Day Two - May 5, 2014

     Monday's adventures began with us leaving Bowness-on-Windermere and the Lake District. We headed South to Preston, where we visited Barton Grange Garden Centre.

The entrance to Barton Grange Garden Centre.

     Dr. Ponder would love to take his Retail Garden Center Management class there because it was the epitome of a great garden center. The parking lot was made out of permeable pavers, which is just one of many ways that the garden center was eco-friendly. These pavers allow water to drain through, reducing runoff that can carry oil into waterways and contribute to erosion. Inside the garden centre was a cook shop, home goods store, restaurant, farm store, and of course, a plant center. Their customer service was excellent and I bought several souvenirs from the farm store.

Barton Grange had a large selection of both out- and indoor furniture.

Their 5 year guarantee beats the 1 year warranty at our box stores, like Lowes.

5-a-Day Ray was made of colorful pots and a small portable
greenhouse. He hung over the vegetables section to encourage
customers to grow vegetables and stay healthy.

The Farm Store had many products I've never seen, like these citrus flavored cheeses.

     Next we were off to pick up Kira from the airport in Manchester. What was supposed to be a quick "take away" turned out to be quite the adventure. Let's just say navigating English roadways is not as simple as reading signs, especially when the appropriate signs aren't visible due to construction. Navigating the airport roundabouts was not easy, either!

     After finally finding our way to the terminal and picking Kira up, we headed West toward Wales to see Bodnant Gardens. The 80-acre garden featured countless varieties of rhododendrons and azaleas, a Laburnum arch, waterfalls, and large lawns. We all wish we would have had more time to explore; even a full day would not have been long enough!

We discovered Welsh, or Cymraeg, is actually another
language. I had no idea!

The backside of the entrance to Bodnant had a large
Lady Banks Rose (R. banksiae) just beginning to bloom.

One of the more formal gardens on the property, with
four paths leading to a fountain in the center.

Ethan explored on his own while Dr. Robinson stopped
for a moment to take pictures.

The Laburnum (L. x vossi) arch wasn't blooming yet but
it would soon become a tunnel of yellow flowers!

This giant sequoia (S. gigantea) was planted in 1876.

This staircase was lined with Rhododendrons and perennials.
The landscaping in this area felt very natural and relaxing.

This bridge led over a creek that once powered the corn mill inside this watermill.

This was the lowest of several terraces that led down the hill and away from the house.

After 5 minutes of walking up the terraces, I could begin to
see the house in the distance. Bodnant Gardens was huge!

Many of the staircases and walls at Bodnant had
spaces between stones for planting perennials.

The Alpine Garden on the terrace just below the house.

A view of the house across one of several large lawns.

     We stayed at Bodnant until close, then headed to a nearby town fair. The fair was closing by the time we made it to town but we spent some time exploring the area and enjoying a view of the Irish Sea. As we approached we had hopes of a beautiful, sandy beach but were instead met with a bed of boulders. Nonetheless, we enjoyed the views and took time to appreciate the old European architecture of the town.

The shore was slick with algae and kelp
but it had a nice view, nonetheless.

     Next we made our way to Chester to check in at the hotel Mercure, where we stayed for the night. After taking a few minutes to put away our luggage and relax, we headed to the town centre to get dinner. This area of town was known as "The Rows" and is part of the rich history of Chester. Many of the historic buildings had been maintained, allowing us views of several breathtaking cathedrals and Tudor architecture. Most of the stores had closed by this time (around 8:15pm) but we were able to find a little restaurant, Bella Italia. We were lucky to find Italian food. With all the walking we've been doing, we need all the carbs we can get!

     After a delicious and filling meal, we quickly made our way back to the hotel for some well-deserved sleep. Now to prepare for the excitement of Biddulph Grange and Chatsworth House tomorrow. Stay tuned!

War Eagle!
Jeremiah DeVore