I Went to a Garden Party...

So sang Ricky Nelson in 1972. Ricky said he went to reminisce with old friends. Jane and I didn't know a soul there. Our acquaintances Charlie and Janice (who own the cottage where we're staying) had given us a heads up about their next door neighbors who host a sculpture tour in their garden this weekend and over the next 10 days.

We met their neighbor earlier today in a chance meeting and she graciously invited us to join them this evening. It. Was. Truly. Remarkable.

Their gardens are reminiscent of the scenes of Mr. Darcy's estate in Pride and Prejudice. There are more than five acres of magnificent landscaping and meticulously planned gardens-- formal areas, informal areas, water gardens, streams, espalier, topiary and more. Words can't possibly do it justice and we (wisely) didn't take a camera.

Beautifully displayed throughout the garden were more than 150 sculptures ranging from 18" bronzes to 20' tall carvings. Breathtaking! It looks like weeks of work had gone into preparing the exhibition.

Their grounds and estates were beyond description, with fields of wild flowers scattered among putting-green quality lawns meticulously mowed to 1/4" length, and interwoven with marble and field stone walking paths, enormous gates, magnificent 200-year-old trees and topiary, fountains and sitting areas, giant iron gates, indoor swimming pools, tennis courts, greenhouses and workshops.

Regional artists and sculptors were circulating among the crowd while there was a constant flow of hors d'eourves and wine being served. There were perhaps 100 or more guests present and Jane and I truly felt out of place and time as two mid-western Americans from middle-class backgrounds: "Missouri Yankees in King Arthur's Court!"

And yet- the hosts and their several adult children were as kind, generous, gracious and warm as you can possibly imagine. They welcomed us into their home like they had known us for 20 years, inviting us to come back every day for the next 10 days to join them for afternoon tea and conversation.

We'll undoubtedly drop in once or twice more but don't want to take advantage of their gracious hospitality- or besmirch the reputation of our friends Charlie and Janice by demonstrating how truly un-cosmopolitan we actually are.

We both feel a bit like we've come home from Cinderella's ball, heads swimming with the beauty and the graciousness we saw and experienced this evening. And we had only to walk the 75 feet to the garden gate; no driving involved!

Ahhhh.... lovely!