February 2014.
We went to Down House at Itchen Abbas – a wonderful country house in a 3 acre garden by the river Itchen with carpets of snowdrops and crocuses – brilliant in the sunshine. The garden was divided into “rooms” including a potage garden for ornamental vegetables, and grapevines.
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There were about 15 of us visiting Down House and the owner made us most welcome. We wandered about his 3 acre garden and the carpets of crocuses and snowdrops were wonderful. We wandered down to the River Itchen which abounds his property and it was in full flow following the recent rains. We walked through the vineyard where he is cropping red wines such as pinot noir and a rosé, and also is hoping to harvest a sparkling wine grape this autumn. He recommends that we visit again in early July and see all the vines in flower and also see his summer garden in bloom – surely a sight to be seen and anticipated.
We wandered into the potage garden where ornamental vegetables are grown. The cabbages were gloriously technicoloured as were the stems of the Cornus; there were also some Black Bamboos – small as yet but bound to be enormous. Below are some of the photos –
Afterwards we descended on the barn for a cuppa and cake – all were delicious – the cakes being made by the local Womens Institute
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