fiziskandarZ: Magnificent Autumn Colors @ Batsford Arboretum 2011

event :: Spectacular Autumn Colors @ Batsford Arboretum 2011
date :: 24 september 2011
venue :: batsford arboretum, moreton-in-marsh, uk.
theme :: purple.

[1] It was the final week of this year's Syawal 1432H. Not surprisingly, there was another open house that weekend but we decided we had enough 'rendang' (spicy beef) this month and didn't go to the open house.

[2] We decided to see more colors of autumn instead. Since we have been to Westonbirt Arboretum plenty of times and really liked the autumn at an arboretum, hubbykun decided to try another one this year.

[3] Coincidetally, we found out that with the 'Friends of Westonbirt' cards, we also have free passes to the Batsford Arboretum located 67 miles (1hr+) away from our place. It is also the closest one to Bristol, just a bit further North after Westonbirt. The ticket price for adult to the arboretum during autumn is £6.60. More details here.

[4] In total, there are among 20 gardens that you could visit for free with the card. So, if you enjoy walking in the park, be sure to get one of this great value for money membership.

[5] We have been to Kew Gardens twice during this year's spring using the membership. Once was together with Kak Keen's family and the second time was when we were in between flying to Greece. However, this is our first time visiting the Batsford Arboretum. According to google, autumn is the best time to visit the batsford arboretum.

[6] We had a bit of trouble figuring out the entrance/car park of the Batsford Arboretum. Somehow, the postcode that we got from the website pointed to the rear gate and there were no suitable parkings there. Surprisingly, the rear gate was not closed and we manged to locate a couple passing by to ask how to get to the main entrance.

[7] To enter the arboretum from the main entrance, you would have to go through the garden shop, where you can purchase the entrance ticket and get some souvenirs as well as gardening tools ;) We purchased some postcards for my scrapbook collection, and asked for the arboretum map before starting our walk.

[8] The Badsford arboretum overall size is smaller compared to Westonbirt (also added with the fact that Westonbirt has the Silk Wood on the other side of the arboretum).

[9] Alhamdulillah the weather was rather sunny interval that weekend. We noticed that there were less autumn rains this year which made planning for weekend outing much easier.

[10] We are especially thankful of the good weather too because autumn and dead leaves are hubbykun's favourite time of the year (or maybe a close second favourite after heavy snow.. erk! I have less tolerance to cold weather, I don't know when hubbykun banished his Malaysian skin :P).

[11] Because autumn arrived early this year, quite a number of their japanese maple already turn red/yellow despite it being still September. In fact, there were a number of other types of trees with colorful leaves on them. I'm ashamed to say that I'm not sure the exact names of the other plants. Nevertheless, it was such joy to look at them.

[12] In the beginning, we estimated that we only have a short time to spend here because Abg Zahar&Kak Keen have organized the 'rumah purple' post-event gathering dinner for all the co-hosts.

[13] We received a last-minute call from Kak Keen that she had some guests over that day. We were rather glad with the cancellation because that meant we had more time to spend here. We only arrived to the arboretum around noon.

[14] In fact, we were among the last ones to leave the park! According to the signage at the shop, the park closes at 5pm, so we were really rushing to complete the autumn recommended trail. About 10 minutes to 5pm, we saw people still calmly strolling without a care. When we asked a visitor, he said he wasn't sure of the closing time. Anyway we left around 15 minutes past 5pm and alhought the garden store has already closed, there was a small side gate that you can exit from left unlocked (not sure if this side gate will be open the whole time. so please do not take a risk and I guess I'd best ask the arboretum staff in the future).

[15] This was the path leading to the rear entrance (that we discovered by mistake when we were figuring out the main entrance). Hubbykun parked the car at the side of the road and we spent quite a bit of time taking photos and video here. He did so many retakes of the video of me running towards the car, I'm sure I lost some weigth right there and them :P

[16] We saw a newborn white pony & its mother inside the fence next to the road when we were passing by the first time during the time when we were lost. But we were here the second time to take a picture with it, the pony was nowhere in sight!

[17] I was devastated because I swear the pony looked really fluffy when I saw it from the car's window. huwaaaaaaaa.. (ok, i had to get this out: it's so fluffy, I'm gonna die!!! my favourite line of Agnes from 'Dispicable me' hehe)

[18] There was also a small charming church and some old houses next to the rear gate. You can see the church from inside the arboretum. There was also a beautiful huge old mansion with its own private garden here, known as The Croft. But it was not open to the public.