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The 2024 Garden Year

January 19, 2024 January Our year started with snow, ice and frigid temperatures in mid-January. Our temperatures stayed below freezing for almost a week. I think it was the most consistent cold that we've experienced since moving here. Fortunately, it was a dry snow so there wasn't too much damage. Once again, we almost lost the azara and I'm afraid there would have been some breakage if I had not kept knocking the ice off. February 14, 2024 February In past years, it seems that inclement weather seems to hit around Michael's birthday in mid-February. After the January snow and ice, this month was actually quite tame. Nothing exciting to report - mostly birdwatching . Early flowers like hellebores, cyclamen and crocus begin to bloom in mid month. March 3, 2024 March I got into a walking routine which I'm happy to report I am continuing this year. You get to the point where you feel guilty if you miss a day. I do miss days occasionally but I'm learning that ...
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Beverly Nichols' Merry Hall For Sale



A reader sent me a link to a real estate listing in England (thanks Lynn!) - it is none other than Beverly Nichols' Merry Hall. I wrote a post about Nichols two years ago (two years ago???!!!!) 

Nichols bought the Georgian manor house, located in Surrey, after World War II. It was the largest home he ever owned and three of his books are set there. He did not live there too long, however, and sold it in 1956.

It can be yours for just £3,250,000. If I had that... (I've always wanted to live there even though I've  never been).

I thought it was interesting that the real estate posting shows the grounds first, quite the opposite of listings here although I'm not sure if all British listings do that. It may be because of the reputation of the garden.







Another famous property closer to home is the Elk Rock Garden at Bishop's Close. This 9-acre property is stunning and on the market for 4.5 million. I've only visited there one time, shortly before moving here, and it was a cold and rainy day. I'm kicking myself for never returning. Let's hope someone will preserve this historic property that was designed by Frederick Law Olmsted. It appears that the listing is pending...


Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy
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  1. AnonymousDecember 4, 2022 at 5:49 PM

    I thoroughly enjoy Beverly's writing. I am happy to see these pictures. Thanks for sharing this.

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  2. AnonymousDecember 5, 2022 at 9:08 AM

    As a rabid anglophile I'd be thrilled to live in the UK, though this house is a tad big for me. I bet the ground keeper's cottage is just perfect though. If you buy it and need a ground's keeper, let me know :-D
    Chavli

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  3. luv2gardenDecember 6, 2022 at 9:22 AM

    Ouch!! Obviously the listing is not intended to attract the average resident.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Lisa at GreenbowDecember 8, 2022 at 3:53 AM

    I like that the way he writes about this garden and home is as my mindset thinks about home and garden. To see/read it actually how large it all is makes my mind shatter.

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