Wednesday, October 24, 2012

Eden's Garden

I've just finished reading a wonderful book by Juliet Greenwood called 'Eden's Garden'.  I saw it first in the gift shop of Llynnon Mill when we spent a day on Anglesey on our last visit to Wales in September.  I remembered the details and wrote them down in my notebook so that when we returned home I could reserve the book from our local library.   I had read the blurb on the back and just knew it was a book I would enjoy.  Written in two eras the present and the late 19th century it is about two families from a small village in the Snowdonia region of Wales, one family from the big house 'Plas Eden' and the other family from its local village 'Pont-ar-Eden'.  It is about family commitments, duties and loyalties, gardens and garden design, art, sculpture and the search for ancestors.  It is about  people in both eras who are just meant to be together.  The stories of  both families intertwine right to the end as the present day characters seek out their ancestry and this journey of discovery takes them from Wales to London and a hidden garden in Cornwall.

I was even more intrigued when I read the author's  acknowledgements at the end of the book because the house and garden that had inspired her was so very close to an area we have been visiting, for many years now, staying at our neighbours' holiday home on a holiday park up in the woodlands in the village of Prenteg which is on the road between Tremadog and Beddgelert.  In the nearby village of Garreg,  approaching from Prenteg you pass over the Welsh Highland Railway near the RSPB Osprey viewing site, are the wonderful gardens of Plas Brodanw.   The gardens have always been open on an ad-hoc basis to locals and those in the know with an honesty box at the gatehouse but this year they had opened on a more permanent basis with brown signs on the road and a lovely new tea shop.  The house was the home of architect Sir Clough Williams-Ellis who is responsible, among many other things, for the village of Portmeirion which is not far away, just through the next village of Penrhyndeudraeth, on the Porthmadog road.  Below are   a few of the many photos I took of the gardens on our visit earlier this year. 


The modern wooden sculptures you can see were part of an Art Trail that was taking place across the district.








It was a magical place, with little hidden areas and spectacular views and the coffee and toffee fudge scones we had for afternoon tea were quite delightful too!

18 comments:

  1. This sounds like a good read and coming from Anglesey and having worked on the mainland and know of all that you mention I may order this myself. Thanks for sharing.
    June

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    1. I alwasy worry about recommending a book but I did enjoy this one, hope you do too:)

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  2. Oo definitely sounds one to keep an eye out for. Lovely views from that garden and blue skies do I see - we could do with a few more of them at the moment.

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    1. Yes, there were some blue skies back then and today after two grey days we have some sun and a bit of blue sky:)

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  3. The blurb on the book sums up all the things that interest you Rosie! The gardens look wonderful with toffee fudge scones to round off the day too! x

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    1. Yes, it did - family history, gardens, Wales, Cornwall! those toffee scones were wonderful:)

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  4. Those views and toffee fudge scones would be absolutely everything I would need.

    Portmeirion is somewhere that has always intrigued me, but I have yet to visit.

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    1. Portmeirion is very interesting and worth a visit but these gardens were so magical so I'd definitely say visit those too:)

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  5. This looks like a wonderful place to visit. The views from the garden are stunning, I must add this place to my 'go to' list!

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    1. Louise, the views were stunning - especially from the tower folly across the drive from the formal gardens. Well worth a visit:)

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  6. We have been exploring new parts of Wales too, this place looks wonderful, especially with the mountain view. I must look out for that book too so thanks for the info.

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    1. Valerie, I'm sure the gardens would inspire some of your beautiful art work:)

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  7. I'll watch out for this one Rosie. xxxxx

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    1. I'm sure you'd enjoy it - both book and gardens:)

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  8. Thanks for sharing your reading and these wonderful pictures.

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    1. You are welcome, Marguerite - thank you for visiting and leaving a comment it was lovely to hear from you:)

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  9. What a beautiful garden and the book looks interesting, thanks for the recommendation.

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    1. It is a wonderful garden, hope if you read the book you enjoy it:)

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