A quick drive down to Sussex because, amazingly, traffic on the M25 flowed. The M25, a ring road around London with at least 4 and sometimes 6 lanes in each direction. Always busy, often at a complete standstill. Aptly described in Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett. Hell on earth.
Collect Dayne and head over to Nymans which is really close to Haywards Heath. National Trust, of course, since 1953. Originally owned and developed by the Messel family.
A fire destroyed much of the building in 1947. The house was partially rebuilt and lived in by the stylish and fashionable Anne Messel, one of the 'Bright Young Things' of the 20's and 30's. Her son Antony Armstrong-Jones, was married for a time to Princess Margaret.
This weekend is officially the start of spring - someone needs to tell the weather - the opening weekend for the house. I don't think it's been a particularly long or arduous winter, it just feels like it.
Somebody's shoe cupboard was raided for this idea ...
The gardens are in 600 acres overlooking the High Weald of Sussex.
Yew topiaries and hedges all around the garden.
The Toblerone hedge.
Android topiary.
Birds everywhere. You don't really notice until you close your eyes and listen - a chirping, chirruping, whistling chorus which goes on in the background all the daylight hours.
After snowdrops, the next flower in the spring queue is the Crocus - just purple and white here, but elsewhere all colours, with a lovely fragrance.
Through the ruins ...
Into the restored part of the house.
A bouquet filled with pincushion proteas and leucadendron - a bit of a surprise to see such familiar blooms in the midst of the UK spring.
These flagstone floors must be freezing in winter.
Isn't this door lovely?
This lightshade was a surprising delight in a passageway. So modern, yet it fits right in.
There is an interesting new art installation at Nymans. The artist John Newling was commissioned to develop a language for the garden.
These plaques are part of the alphabet trail. In the house is a folio of works on display. There is also a downloadable font available - at this link http://www.john-newling.com/nymans-typeface/.
Rather lovely (rather lovely)
Back out into the cold.
Lots of colour and flowers
The fragrance of these pink flowers - wafting around the garden.
Daffodils, everywhere you look.
Spring has sprung - thank goodness!
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