Synopsis: The first trip in our new car. A dual purpose trip in that it was to be an opportunity for Mum to gain some experience behind the wheel of our new car combined with a visit to a favourite garden of ours.
Early in the morning I picked up our new car, a Honda Jazz, from Hendy Honda down on Marsh Barton and drove this back to Mum’s. As this was the first change of car for Mum in around twenty years, her old Nissan Sunny finally having bit the dust after twenty-four years service, I felt it was very important for Mum to gain some experience in the new car. I suggested to Mum we visit the Garden House on the edge of Dartmoor, a favourite garden of ours to visit in the autumn when the colours are usually particularly good, and the trip would allow Mum the opportunity to drive the car over Dartmoor. We’ve visited the Garden house previously in 2008 and 2009.
Mum took to the car really well and had no trouble driving it. The car is probably about the same size as Mum’s old car, and being an automatic, was quite similar to drive. The road from Bovey Tracey to Moretonhampstead has some narrow stretches, but Mum coped with these really well.
On arriving at the Garden House the lady selling entrance tickets told us the autumn colour this year was not as dramatic as in previous years. Conditions have to be just right for the best of autumn colour, as explained here by the RHS, and this year autumn has been too warm for the best colours. We were sure we’d have a pleasant and relaxing garden stroll anyway, but first priority was to obtain some food, so off we headed towards the house and the Tea Rooms where lunches are served.
Garden House - the Quarry Garden
After lunch we began our stroll around the garden by walking around the lawns and heading towards the Quarry Garden. The day had become rather overcast but the colours, although subdued, were lovely anyway.
Garden House - the Acer Glade
From here we briefly visited the Magic Circle, a circle of stones that echo the prehistoric stone circles to be found on Dartmoor, a nice touch. We then headed for the Acer Glade where, just as was said, the autumn colours were to be seen, but not so vibrant as in previous years.
Garden House - the Ovals Garden
One of my favourite features of the house is the Ovals Garden which swoops elegantly down the side of the hill, with a summer house perched at the top. This I feel is an unusual and imaginative design that works really well, leading the eye through the view.
As we were leaving I noticed they were selling off plants at a 40% discount so we took a little look around. I came away with a very nice Stokesia Laevis. It was then back to the car and this time I did the driving on our journey back home. A relaxing and enjoyable day out on this the inaugural outing for our new car.
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