In the big green tour bus, one of our stops for lunch along the way is the Lake District
Visitor Centre in Brockhole, on the shore of Windermere.

What a beautiful location! That is the Centre above; it was once someone's home, and is set amidst the prettiest gardens we saw in the Lake District. The grounds were laid out over 100 years ago.

So many plants are blooming; color, color everywhere.

In the cafe CT and I share a sandwich and a piece of apple pie, enjoying some conversation with our fellow travelers, as well as a view of a giant monkey puzzle tree through this pretty window. The gardens beckon, and off we go to explore.

First, a closer look at the
monkey puzzle tree...we are to see several of these in this part of the country. If you click the link you may be surprised to discover that this is the national tree of Chile. Yes, it is a native of South America, and a long way from home!

Garden paths wind through green leafy glades, and beautiful blooms in the distance draw us onward.

Other paths meander past graceful meadows of buttercups....

We eventually make our way down to the water....there is the glorious Windermere! The day is cold and cloudy, and threatening rain, but this does not deter the boaters from taking good advantage of the wind.

The swans seem to be enjoying the weather too...

The main problem with an organized tour is that you
must get back on the bus; you cannot just take your time and stay an extra hour or two whenever you feel like it. So, after a bit we turn to make our way back to the Centre. The path at this location is bordered by a typical stacked stone wall. In some parts of the country these walls are made of slate; others of igneous rock, and each area has its own particular design. There was a stone wall in Keswick that, as I walked along, I ran my hand, fingernails down, against the stones stacked sideways along the top of the wall; I was surprised! They actually sang in musical tones when my nails struck them!
Martin (our amazing and encyclopaedic tour guide who was there at the time and noticed my delight in these singing stones) told me that xylophones and marimbas can be made of slate or other resonating stones. I believe it! In fact, I did a little research and quickly found
THIS site where you can play a virtual stone marimba, also called a "stonaphone" by its designer. Give it a try!
Further research turned up
THIS about the Musical Stones of Skiddaw. Well, what do you know....they are right there in Keswick! They can be seen in the museum there, but we chose not to visit the museum. However, if you are interested in such things (I am not especially, except that I find the concept of musical stones somewhat intriguing)
HERE is a blog devoted to, you guessed it, musical stones!
After listening to the few samples of "stone music" I could find online I quickly realized, however, that there is only so much you can do with stones...so enough of this!
Back to the Lake District Visitor Centre...

As CT and I made our way along the meandering paths through leafy woods and across flower strewn meadows, we return to the more cultivated gardens. Isn't this an attractive little corner of stone and greenery?

A little farther on and there is a side path that beckons from under the arbor entrance...but we do not take it.

The sun has come out again...the clouds are scudding across the sky above...just in time to highlight what is left of the wisteria blooms in this enchanting little corner....but we do not linger here...

Instead, we find a sheltered bench on the other side of the lawn overlooking the lake beyond the brilliantly colored blooms. We sit, enjoying the view....taking time to just be, and think about the fact that we are
really here in England, and celebrating 25 years together....

...as we watch the sailboats flying in the wind down on the lake...
...as time is also flying...
...but we are together...
...and that's the very best thing of all.