April 29, 2018  Sunday      Aber Artro Hall and the Waterfalls


Today's post has a little funny story to go along with it.  It all began with Saturday night Mass.  Kitty corner to our flat, is a Catholic Church that only offers Mass on Saturday night because the parish shares their priest with another town.  So, we went and expected the number of attendants to be low seeing as how it is off-season for tourism.  It is no surprise to us anymore that, as a group, we stand out a bit.  Before we got our coats off, Father Alex was asking if anyone knows how to serve? (alter boys)   Aaron and Paul's worst fear realized.....serving in a foreign land!  Amazingly, they said "yes" to Father's request and headed to the back of church to gown up, joining one young server from the community.  This little guy hadn't even made his First Communion yet, and Aaron and Paul said how they just did everything he said even though he was so young!

After Mass, there was coffee and biscuits (cookies), and while the kids headed to the back of church to enjoy those and visit with people, Rod and I struck up a conversation with a woman tidying up the sanctuary.  By the time Rod and I made it to the back of church, Collin says to me, "We have plans for tomorrow at 11 a.m.  We are going out to see some gardens."  OK.  I love a pretty garden.  We were introduced to the nice couple, Paul and Carolyn Morgan, Collin had gotten directions, and we said we would see them tomorrow.

Collin got home and pulled up Google maps to see the route while fresh in his mind.  We dropped the little pedestrian down on the map and took a look at the house so we knew for what we were looking.  It shows a lovely, sturdy looking Welsh building.  All set!

We drive out to the house the next day, and that's when we get the surprise of our life!  The building we were looking at on Google maps was the old stable/garage, not the house.  The house is behind this building, and it's not a cute cottage, but a large manor house!  You will see the pictures!  The gardens are 4 acres of gardens!  4 ACRES!

We walked the grounds, had coffee and biscuits in the manor house kitchen and had a delightful time getting to know Paul and Carolyn.  The nicest people you will ever meet!

Paul and Aaron processing into Mass with Father Alex and Daniel.

Daniel, Paul and Aaron serving Mass.

Sunday morning at Paul & Carolyn's house.

The Italian Garden.

On the path below the house looking up.

Heading in the direction of the river that runs alongside the property.

River Artro

This is an old tennis court.  Paul said it was in such bad shape, he decided to make a rose garden out of it.  His daughter drew the design free hand and then the beds were cut out of the court.

The tennis court rose garden.  Take a look at how Paul's dressed.  He didn't go to Mass this day, he went last night, and yet he dressed so dapper for our visit!  He reminded me of a country gentleman!  So nice!

The William Morris Rose Garden (tennis court)

The kitchen garden.  The house was rebuilt in 1910.  This area was used to feed the inhabitants.

The consummate gardener, he can't pass a weed and not pull it!!

Inside the fruit arbor.

Looking out at the Japanese garden.

Paul explaining the Japanese garden.  It represents the world, starting at the water and moving up to the mountains.

Japanese garden

Japanese garden.

On a ridge, looking back at the house.

The rail isn't to safety requirements, but it's small size gives the illusion of distance and realism.

Looking down on the fruit arbor.

A topiary bug.

Rock and pond garden.

The building to the left is the original house on the property.  It is 400 years old and is now used as a tea room to tourists that come to see the gardens in summer.  The smaller building on the right side of the house was used as a botany laboratory by a woman who lived there around the turn of the century.

Pan

Stairs leading to the Calvary Garden (Way of the Cross woodland walk)

Look at the spikes on the end of the bench.  

Paul has made Stations of the Cross, leading to the empty tomb.

A storm blew through Wales right before Easter time this year.  (The top soil is terribly thin in this area of bed rock.)  Paul hadn't had time to clear this tree away.  Coincidentally, it is the station where "Christ falls a second time".  It gave me goosebumps.  We encouraged Paul to leave it.

At the top of the Calvary Garden.

The empty tomb.

The Cross on Calvary.

This bed is from a verse of Shakespeare.  Paul was reciting it as he showed the garden.  All the plants are mentioned by name in the verse.  I can't remember where in Shakespeare it's found.

Up close to the original 400 year old cottage and botany laboratory.

Inside the old cottage, now a tea house for tourists.

View from the tea house.

Top lawn and fountain bed.  The top lawn was kept pristine to show guests.  The lower lawn (not in picture) was for family recreation such as cricket.

Peacock topiary.

The manor house.  Right

Manor house. Center

The manor house.  Left

Patio by the house.

View of the gardens from the house.

View from the house.

Pamphlet for the gardens.

Back of pamphlet.

Map of the 4 acre garden.

See why my jaw literally hit the ground when we arrived! This was the first half of the day!  Next we went to a park with waterfalls, but this post has been long enough.  I will make a separate post for the waterfall area.