What a lovely afternoon....

York Minster

Photo by Louisa, observation by self.

On This Day in History

20 years ago today, I was in Scotland.

An excerpt from the journal I kept while traveling with Louisa around the British Isles;

'May 4th, 1989

....in Scotland, no herbicide is used on the roadsides, so all the wildflowers can bloom.

We spent the night in Oban, and it is lovely, right on the waterfront.  Our hotel room faced right out over the Firth (of Lorne), we could see the Island of Mull on the horizon.'

After 20 years, recollection begins to fade around the edges a bit, but one of the clearest memories I retain of our trip was of this day 20 years ago.  Of coming into our hotel room in Oban to a rush of fresh, wild sea air; Louisa had flung the screenless window wide and had pulled up a chair close to it so as to take in as much of the beautiful view as possible.  I remember her sitting there, framed by this gorgeous tableau of sea and islands and small fishing boats.

Later, we walked up to a small, ruined castle which perched on a high vantage point overlooking the Firth.  Twilight was descending as we climbed the crumbling spiral staircase and sat down on a ledge with our legs dangling into what once would have been the ground floor. 

 

Back to Gardening, or, Reminiscence........

"Oh to be in England, Now that April's there." - Robert Browning

It was 20 years ago this week that Louisa and I embarked on our tour of the British Isles.

One morning, in Harrogate, we arose shortly after sunrise to explore the town in the dewy fresh light of early morning.  Harrogate, in Yorkshire, is known for it's lovely gardens, and we wandered amongst veritable battalions of tulips, rhododendron bushes laden with pink bloom, smooth emerald green parkland, and the most charming water features overhung with ferns and flowers we couldn't even put a name to.

Pictures exist, but alas, time has faded them to a nostalgic, postcard-ish quality. 

Louisa took this one, and I've always loved this picture, it conveys such a sense of peace.