Tales of walking, eating, watching and playing. Vintage treasures and simple pleasures ... the things that make her happy.

Monday 23 April 2012

Searching for Garlic

It's that time of year again ... when the woods are heady with the scent of wild garlic.  
They set out with their garlic loving friends.  The sky full of promise, cloudless and clear.  But as they drove, that fickle sky, it changed it's mood, blackening and deepening.  An unreliable friend.
Rain fell heavy and cold.  They collected just a handful of leaves.  Enough to add to their salad and for some buttery garlic toast.  They will come back for more on a brighter day.  When the sun shakes their hand and keeps its promise.  
They need more soon before the little white flowers add bitterness to the bite.
For recipes see last years posts year here and here.
They moved further north, leaving the sky to glower alone.  To a place where the sky was softly bruised but left them dry.  In Arcadia the children played.  On golden quarry walls laughter echoed and bounced.

The following afternoon they ventured out again, just the family of three.  
From the little town of Ilminster, they climbed high above the chimneys.  A view that apparently allows a view of thirty near and distant churches.  Hampered by low mists they counted just three!
The sweetest little lodge house
Along a scented lane, opening out on to the grounds of the hauntingly imposing Dillington House ...
Through the parkland and along the lengthy avenue to the rear of the house ...
 
Amazing bark art
Hobbit house ...
Crossing the road to follow a wooded footpath ...
Neglected shelters.  Forgotten barns.
A tranquil lake.  Heron, duck, moorhen and pheasant.  
They will return for an evening picnic one warm summer's night.
They hope to return for an evening picnic one warm summer's night.

14 comments:

Shortbread and Ginger said...

Lovely post! The little lodge house is so cute!
Liz @ Shortbread & Ginger

Jen said...

Oh such wonderful adventures! Reminded me of some of the best children's books.

Jane and Lance Hattatt said...

Hello Marina:
This is such an enchanting post and Dillington House looks so wonderfully romantic and mysterious. What a lovely house.

As it happened we were walking at the weekend in the park of Festetics House, near Dég in Hungary where we came across huge sweeps of wild garlic just about to come into flower. We have never seen so much in one place.

Heather Jean said...

These pictures are so magical, and that tree bark is really cool looking!

Tina said...

What an adventurous post. I never knew wild garlic was edible. :)
xx

Floss said...

Lovely photos - another blogger described the spring green as having 'undernotes of copper' and I can see that in your images too!

Anonymous said...

What a wonderful adventure! The photos are very beautiful...nature at its best (or almost at its best). Hopefully, a few more weeks of sunny weather and you will be able to go on your picnic too.

Outcast said...

Great photos Jane, the place you were at sure looks beautiful. I have a bit of a love/hate relationship with garlic but the day out seems like a lot of fun anyway.

Rose H (UK) said...

What a delightful post! I'd love to see the inside of that dear little house :o)
Rose H
x

greenthumb said...

Looks like another great weekend, lots of fun. that little house is so cute.

Melanie said...

I want to explore your world! I love all these nooks and crannies. Dillington House look spooky.

gillyflower said...

What exciting adventures!
Looks like a great time was had by all despite the dull weather!

Gill xx

thesnailgarden said...

That looks like my sort of day! We are enjoying the wild garlic here too. Best wishes, Pj x

Lizzie - The Vintage Traveler said...

When a walk becomes an adventure!!!