My wife and I started gardening in Fukuoka (Japan) in 2003. There was nothing but muddy clayey sloping land. At the beginning we made several structure such as steps and paths, and planted turf, fruit trees, roses, herbs etc.
In 2010, we visited several famous English gardens, including Sissinghurst Castle Garden, Mottisfont Abbey Garden and Hidcote Manor Garden. We were shocked by the glory of those gardens. Since then, we have been trying to make small but glorious gardens by ourselves.
Yesterday evening, after having dinner at a nearby sushi restaurant, we went for a walk on the beach to help digestion. It was close to sunset and the beach was deserted, with not a soul to be seen strolling along the shore. I heard the sound of a ship in the distance and turned around to see a smartly shaped red ship. It was the Queen Beetle, built for the route between Hakata and Busan ports. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it has yet to visit Pusan once since its completion and is used for cruise tourism in the surrounding waters.
On the coast we found a variety of wildflowers that bloom in spring and early summer. Some of the flowers were new to me and I took a very interesting and leisurely stroll and the sun began to set.
Last weekend morning, I went for a walk to the beach about five minutes away by car. It was a quiet morning with very few people around. The blue sky and sea were beautiful, and there was a fresh breeze blowing.
Most of the summer flowers such as Vitex rotundifolia were gone, but the Asiatic dayflower and water pepper were in full bloom.
The air was clear and I could see the island of Iki beyond the sea.
We found an explanation board in the wood beside a big tree.
It said;
'During the First World War, Norton Hall near Mickleton was opened as a hospital for wounded soldiers. Among the patients were some Belgian men. One of them, Victor Joseph De Martelaere, died and was buried at the Church of St Lawrence in Mickleton where his grave can still be seen. Another of the Belgian men, it is assumed, made his way into Baker's Hill Wood and carved this outline of a Belgian soldier. Although the inscription on his kepi is largely indistinguishable, it looks as if there are two initials followed by his name and the date 1917. '
I found the maps of walking routes in Cotswolds on the internet,
and they were very useful for us to walk around.
(http://www.escapetothecotswolds.org.uk/walking/downloadable-walks/jubilee-walks/)
After visiting both gardens, we returned to Mickleton.
On the way, sole rubber of my shoe unfortunately came off, however, I temporarily fixed it with a camera strap and walked with little difficulty.
The landlord of a B&B kindly fixed it with adhesive.
