Just a few miles from my home is Castle Ashby Estate. It consists of a superb old house sitting in 10,000 acres of splendid Northamptonshire countryside with extremely extensive and tranquil gardens. Work began on the house in 1574 and continued into the early 1600's. At the suggestion of King William III in 1695, four great avenues of trees were planted but all bar one were removed by Capability Brown, the famous landscape gardener, in 1761. The magnificent gardens are open to the public every day of the year and consist of Italian gardens, an Orangery, formal gardens, Rainbow Borders, Spring Walks, an Aboretum, a Butterfly garden and a Secret Garden.
When I was last there I had strolled through the Butterfly gardens enjoying the heady scent of Lavenders, Buddlea and Hebe's and watched the butterflies and bees flitting back and forth as they went about their daily chores.
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| Pen & Wash - 11"x 8" |
I took some reference photo's because I just knew I had to paint it one day. I will be going back this summer and I will be taking my sketchbook with me.
Sounds like a wonderful place, John.
ReplyDeleteLooks pretty good too, from your pen and wash :) xx
Pat, it's well worth a visit if you're ever in this area. Thank you.
DeleteHello John. I wish I could take a look over there! Gardening is my second hobby so I'm very interested in gardens. It must be a peaceful place and I like the story you told about it. You made a beautiful painting through wich I can image how it must be there!
ReplyDeleteI'm a keen gardener too Renate. This garden is exquisite - you'd love it. Thank you very much.
DeleteWhat a beautiful peaceful place, John! You made a wonderful painting! The plants and trees are painted very well!
ReplyDeleteThank you Judy.
DeleteSounds lovely and looks beautiful in your picture.
ReplyDeleteThank you Sue.
DeleteSounds like a wonderful place, John!! and the way you explained it makes me smell all those beautiful flowers. This is a wonderful pen & wash. I love the colors in this very peaceful secret garden !
ReplyDeleteMy painting doesn't do it justice Hilda. Thank you very much.
DeleteNice one John. I also like the story as well.
ReplyDeleteWell done and all the best.
Vic.
Thank you very much Vic.
DeleteHi John, very complex subject but very well reproduced! Great job, really. Have a good w.e.
ReplyDeleteThank you Tito, I appreciate it.
DeleteThis is definitely a place I would like to visit...I just love the English countryside and the English 'savoir faire' regarding anything green, how lucky to be living nearby :-)I am a garden designer myself and very passionate about nature. Your watercolor finely captured the beauty and the poetry of the place, it is delicate and beautifully detailed. Have a nice sunday.
ReplyDeleteJane, as a garden designer you would love this estate ... so many different moods and themes. Thank you for your lovely comment.
DeleteHow very beautiful, both the story and the painting.
ReplyDeleteBJ
Thank you BJ.
DeleteOoh John, this is a lovely painting and marvellous composition. Judging by your description, this is a place I must visit this year...
ReplyDeleteFrank, if you enjoy gardens this is well worth a visit. It would make a great location for a sketching day if you ever fancy a meet up. Thanks for the comment.
DeleteI LOVE this! Pen and wash? I thought it was watercolour. I love the composition and those teeny red flowers in the foreground. It sounds and looks like just my kind of place :0)
ReplyDeleteThank you very much Sandra, I appreciate that very much.
DeleteLovely painting! You really captured the differences in all of the plant life. The variation of shapes and colours really brings it to life.
ReplyDeleteHappy Painting.
Thank you very much Nora.
Deleteyou've captured lots of detail and sunshine john ...beautiful pen and wash
ReplyDeleteThank you very much Jane.
DeleteLovely painting John, I can almost smell the flowers. Well done.
ReplyDeleteJoan you're very kind, thank you.
DeletePen and wash isn't easy and you have certainly mastered it. You have captured the beauty of this delicate looking garden.
ReplyDeleteJean
Thank you very much Jean.
DeleteIt's a lovely spot to sit and read Rose, and I know what you mean about a time machine ... I so need one of those. Thanks for the lovely comment.
ReplyDeletewhat a lovely sketch john! so much rich history, i hope someday to be able to visit Great Britain, so much to take in, including this lovely spot. beautifully done!
ReplyDeleteThank you Suzanne. Oh, I do hope you visit us one day ... you'll love it here.
DeleteLovely piece John! Nice fresh watercolours - and the skilled pen work helps to make this very much a 'Johnston' :) Looks like a fabulous place for a sketchday so if you and Frank do sort one out, then count me in too!
ReplyDeleteOh, wouldn't that be great Michael ... a boys day out. Thanks for the kind words about my painting.
DeleteJohn,
ReplyDeleteLooking at your painting I could feel each and everything you have written about. Wish to see the sketch whenever you do it.
Thank you very much Prabal.
DeleteBeautiful view colors
ReplyDeleteI am afraid the colors a little piece of Alon does not
Thank you Ahmed
ReplyDelete