Where have all the years gone, time has whizzed by so quickly, so now I have to admit that yesterday was the day for the big Seven O! When I was twenty, I thought people of 70 were ancient, now I know that they definitely are not! For one of my birthday presents our daughter sent us to a sculpture park in Dorset, Sculpture by the Lakes. Booking ahead is necessary as they only allow a few in at a time, so that you can enjoy the peace and tranquillity of the place, just one other family were there the same time as us.
Male pheasant
All the sculptures are the work of the very talented sculptor Simon Gudgeon, the ones in the gallery are smaller but this pheasant at the entrance was much bigger than me.
Roe deer
The park is laid out as a series of paths round various lakes with paths mown through natural planting. The bronze sculptures are to be found placed along the paths, they varied in size enormously, mostly very large and were absolutely wonderful, you certainly needed a large setting to show them to advantage, like these Roe deer beside the stream in a woodland setting.
Isis
We could see this one from some distance away, here it is nicely framed by trees which formed a tunnel.
Isis
Close to, Isis is really beautiful, so tactile, you just have to stroke it, but she is huge, 5 metres tall.
Falcon
In fact I found myself stroking a lot of them, the patination just called out for it.
Leaping Salmon
While sitting by the pool, there was an almighty splash, so we think it must have been a salmon or trout, it was too quick for us to see, unlike this one frozen in time.
Quotes
While standing on one of their bridges we saw this quotation just under the water of the lake.
Falcon
Another falcon was soon being admired. The sculptor gets most of his inspiration from the area here round the house, which must attract of lot of wildlife.
Eve
On one of the islands was Eve, we could have got a little rowing boat to the island, if we had, we would have seen Adam and the Fallen Apples.
Barn Owl
I liked this one a lot, probably because this is the sort of thing that I would carve in wood. Who knows, I might have a go in the winter!
Embrace
A very large sculpture about half way round the lake, called Embrace. I thought it was a very pleasing shape, but I didn’t like the tiny bits of bedding plants surrounding it in the gravel, what do you think?
River Frome
The River Frome (rhymes with prune) runs through the garden, in spite of our recent hot, dry spell it was quite full and running fast.
Iris pseudacorus
I thought I ought to photograph some flowers as this is supposed to be a gardening blog! These iris are on the banks of the River Frome.
Duel
Duel is a sculpture of two fighting cock pheasants, once again the birds were higher than me, so the whole sculpture stands very tall.
Pelicans
Another chance to sit in the sun with a beautiful view, the reflection adds to the sculpture.
Geranos
The Greek for Crane is Geranos, which is where cranesbill or geranium comes from. This is why they have under planted it with hardy geraniums, I think it will look a lot better when they have grown a bit.
Search for Enlightenment
Two very large heads standing side by side, one male and one female, staring at the sun, searching for enlightenment, it is to be hoped that they found it.
Quote
Another quote just under the level of the water, this time in an ornamental pond, I think I am the sort of person that feels the rain, how about you?
Ravens
Almost finished now, into the garden of the house where it becomes more formal, this sculpture shows two ravens, again taller than me, I had to look up to the birds.
Guardian Hares
Into Pippin’s Garden. Pippin was a much loved lurcher and this garden was created in her memory and the hares are there to guard her.
Ragged Robin
A lovely patch of Ragged robin to end on before we went for lunch nearby. In the afternoon we visited a garden, of course, but I will save that for next time. Many, many thanks to our daughter for a wonderful morning at the sculpture park, I really enjoyed it.
What a wonderful day out and thoughtful present from your daughter – and congratulations on your 70th birthday! It’s good to know that this sculpture park exists; I wouldn’t know about it if you hadn’t posted! I love the leaping salmon, it looks so real but the other animals and birds are also lovely. What a visual treat, especially in warm weather, lucky you! Warm wishes for more lovely days to come. Caro xx
Thank you so much Caro for your good wishes. It was a really lovely day out and our daughter certainly made the right choice for me! We certainly had the right weather for it, I have known my birthday to have thick fog all day, which wouldn’t have been very good at all.
Best wishes on your birthday (week) and thanks for sharing this special treat. I agree the little bedding plants around Embrace are odd; they look like pox. Perhaps they are the “baggage.” Not a very poetic idea though, is it? Especially in such an inspirational place. I loved every piece, every view.
It was an inspirational place Marian, I thought I knew all the sculpture places about here, this was a new one for me. Thank you so much for your good wishes, it was a wonderful day.
Pauline, I can’t believe you are 70! I don’t know how you do look like but I can certainly tell you sound still in your 20s! You always have something in mind, and you’re always up to something, I hope I can reach your age with the same strength.
As for the sculptures I think it was such a great gift, I love all that ‘liquid’ figures, their proportions and visiting the sculptor’s website I fell in love with the kinetic series, I wish I had one of those in my garden!
I loved in particular the one with ravens, also for its surroundings.
Hello Alberto, I don’t feel 70, it’s all in the mind you know! My parents generation were “old” at 70, but not these days, too many things to do and see, still learning and exploring. As my daughter said 3 yrs ago, when we went to Africa to work on a mission just for a month, parents are not supposed to go off having adventures – why not? I’ve decided that 70 is the new 50!
Our day out was a lovely present, our daughter knew I would like the sculptures and she was right. I’m so pleased you went onto the sculptors website, I have shown only a fraction of his work, it is amazing.
I knew you’d love the barn owl! He really reminded me of some of your carvings mum – I just knew it was the place for you. I’m so pleased you enjoyed your time there xx
Thank you Rachael, it was a super present and we really enjoyed our time there. I was amazed at the size of some of the bronzes, they were certainly shown in the right setting, with plenty of space around them, such a lovely place, many, many thanks.x
Very many happy birthday wishes, Pauline. As Alberto says you certainly don’t sound 70! Your daughter is very thoughtful to give you such a stimulating gift. Maybe all the planting will improve with time, the sculptures are lovely. I always think that sculpture looks its best in an outdoor setting. Auguri! Christina
Thank you for your good wishes Christina, the problem now is that you all have a mental image of a little old lady pottering in her garden!!
I’ve read that most of the planting is only 5 yrs old, thousands of trees have been planted, grasses and phormium. I saw lots of Sambucus “Black Lace” planted about 5ft apart, I wonder if they know how tall and wide they grow. The sculptures did look good in their setting, among the grasses and trees, I can imagine they would make good perching posts for all the birds that we saw!
Happy Birthday Pauline. I love the idea of the uber big pheasant.
Thank you Catharine,it was a truly wonderful day. The pheasant was so huge, I wouldn’t like to meet him in my garden, but I though he made a wonderful sculpture!
What a lovely day you had, Pauline, and you couldn’t have asked for anything better – how lovely that your daughter thought of it. It’s the Golfer’s birthday today but he is a year older so I shall always remember when yours is now – belated Happy Birthday for yesterday! The sculptures were fantastic, and it is a good idea to restrict visitors so you get a better appreciation of them and their setting. Do you feel that your body can cope with woodcarving again now? I hope so. Look forward to seeing what garden you went to!
Thank you for your birthday wishes Cathy,it was a fantastic day, it couldn’t have been better! Happy Birthday to the golfer.
I’m hoping that I will be able to start carving again soon , maybe after the summer when there isn’t so much work to do in the garden. I’ll start on something fairly easy and build my muscles up gradually, that’s the idea anyway!
I’m working on the next post at the moment, it won’t be long.
Oh best wishes for your birthday Pauline and may the days ahead be filled with flowers and fun! What an apt and unique gift for your special day from your daughter. Some brilliant sculptures. Am with you on the bedding plants and think that some grasses should grace ‘Embrace’. Love the floating quotes.
Thank you Anna, what a lovely thought, flowers and fun! The sculptures were so beautiful, the day was wonderful, the weather was perfect, amazing! I thought the floating quotes were very clever with the letters on metal stalks fixed to the bottom, a bit different from the others.
Happy Birthday Pauline! This was a wonderful gift to receive. The animal and bird sculptures are fantastic and I love the ones set in their ‘natural’ environment. The patch of Irises and the Ragged Robin are lovely too.
Thanks Wendy, it was a super pressie, we both certainly enjoyed our day out. The settings by the lakes looked best, I agree, I would have liked to see more wild flowers but the planting is very new in places, so maybe I shouldn’t judge too soon!
Happy Birthday! What a nice treat your daughter gave you for your birthday. My favourite sculpture has to be the barn owl. I like the way it is set into the circle of stone. It is also nice that it looks back and interacts with the viewer. The quotes in the water would be a nice surprise. Interesting that they only allow a few people in at a time. Rarely do museums or galleries consider under what circumstances one interacts with the masterpieces in the spaces.
Thank you Jennifer, it was a lovely day. The barn owl sculpture is one of my favourites too, but the circle was bronze as well as the owl, just treated in a different way after being cast. It certainly was appreciated that there were only 1 other lot of visitors at the same time as us, we were able to take our time, enjoy the sculptures, sit and enjoy the scenery and the sunshine. The only sounds were from the birds, all the time watching dragonflies and damselfies flitting about, all beautifully peaceful.
Lovely post! So thoughtful of daughter to send you on that excursion! A big birthday to celebrate with many more still to come!
It was a lovely present Jayne, I thought I knew all the sculpture gardens in the south west, but this was a new one for me. I agree, let’s hope there are many more birthdays to come!
What a wonderful way to spend such a special day. Some 70-year-olds are old and some are young, it has nothing to do with your chronological age, which is pretty much irrelevant. For reading your blog, I know that you are someone who feels the rain—many happy returns of the day!
It’s all in the mind isn’t it Carolyn, if I don’t think I’m old, then I’m not! I’ve decided that 70 is the new 50, so that makes me middle aged! Thank you so much for your good wishes.
Happy birthday! What a wonderful treat this sculpture garden is! I like sculptures if they are appropriate to their setting . These are perfect, except for the poor couple who have holes in their head and are doomed to search for enlightenment forever without finding it.
Thank you Deb, it was a lovely surprise and a beautiful day. There were a few sculptures that would look nice in the garden here, but most were so large, you would need a country estate to place them in. While walking round we heard nothing but bird song and had lots of dragonflies and damselflies darting about, it was perfect.
What a beautiful gift Pauline. Aging is such a weird phenomena, I find it increasingly bizarre to realise that people I meet nowadays are relating to me differently because I look older, but I feel just the same inside. I was going to say that I agree with others, you don’t “sound” 70, but then I realised that I don’t actually know what 70 is supposed to sound like. So instead I will say that I hope you had a lovely birthday and that I thoroughly enjoy reading your blog.
It’s true Janet, you feel just the same inside even though the outside is changing, it really is a state of mind. Also I think that gardening keeps us all fit, all that exercise is really good for us! I did have a really lovely birthday, and thank you for your kind comment about my blog.
Pauline, I’d like to add my best wishes to you on this special birthday. What a thought gift your daughter planned for you. Thanks for sharing your trip. Susie
Thank you Susie, it really was a super day and a wonderful present.
Wow what a lovely present and now on my list of places to go when I go back to Dorset, I love sculpture gardens and that one had some beautiful sculptures, no wonder you were inspired.
It was a super present Annie and we both enjoyed it so much. Having carved a few carvings for the garden here, I always like to see other peoples work when possible. These were very large and needed the spacious setting that they had by the lakes, which was just right for them.
Congrats, Pauline. I’m still a few years short of you, but you give me inspiration to keep going when I think the garden’s getting too much for me. I adore all of those sculptures, especially the fighting pheasants. On the other hand, I hate gardens which stick quotations everywhere. If I want a quote, I’ll do some reading; I don’t want a garden designer telling me how significant words can be….
I think it is the garden that keeps me going Kininvie, let’s face it, it is a better work out than the gym! I think I’ll have to make it easier soon, lots more mulches to cut down on the weeding. I felt the quotations were good in their setting, but I wouldn’t want to read the same one in my own garden day after day. It was a good day out and a birthday I will always remember.