The Hampton Court Palace Flower Show for 2011 has just wound up and a close English friend of mine was fortunate enought to attend with her husband.

The features include show gardens, floral marquees, pavilions, talks and demonstrations. It is the second major national show after the Chelsea Flower Show but has a different character, focusing more on environmental issues, growing your own and cookery, while also opportunities to buy a whole range of gardening accessories, plants and flowers.

Being a keen gardener, I had the photos shared with me and decided to brighten up my blog by adding these splendidly, colourful photos.

A splash of colour!

The cottage garden

Weird and wonderful designs

Photos courtesy of Lavinia from Dorset.

Michael Nyman is an English composer but I know him mostly for the moving sound track created for ‘The Piano’ back in 1993. I never tire of watching the movie for its cinematography and the way it captures the harsh New Zealand landscapes. If you don’t know this film or yet to hear the soundtrack, take a listen hear and be prepared for a visual and audio feast!

The Piano: Original Music From The Film By Jane Campion

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As many of you would know, whilst south/eastern Australia is sodden and bracing flood warnings as we move into summer, much of northern Europe is experiencing record winter temperatures for this time of year. This is a recent photo from the country-side by the nearby village of Melbury Abbas in Dorset, southern England, where they experienced snow, hoar frost and -4C, the photo says it all!

Photo courtesy of Lavinia from Dorset.

This photo was captured during a visit to London when the evening was mild enough to go for a walk by the Thames and view some of the famous sites at night. Tower Bridge in particular was a splendid image. The lights from the bridge reflecting in the water added to the atmosphere and grandeur of this historic site.

Photo courtesy of Lavinia from Dorset.

The picture was taken at the top of Spreadeagle Hill, on Melbury Downs, near Shaftesbury, Dorset. The poppies appeared quite suddenly, out of season, last October, after the field had been harrowed. Poppy seeds are able to lie dormant in the ground for many years, but can often flower if the conditions are right, after they have been disturbed in the ground, producing a vivid and very colourful display. It so happened that these red poppy flowers appeared not too long before our annual Remberance Day, when the poppy is used as a symbol of rememberance for all those who gave their lives in the World Wars.

Photo courtesy of good friend Lavinia from Dorset.

I was recently nominated to participate in Tripbase’s “3 Best Kept Travel Secrets” by Katie Sorene.

“Congratulations on being nominated in Tripbase’s Best Kept Travel Secrets Project! Two months on, and we’re amazed at the response we’ve had. Over 100 travel bloggers have participated so far, sharing their Best Kept Travel Secrets on far-flung destinations, hidden hotels, exotic foods and expert travel tips.” – Katie from Tripbase.com.

And so here are my ’3 best kept travel secrets’. They were all unknown to me and I found them to be true gems…

1. Xlendi Bay, Gozo, Malta

Found on the small island of Gozo, is the fishing village known as Xlendi. Its focal point is the small sea-inlet ‘Xlendi Bay’ with its deep turquoise waters, sandy beach and surrounding cliffs. The bay is often dotted with the traditional fishing boats displaying the bright colours of blue, red and yellow, adding further beauty to this town.

Photo by stevesheriw

2. Stourhead Garden, England

For a period of six months I lived and worked in Shaftesbury, England. Every weekend was spent exploring the surrounding areas and the National Trust property of Stourhead Garden was a place I frequented. For a short period of time I worked as a groom just down the road. What a divine area of Wiltshire it was to work! I don’t expect, as a passing traveller, I would have had the time to have Stourhead on the itinery but as a ‘local’, I got to truly explore the magestic, 18th century garden with its bridges, grottos and temples.

Photo by BethM527

3. Hallstatt, Austria

Hallstatt is still the travel destination that I hold the fondest memories. I have in the past already dedicated a full post to Hallstatt. What captured my attention is that I stumbled upon it quite by chance and found it to be so lush and green, and tidy with a dolls-house atmosphere within the village. The surrounding mountains and lake, simply resembled nothing like what I would see here in Australia.

I now have to nominate five other bloggers to share their 3 best kept travel secrets.

Here are my nominations

You Might Also Enjoy The Following Travel Destinations

Gold Hill, Shaftesbury

Shaftesbury is most well known for the historic, cobblestone street that climbs up the hill and is lined with old, thatch roofed cottages. The street is ‘Gold Hill’ and remembered fondly in the TV advertisement for Hovis bread during the 1970s and ’80s. On the other side of the hill there is another road that climbs up the steep incline and is called Zigzag Hill. It’s narrow, steep and windy and best avoided when black ice is about or you could find yourself skidding straight for a truck – yes, that was my experience!

Love Shaftesbury as much as I do? Framed Art Poster Print by Jon Arnold

Map

TravelTipsPlus Google Map of Shaftesbury

One Great Reason to Visit Shaftesbury

One great reason to visit Shaftesbury is to marvel at the views from the historic ‘Gold Hill’.

Gold Hill, Shaftesbury as Seen in the Hovis Bread Advertisement

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You Might Also Enjoy The Following Travel Destinations

The Shambles

York is located in the County of North Yorkshire in northern England and dates back to Roman times. It is considered to be one of Britain’s best preserved medieval cities with its fine Gothic cathedral (the largest in England), the York Minster. There are four city gates and the old city is surrounded by a large stone wall. Other interesting buildings include, Clifford’s Tower, Treasurer’s House, The Guildhall, Merchant’s Adventurer’s Hall and the Shambles. A fabulous example of medieval shopping street.

The river Ouse flows through York and is a culmination of the small streams which have trickled from the hills of the nearby Dales and Moors. The word ‘ouse’ is a very common name for rivers in England. It’s derived from the Celtic word ‘Usa’, which means ‘water’. The river is very popular in summer with boats cruising the waterway as a means for visitors to view York.

Not far from York and a pleasant drive on the A64, is the famous ‘Castle Howard’. One of Britains finest 18th century private, stately homes. Castle Howard has been part of the Howard family for more than 300 years. You may recognise it for the 1981 television series ‘Brideshead Revisited’.

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TravelTipsPlus Google Map of York

One Great Reason to Visit York

One great reason to visit York is to wander down the medieval shopping street of the Shambles and view the second storey rooms overhanging the cobbled stone street.

The Sites of York

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St Michael's Mount

St Michael’s Mount became a National Trust site during 1954 and is located at Marazion, near Penzance in the most southern County of Cornwall in England. It’s perceived to be one of England’s most dramatic and well known coastal attractions. The medieval castle and church are perched high upon the mountain outcrop of an island. This is then separated from the mainland by a tidal causeway. You can visit on foot by the causeway at low tide or take a boat during high tide.

St Michael’s Mount is rich in myths, legends and history dating back to 350 B.C. A full Timeline of the Mount has been provided.

The island currently has a population of approximately 30 inhabitants and whose jobs range from the local boatman, gardener, guide and handyman. They all pool together to ensure the island is maintained for the 200,000 plus visitors that arrive each year.

Map

TravelTipsPlus Google Map of St Michael’s Mount

One Great Reason to Visit St Michael’s Mount

One great reason to visit St Michael’s Mount is to marvel at the location of the craggy island, that lies beyond the tidal causeway, with a castle and church perched upon it.

Tour of St Michael’s Mount

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