The Collector Earl's Garden, Arundel, West Sussex

What a fab blog you put on, and such beautiful photos, we were in Littlehampton last week visiting our daughter, wish I had known you lived so close,

How lovely to see Arundel Castle again,Shirley.It was our first 'proper' holiday,and we went there for the day..but I wasn't a Gardener then,so didn't see all this..Beautiful!
I love those old planters and Bell shaped 'cloches'? is that what they were ? lots of lovely plants too,especially in the Hothouse..that's a good shot of the Coleus..Oh,I want to go again,after seeing this..glad you had a lovely day out..:o))

Pleased you like this blog, Yorkshire. I thought you knew I lived near LA, that's what locals call it now, as you commented ages ago on a blog I did about the River Arun and LA beach. You probaby drove very close to us on your way to Eastbourne! If I'd known you were down here, I'd have got you to help weed the allotment with us ... lol!

Sandra,you wouldn't have seen this actual garden back then as it only opened three years ago! The Castle is still inhabited, by the Duke & Duchess of Norfolk. If you can manage the steps up to the Castle Keep, the views are amazing over the downland and out to sea. We only paid for the Earl's Gardens, £7.50 each but had a "2 for1 offer" from GW magazine. The admission prices are high, we could hear families in the queue complaining at being charged £39 family, child £7.50, Concession £13.50 and Adult £16 which included the lot, Castle, Chapel and Gardens. I think those terracotta cloches were for forcing Rhubarb back in the day. They appeared to be just ornamental when we went. Enjoyed it but the calf muscles ached later on, as it's a very steep climb! : o ))

The bed full of assorted tulips and in so many colours really took my eye. Looks a beautiful place, Shirley and I bet it was a nice change to working in your allotment too :)

Hope the calf muscles have fully recovered. Just a thought...perhaps you visited before you got the allotment, thinking about all the tulips in bloom as I would assume tulips are well over now?

great blog Shirley,fancy it being so close and you have only just been for a visit..mind you at those prices you wouldnt be going that often would you ? lovely colours in the hot house & looks like plenty of spuds coming up too...:o)

Jacquie, we turned a corner and those Tulips were a really powerful statement! We visited on 1st May, two weeks tomorrow so I expect they've finished flowering now. We took a morning visit and went to the plot later in the day.

Joan, don't you find that's often the way, things close you just take for granted! We're close to the beach yet we don't go there as often as we should. I love those Victorian Hot houses, white painted bricks and all, and the plants were really thriving in there. I've almost dug over one veg. bed on the plot, went over for almost two hours today as OH still in his sick bed. : o ((

if i lived near a beach Shirley i am sure i would take a walk on it almost every day..you must have worked hard today to dig over a bed..just remember dont do too much, you dont realise how much you are doing ..untill you get home & sit down..then try to get up again lol hope OH is feeling a little better :o)

Hmm, sometimes the seaweed smell is vile, don't like it when the tide's right out either! I didn't mean I'd dug a whole bed today, poorly worded on my part as I finished off digging the first bed! The next one to dig over had Nettles and Docks in, it's been covered with old carpet for two weeks so we shall see if anything's died off by next visit. I really hope so ... lol!

Thanks Shirley, I really enjoyed the blog, beautiful photographs, it looks a fabulous place to spend a day, so much to explore and admire.
Oh to be rich enough to have a hothouse like that, s,pose one can dream, lol...those regal pelargoniums are gorgeous and I love the rock mountain...

Shirley, that's a beautiful blog. THanks so much for doing it. I love everything, with the possible exception of the doors that don't open or lead anywhere, which seem a bit pointless and ostentatious, but the rest of it is wonderful, especially that passion flower!! Thanks!

Beautiful blog and photos really enjoyed it.

Oops..I have just re read your blog..silly me..I was in such a hurry to look at the pics,I didn't read it properly..of course I couldn't have seen it then..in the 70s ! :o)
I wondered if the cloches were for Rhubarb..lovely that they have survived over the years.Wow,it is quite expensive for a Family,isn't it ? That's a shame..it doesn't really encourage them to go.I can imagine the lovely views ,Shirley..maybe by the time I go again,they will have a stairlift ? Lol.

Lovely blog Shirley, enjoyed walking with you.

Lincs, you would have a lovely day in Arundel with the many antique shops, book shops, ye olde tea rooms etc. and then there's the Wildfowl & Wetlands Reserve, the River Arun for a cruise. I sound like an advert for the place now ... lol! There's a medieval jousting weekend coming up soon if you fancy that?

Pleased you enjoyed this, Karen, apart from those doors which seem something of a 'Folly' really! When we came upon the gilded coronet 'dancing' on a jet of water we both stood in awe of it as it's impossible to see how it actually works! One little girl said "Oh, well it's magic isn't it?" ... bless her.

Thanks Carol ... : o ))

There are just the 131 steps to climb for those fabulous views, Sandra, so start limbering up ... lol!

Is that all? ..a doddle !..it will be two at a time for me..two the first year...and so on and so on..:o) I am very optimistic...as I will be 135,when I get to the top ....are you counting back on your fingers ? Lol.

Lol, Sandra! : o ))

Those colour coordinated beds are really beautiful! And I soooooo! want one of those dark red Regal Pelargonium ‘Burgundy' it's gorgeous! That's an expensive place to visit, but it would be a real treat!

Take a look at the variety 'Lord Bute' which has petals edged with pink, Libet, it's a beauty! Most things in Arundel are expensive . . .

That's an impressive castle and lovely grounds.

It's not bad is it, Hywel? I've only been inside the grounds once before, to a Jazz Festival evening and that was only because I won a pair of tickets!

Thank you Shirley! I'll dash off right now, sounds yummy!

Most interesting thanks for sharing....

Thanks, Dd. : o ))