Stoke - including Trentham Gardens

 Hi, I just got home from a few days in Stoke where this year's WOYWW (What's on your Workdesk? Wednesday) was held.   I travelled up on Friday with Cindy by train and met Julia who drove, we had booked an AirBnB and tagged a couple of extra days on to explore

So on Friday after we settled in we went out for a walk and to find somewhere for dinner. 

old archway 

through Stoke Minster 

famous resident... Sarah told us that Stanley Matthews is buried here too, but not sure if inside or out, we didn't explore everywhere 

loved the old arch

already Cindy and Julia were bored of me taking photos.... not really, Julia had had a mare of a drive up 

there is something about church/graveyards 

we couldn't get inside for a look round

the time on the clock was wrong, it was around 6 not 8.30.... 

charming!!  you know how I love a surreptitious photo! 

opposite the Minster

time to find dinner... we used google maps and found 

Potbank, 

we ate outside (pizza from a pizza van cooked to order)   rather than inside the Mexican restaurant.

it was delicious!

there was live music too.  

After we finished, we headed for a supermarket as the Air BnB host hadn't provided milk (or sugar) and something for breakfast 

Cindy and I had seen this on our way to the house earlier (our train arrived before Julia due to her slow drive in traffic) 

we forgot to ask Sarah about it.  It's some kind of memorial 

this was a pretty little garden 

here, but it wasn't going to be open whilst we were in Stoke 

Saturday morning we headed to the WOYWW Crop, the reason for our trip to Stoke.

this is at lunchtime, the church opposite the hall Sarah and Eva had found.

I took these whilst we were waiting for sandwiches to be made at the shop over the road 

again, the church wasn't open, but I probably wouldn't have had time to go in whist they prepared my lunch.

we went over a bit en-masse but luckily there was seating outside whilst we waited.

front left, Mary Anne, Caro, Brian , Lynne and Cindy. 

Brian (Lynne's husband was in attendance for the day and was our group photographer 

it was a very pretty church.

(the actual crop photos are going to be on my Wednesday post on the other blog)

Julia Cindy and I had decided to add a couple of days onto our trip to see a bit of the Potteries.

Sadly Julia had an unexpected hospital appointment called for Monday so only had a bit of Sunday free before having to go home...

We headed for Trentham Gardens which I have heard lots about and knew would be right up my alley!

it was a glorious day, and very busy - we got there at 10 to meet Sarah (who was going to show us round - and get us member reduced entry!)  - we couldn't believe how full the car park already was.  

we decided to walk round the lake first before having something to eat for brunch to see Julia on her journey home

this was a gorgeous sculpture, inspired by waves

I haven't seen theirs of me!  

there were alliums everywhere.

 I was also on the look out for fairy sculptures, which Trentham is famous for.

at the last minute before leaving home I had put in the macro lens (originally left out for weight)

I am so glad I did

irises everywhere too

weir

lots of people on the lake having fun in boats

I think I'd already missed a few fairies but I hope to come again one day

lots of tree carvings 

willow pods 

insects carved on trees 

it was really warm now

at last a fairy 

phone 

we took a slightly more shaded path next 

some pretty white love-lies-bleeding rather than the more usual pink ones 

Sarah Julia and Cindy

these drifts of alliums were gorgeous, sweeping in a horizontal  S shape  through the grass

as we approached the end of the walk round the lake 

this was beautiful 

there were more down nearer the lake but we were heading for the cafe 

you can take the girl out of Kew on a Saturday but you can't stop her photographing reflections

this reminded me of the Marc Quinn sculptures

although it was a food van I think not yet open

we were lucky to find a seat with some shade (just about) 

and all decided we'd try the oatcakes.  YUMMM

as I came back from the ladies, there was a long queue waiting to place their orders, so we had timed it right, although service was fast. 

at this point Julia had to leave so we said our farewells and Cindy Sarah and I carried on to walk round the Italian garden part of Trentham Gardens.

patiently waiting for me!

it was beautiful!  

a series of formally laid out beds

swathes of euphorbia - we didn't have time to explore up here 

lots of ponds 

Sarah explained that during the Second World War the Bank of England relocated to Trentham for safety from London 

you did have to look everywhere - Sarah said she'd never seen this one high on top of a wall

Julia had wanted to do this shot herself 

I got Cindy to take this from my phone 

some of the beds were less formal.  but you know how I love the wild look 

I scurried to catch the girls up...

but soon stopped for this gorgeous iris

this fairy sculpture in the pond at the end of the terrace was amazing, with a beautiful fountain behind her 

there are old ruined buildings too, 

the remains of Trentham Hall.

I wish I'd photographed the timeline that told it's history

texture!!  

this one was gorgeous

we strolled through the wisteria arch on the far end of the Italian Garden

I was behind again!  

taken through the arches

at the far end was a fairy

hanging above our heads!

blogger has put them out of order, but no matter 

as we headed towards the exit we came to the end of the lake 

what a view 

I caught Sarah and Cindy up patiently waiting on a bench

heading out now. 

Sarah had kindly offered Cindy and I a lift back to our house but first we walked to her house (to pick up her car, as she is lucky enough to be within walking distance of Trentham Gardens) 

stopping on the way for some funghi!

Head next (well first thing Wednesday morning ) to another photo heavy blog at stampingby.blogspot.com for the crop photos !

What a gorgeous place to have on your doorstep.