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Post by Fractal on Aug 15, 2012 7:47:25 GMT
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Post by Fractal on Aug 15, 2012 7:54:10 GMT
A few other random shots from the day.  Clethra arborea   Hoverfly on Meadowsweet  Another species of Hoverfly on Purple Loosetrife  Toads mating  ~End~ |
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Post by Cherry on Aug 15, 2012 11:43:41 GMT
What a truly beautiful house and grounds and even its own beach. I could live here. I lost my Roscoea in the bad weather, but it is thriving here. Your photos are beautiful Steve.
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Post by peony on Aug 15, 2012 12:45:14 GMT
Wonderful pictures SteveN, looks a great place for a visit. Lovely picture of Mum, Dad and the cygnets, and the Agapanthus border is beautiful.
I have a Roscoea beesiana (like the one in the 9th photo), but the violet one is much more colourful ;D
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Post by Tel on Aug 15, 2012 18:47:57 GMT
Looks a lovely place to spend the day. Our dogs would love that beach.  |
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Post by Fractal on Aug 15, 2012 20:28:39 GMT
It's a beautiful woodland garden between the Hall and the cove full of rare and unusual plants collected from the wild by the current Lord Howick since 1985 in collaboration with Kew and Edinburgh Botanic gardens.
The Earl Grey teahouse gets it's name from Charles, the 2nd Earl Grey is famous for developing the Earl Grey brand of tea. The addition of bergamot orange to the blend was to counteract the lime from the well water at Howick. Lady Grey used it at her London banquets and it rapidly became very popular. She asked if it could be sold to others which is how Twinings came to market it.
Unfortunately, the Grey's didn't think of patenting it and have never received a penny from it.
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Post by Fractal on Aug 15, 2012 20:31:20 GMT
Incidentally, Charles 2nd Earl Grey was Prime Minister 1830-1834.
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Post by Fractal on Aug 15, 2012 20:34:25 GMT
Grey Street in Newcastle with Grey's Monument at the head of the street. This street is regarded as one of the finest in Britain.  |
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Post by grindle on Aug 16, 2012 4:20:47 GMT
Some good photos there Steve, it looks a lovely place to visit. I remember walking down Grey Street when my son was at Durham Uni
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Post by Cherry on Aug 16, 2012 5:53:56 GMT
Your photos are amazing SteveN. I am ashamed to say I have not been to Newcastle, but had rellies at Durham, so know it very well. Newcastle looks a handsome city.
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Post by esther on Aug 16, 2012 6:10:51 GMT
Fabulous photos SteveN - especially of the Hoverflies - I want you camera ;D
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Post by lesley on Aug 16, 2012 6:56:16 GMT
Brilliant pictures Steven N, my sort of place Howick Hall, never been to Newcastle, looks interesting. |
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Post by Fractal on Aug 16, 2012 15:38:44 GMT
Some good photos there Steve, it looks a lovely place to visit. I remember walking down Grey Street when my son was at Durham Uni Your photos are amazing SteveN. I am ashamed to say I have not been to Newcastle, but had rellies at Durham, so know it very well. Newcastle looks a handsome city. It's a beautiful street, but then so is Grainger St and others in the area. I think people from outside the region just assume "Grim" and are surprised at just how lovely the city is. The sixties has left its brutal concrete mark as elsewhere thanks in part to the now discredited 1960's council leader T. Dan Smith, but theres much left untouched Fabulous photos SteveN - especially of the Hoverflies - I want you camera ;D Thanks! It's a Panasonic Lumix DMC TZ18. I know the TZ20 and the higher TZ numbers do more but it's sturdy, compact, has 16x optical zoom, Leica optics, plenty of memory and 14.1 megapixels. Should be able to get for under £130 now from most places. I was going around in circles until I tried my mothers and loved it. Guy in Jessop's where I got case for it said he had one and thought it was a great little camera too. Brilliant pictures Steven N, my sort of place Howick Hall, never been to Newcastle, looks interesting. I'm sure you'd love both Lesley |
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Post by Fractal on Aug 16, 2012 15:53:26 GMT
.............oh, and you can film with full HD quality video too :-)
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