Stone Cottages and Gardens to Love

Penlan Cottage: http://www.cottage-holiday-wales.co.uk/penlan-cottage-crickhowell.shtml
Copyright © 2012 Blaentrothy Cottages (Cottage Holiday Wales) Used with permission

We've had technology issues this week. Our internet provider had to perform emergency repairs, which shut us down for awhile, but we're back up and running now and I can finally share some cottage love with you.

Today we're visiting Penlan Cottage located in the Black Mountains of Wales. 

Penlan Cottage: http://www.cottage-holiday-wales.co.uk/penlan-cottage-crickhowell.shtml
Copyright © 2012 Blaentrothy Cottages (Cottage Holiday Wales) Used with permission

This deep well window is delightful.

Penlan Cottage: http://www.cottage-holiday-wales.co.uk/penlan-cottage-crickhowell.shtml
Copyright © 2012 Blaentrothy Cottages (Cottage Holiday Wales) Used with permission

Leaves in a heart. Oak, perhaps?

Penlan Cottage: http://www.cottage-holiday-wales.co.uk/penlan-cottage-crickhowell.shtml
Copyright © 2012 Blaentrothy Cottages (Cottage Holiday Wales) Used with permission

Love the barbed wire heart. This vignette inspires me to repurpose the old horseshoe I discovered on our property.

Penlan Cottage: http://www.cottage-holiday-wales.co.uk/penlan-cottage-crickhowell.shtml
Copyright © 2012 Blaentrothy Cottages (Cottage Holiday Wales) Used with permission

Great lime-washed walls in the cottage.

Penlan Cottage: http://www.cottage-holiday-wales.co.uk/penlan-cottage-crickhowell.shtml
Copyright © 2012 Blaentrothy Cottages (Cottage Holiday Wales) Used with permission

Lovely backyard overlooking a duck pond.

Walnut Tree Cottage: http://www.cottage-holiday-wales.co.uk/walnut-tree-abergavenny.shtml
Copyright © 2012 Blaentrothy Cottages (Cottage Holiday Wales) Used with permission

Another stone cottage in Wales: Walnut Tree Cottage.

Walnut Tree Cottage: http://www.cottage-holiday-wales.co.uk/walnut-tree-abergavenny.shtml
Copyright © 2012 Blaentrothy Cottages (Cottage Holiday Wales) Used with permission

Sometimes understated elegance is the best.

Walnut Tree Cottage: http://www.cottage-holiday-wales.co.uk/walnut-tree-abergavenny.shtml
Copyright © 2012 Blaentrothy Cottages (Cottage Holiday Wales) Used with permission

"Stable" or "dutch" door. Whichever you call it, it spells cottage.

Walnut Tree Cottage: http://www.cottage-holiday-wales.co.uk/walnut-tree-abergavenny.shtml
Copyright © 2012 Blaentrothy Cottages (Cottage Holiday Wales) Used with permission

A very pretty cottage garden just outside the doorway.

Walnut Tree Cottage: http://www.cottage-holiday-wales.co.uk/walnut-tree-abergavenny.shtml
Copyright © 2012 Blaentrothy Cottages (Cottage Holiday Wales) Used with permission

Eating outdoors is one of summer's delights, and this lovely setting is especially inviting.

Photo of The Royal Pavilions' North Garden by
David Le Masurier: http://www.flickr.com/photos/davidlemasurier/831374488/in/photostream
Some Rights Reserved

And once I get started on gardens. . .well, it's hard to stop. This garden has hollyhocks, which personally I think belong in a cottage garden. I first became acquainted with hollyhocks in a cottage garden I designed in Illinois. They are a wonderful old-fashioned flower.

Hollyhocks in Taos, NM

When we visited Taos last summer I discovered hollyhocks everywhere. The climate must appeal to them.

Photo of Hollyhocks in the Pavilion Gardens by David Le Masurier: http://www.flickr.com/photos/davidlemasurier/831374452/  Some Rights Reserved

Most of my gardening these days is confined to containers outside our shop. I purchased the little wagon at a friend's garage sale last week. He made it out of solid oak. It makes transporting the plants into the shop for the evening very convenient. I love it.

I hope your week is off to a good start.

Photo Cottage Garden Gate by RWM: http://www.flickr.com/photos/rwm/86839537/ Some Rights Reserved

"Give me odorous at sunrise a garden of beautiful flowers where I can walk undisturbed."  ~

Walt Whitman

Blessings,

Linking up with Inspire Me Monday