without having to switch on a flipping computer would make it even more perfect. Thank you!