Styal 27.06.2015

As a couple in their lat 20s without children, we do not fall into the 2 categories people associate National Trust members: young families and pensioners. However, as introverts, we are exhausted after a trip to Manchester and I particularly get rather overwhelmed by the seas of people I need to navigate. Thus, visiting places such as Styal have become part of our weekend outings. The ones we visit the most are Lyme Park, Dunham Massey and Styal Quarry Mill. Tatton will happen this summer too, we think.

In any case, we couldn't remember if we had been to Quarry Mill in June before as we were blown away by the blooms this weekend. We took our good camera and had a wander around the gardens. There was a wedding going on and as always we discussed the possibility of having our wedding there some day. We are both introverts who feel uncomfortable being the centre of attention, so if and when we decide to tie the knot it will be a low key event; but Styal is so pretty we always think it would be a great place to have a picnic with people we love.

I concentrated at first on plants that like shade as we do have some bushes that have nothing underneath. I'm not that big on hostas, but seeing them in their "natural habitat" yesterday made me look at them in a different light.

 We then wanted to see if they had started with the reconstruction of The Curvilinear Glasshouse. They were collecting money for it from the public and I think they managed to reach their goal. They grow cut flowers and veg in this part of the gardens.

The bees were doing their thing.

The veg patch was looking interesting.

There is also a greenhouse, where they keep sempervivums and tropical plants.

 We then went through a sheltered trail and spent too much time taking photos of foxgloves.

 I love the façade of this little cottage on the grounds. M y in-laws also have climbing roses,which I will show at a later time.

Of course I couldn't leave the place without getting some plants for our garden.  I got 3 plants, very conservative of me.

I got a salvia plant, which is currently in bloom as has lovely tiny purple flowers. The dark foliage is a Dahlia Bishop of Canterbury which hasn't flowered yet. The yellow flowers didn't have a tag, but I think they may also be dahlias. They look like Sarah Raven's Summertime, don't you think?