Friday Sunshine at Mottisfont.

Friday, May 16th. 2014.

Dear mummy, not only is Mottisfont hosting the ‘Gardens of Delight’ art exhibition in the house, their gardens are an absolute delight at this time of year!

We’ve popped down a little earlier in the season than usual, as the weather has been so nice recently. Eagerly anticipating the early arrival of the beautiful roses. Last year we saw them when I was VERY little.

Even though it’s mid May we weren’t disappointed! We know the roses are usually in full bloom mid-June so were pleasantly surprised by how colourful the walled garden looked today!

When we arrived at Mottisfont, mummy laid out the picnic blanket and I played on the lawn in front of the house while mummy chilled out on the blanket reading her book. It was all very civilised. The sun was very hot and bright so mummy kept topping me up with sun-cream and water. I loved playing on this safe large patch of grass and the scenery was beautiful. It’s not my first trip to Mottisfont, as mummy and I go quite regularly. The last epic adventure we had was for the Snow Queens Ball back in Feb, but we love walking on the grounds in between events.

Today the gardens are just coming into bloom and the backdrop of the blue sky make for some perfect photographs. As always the staff stopped to chat to me (not really my mummy as she’s a bit boring!) and asked if I was enjoying myself..I think the smile gave it away!

We had lunch alfresco and mummy had a lovely slice of lemon cake and a cup of Earl Grey. I enjoyed Ham Sandwiches and grapes, I even managed to squeeze in a sneaky ice cream, even though it ended badly as I was eating it upside down!

I fell asleep in the Winter Garden like I usually do, the bumpy footpath and snooze shade doing their job. As a result I slept for over an hour which gave my mummy an opportunity to sit in the walled garden and take photographs of the pretty flowers.

She’s a bit excited for June! A lot of “Ohhhhh’s and Ahhh’s” were whispered. They also have a sale on in the National Trust shop, so my mummy picked up a few bits and pieces. Including “That’s not my Tractor” book.

When I woke we went inside the house to escape the afternoon sun and visited the ‘Gardens of Delight’ exhibition. I was carried through the rooms and I pointed out my favourite acrylic paintings. We met some lovely National Trust Staff who commented that I was the youngest visitor to the exhibition that day. It was lovely and cool inside and I enjoyed climbing up and down the large staircases….up and down and up and down….Phew!

We ended up enjoying the last of the late afternoon sun on the lawn, under a tree on mum’s picnic blanket. I sat and finished my juice and chased a crow, we looked at a swan and lay on the ground staring at the deep blue sky. It was really peaceful and a day I won’t forget for a long time.

Thank you mummy for chasing me around, smothering me in sun-cream and for playing ball with me. I loved mucking around rolling on the grass, eating the grass and sticking it to my face. By the end of the day I was covered in sticky strawberry ice-cream, sun-cream, grass and tree blossom….the way it should be!

For more details about Mottisfont, visit my earlier diary entries about last years roses here, and the Lichfield exhibition here.

Love Bella xx

P.s My favourite flower in the walled garden was this fantastic ‘Iris King’ he looked stunning in full glory.