Back to Wisley

Last week we made it back to Wisley, our first visit since January, with that last visit being noticed at reference 1. The slots available being early or late, we settled on early, getting there around 0930. Being reminded on the way that the M25/A3 junction is not very clever and could do with upgrading - in which case something on the Wisley side of the M25 is going to have to give way.

Socially distanced our way through the fine new entrance area and hung left, heading towards Battleston Hill. With one of the first things of interest being one or two fine dawn redwoods - in rather better condition than those noticed as metasequoia at Hampton Court at reference 2. Round the hill and down to the trial plots, from where we scored the Wellingtonia noticed previously, under the search key included below. These being just a few of the many fine conifers we saw in the course of our visit.

Plus quite a lot of autumn bulbs. Plus the herbaceous borders were still looking pretty good.

Plots which included a substantial planting of pumpkins. Presumably to be turned into an art work or sold in due course. Noting in passing that the gardens are still infested with art work, quite a lot of a rustic variety, some of it loud and intrusive. I wish they wouldn't. Also quite a lot of building work still going on.

At least three sorts of fruit

Medlars. Best taken slightly rotten

Through the Wellingtonia into a pleasant Jubilee Avenue, leading us round to the fruit plots. Apples, pears, medlars and such like. It struck me that a great deal of love and space had been put into fruit of this sort, nothing like as prominent in our lives now as it had been during my childhood. In those days people grew, bottled and jammed all kinds of fruit because they needed to. Because there was no television around to entertain. And some people had special buildings or lofts in which to store it over the winter. Now it has become a heritage recreational activity for the few. Nevertheless, being of the right generation, I do enjoy the fruit plots.

Not the same as the one's in our front garden at all

Contemplation time

Detail of underside of roof

We sat for a while in the contemplation temple by the pond. I wondered whether the tricky construction of the roof was all about making a structure which did not need metal fastenings, perhaps rare and expensive at the time and place these temples were first made. Although there are some fastenings, just to be on the safe side.

On to the main refreshment area for BH to take her morning coffee, with there being plenty of outdoor seating and not too many people. With such as there were being mostly young mums with children, ladies that lunch and pensioners like ourselves.

Rather higher grade umbrella than they run to at the Blenheim. But it still flapped a bit in the breeze.

The base of Wellingtonia 17, previously noticed

Pensioners' coach outing

Advertisement for this very outing

Rather surprised to find a coach in the car park when we left. One might have thought that the demand for coach outings was more or less zero, but clearly not so. This despite being told by someone later that her daughter-in-law, who worked for a coach company, having been laid off for lack of business.

While this one is offering quite a few outings for September and October. No doubt beyond, but I didn't get that far. And we won't be joining in.

Reference 1: https://psmv4.blogspot.com/2020/01/pleasure-gardens.html.

Reference 2: https://psmv4.blogspot.com/2020/09/return-to-court.html.

Reference 3: https://metaseq.net/en/index.html. Not to be confused with the tree.

Reference 4: http://www.highcliffecoachholidays.co.uk/.

Group search key: wsb.