Bench?

Posted on March 17, 2023 Posted in UncategorizedTagged Bench, bench appreciation group, chaise, Filter, Funny, Life, Memory, Photo, Trees, Trentham GardensLeave a comment

There is a bench appreciation group that I’ve recently joined. Showing some of the most interesting benches in the UK and around the world. I only joined because my friend invited me and has been posting some beautiful photos. When I looked back on my phone history I only found three pictures out of thousands! This one (which I’ve filtered to hide my hubby) always makes me laugh. There is a shiny wooden bench like a chaise longue? Not sure of spelling. At Trentham Gardens.. It’s hidden inside an arch of several trees. Hubby decided to try it out for size…

Under seven trees

Posted on November 1, 2022 Posted in UncategorizedTagged Green, Growth, Hide, Plant, Poem, Poetry, Staffordshire, tent shape, Tree, Trees, trentham Estate, Trentham GardensLeave a comment

Under seven trees,

Branches entwined

Roots tangled

One organism

Whole

Someone planned them

Years ago

Someone pulled them

Into a hide or tent

Someone cared for them

Now they are a wonder

In Trentham Park.

Balloon

Posted on September 12, 2022September 12, 2022 Posted in UncategorizedTagged Adventure?, Balloon, balloon flights, Blue, Heat, high, Light, Poem, Poetry, Sky, Trentham GardensLeave a comment

Catching the sun

Up in the sky

Over the trees

Lighter than air you fly

Heat rises up

Into the envelope

Shaped and sewn

A flying sphere

View from above

Seeing the ground

Eventually landing

Safe and sound.

Persius and Medusa

Posted on September 10, 2022 Posted in Fine Art, UncategorizedTagged Art, Fine Art, Greek myths and legends, History, Lake, Persius and Medusa, Sculpture, Trentham GardensLeave a comment

Sculpture at Trentham Gardens at the North end of the lake. It is the main sculpture and has been there for many years.

Persius killed the Gorgon Medusa by using his shield to reflect the image of her face back at her. Her power was to turn men to stone with her glance. Her hair was made up of writhing snakes. Only by doing this could he save himself.

I think I first heard of the story when I was a child, reading Greek myths and legends in a book for children. But I did not see this sculpture till I was an adult. I think I would have been upset to see this rather graphic image as a child.

Pleasant day

Posted on September 10, 2022September 11, 2022 Posted in Fine Art, UncategorizedTagged Art, Day out, Fairy, Life, Sculpture, Staffordshire, Stoke-on trent, Trentham Gardens, Wire weaving2 Comments

One of the fairy sculptures at Trentham Gardens today. She seems to be throwing leaves into the air in a wild gesture of freedom. She is standing on to of a world or perhaps a seed pod. The creator of the sculptures shows a great deal of variety and not only humour but great expressiveness.

Minature train

Posted on August 16, 2022 Posted in UncategorizedTagged Backache, minature train, Train, Trentham Gardens, Trentham Lake, Walk, woman train driverLeave a comment

Good to see a woman driver on the minature train at Trentham Gardens. We went there today because our neighbours are having some work done and had mini diggers rumbling all morning so I couldn’t open my windows because of the noise.

We decided to walk round the lake which was lovely because there was a cool breeze, but then we caught the minature train down half the length of the lake to make life easier. I still had a twinge in my back so had to get my hubby to help me get back off the train!

We walked round the rest of the lake and I took some photos of flowers around the lake which are still looking lovely. I might try and look at doing some small paintings of them.

Inside out!

Posted on July 25, 2022July 25, 2022 Posted in UncategorizedTagged gusts, inside out, Life, Rain, Staffordshire, Trentham Gardens, Trentham Lake, Umbrella, Weather, WindLeave a comment

The wind was blowing as we walked round Trentham lake today. That was fine, the weather was cool and cloudy but dry. We walked past the reopened miniature railway which had a diesel train running on it with happy children and adults riding on it. We did think about taking a ride but decided to head towards the end of the lake to the cafe to get an ice cream. We noticed strong gusts of wind and the clouds darkening but it wasn’t bad and I had a large umbrella that I was using ad a walking stick.

We sat and had an icecream but felt the patter of rain. So we decided to walk back the way we had came. Then we fought a head on blast of wind and rain! The brolly was being buffeted, twisting in the air. Its handle and stem were bending in the strong gusts of wind. Suddenly it turned inside out! We both fought it back into a sort of shape because it was still raining, but a couple of spokes are hanging down and the cover has pulled away and is sagging. Sadly it was disposed of when we came home… Mm

Sculpture /planter

Posted on April 21, 2022 Posted in Sketching, UncategorizedTagged Art, Birds, black biro, black metal, Drawing, England, Sketching, Spider, Squirrel, Staffordshire, Trentham GardensLeave a comment

A metal squirrel climbs up and birds perch on this sculpture at Trentham whilst plants including tulips grow in the planter. 15 minute sketch while we were at Pieminister at the retail Village. I could also see butterflies and a spider. I decided this is an example of art nouveau or that sort of style. It’s made up of four sections bolted together.

Cedar trees

Posted on April 21, 2022 Posted in UncategorizedTagged cedar of Lebanon trees, Green, Landscape, Spring, Sunny day, Trees, Trentham Gardens, ViewLeave a comment

Out at Trentham Gardens in the sunshine. I love the Cedar of Lebanon trees. Thy must be a hundred years old. I’m surprised they haven’t been felled because a lot of the trees have been (health and safety?). I guess if a large tree limb fell on you it would be disastrous. What I like about these is the way the branches spread out sideways in a very flat, horizontal way. They are evergreen trees and very spectacular all year round.

Trentham Gardens

Posted on April 21, 2022 Posted in UncategorizedTagged Art, black metal, Gardening, Life, Plants, Sculpture, Spring, Staffordshire, Stoke-on trent, Trentham GardensLeave a comment

One of the metal sculptures / plant supports in a planter at Trentham Gardens retail Village. I like the art nouveau or is it art deco feel to these (I can never remember). They are already pretty but come high summer they will be packed with bright and cheerful flowers. Vines climbing up the sculptural sections of metal.

Mallaband-Brown

Tag: Trentham Gardens