(continued from top of gallery)…I realized that in one month’s time, I could cover only two areas – south-west and southeast, certainly filled with wonderful formal gardens.

Then, I think about how many English manors are placed almost beyond the gardens, while in Italy, gardens are considered extensions of rooms and terraces next to the villas.

Island weather often is gray so that the English have overcompensated with flowers to lift the garden to a crescendo of color to lighten the landscape. Large yellow-green lawns also lighten the otherwise grey weather. And if I am lucky to find a reflecting pool of water, I see “lights” from the brighter sky. At Blenheim Palace where Winston Churchill was born, I find a view of Venus glistening in white marble looking out over a pool. The perfect spot seems to be to stand behind the giant statue so that it appears to be pointing toward the pool and fountains of jet waterworks.

I visit one of the most remarkable manors in England – Sisencote – which is styled like an Indian palace and reflects the early periods of English rule in India, called the Raj. The owner is standing in bare feet and comes out to introduce himself as James Peete.  

“This is such a lovely house and gardens,” I comment as he and I sip coffee in  lovely white china cups decorated on the rims in gold and blue.

“This garden, as you can see, is like a Garden of Paradise of India.” He continues. “I visited Iran last year and toured lovely gardens, many of which featured the same design to depict paradise. The essence of a Persian garden are the four paths pointing north, south, east and west with the central fountain. Water is essential in the walled garden which stands alone like an oasis from the dry desert.”

“I love the elephants at the top of the stairs,” I say.

“My mother decided to have them made and set in this garden. But I dispute her purchase and gift to the garden. They do not belong to a Garden of Paradise.”

“They seem to be threatening the paradise but don’t dare enter,” I say. “They are like an elephant walk – when elephant herds return to their watering hole each year.”

Sisencote is styled like an Indian palace and reflects the early periods of English rule in India, called the Raj. But to reach this lively Indian palace, I should ride up on a white steed and wearing flowing silk sari and bangling gold jewelry. Instead I take Bus No. 855 to Morton-in-Marsh.

In a month, I take trains, buses and taxis to paint at Hidcote Manor, near Chipping Compton, (Gloucestershire); Buscot Park at Faringdon (Oxfordshire); Blenheim Palace, Woodstock (Oxfordshire); Rousham House, Steeple, (Oxfordshire); Ditchley Park, Woodstock (Oxfordshire);  Rodmarton Manor, near Cirencester; Westonbirt Arboretum; Oxford College; Sisencote, near Cheltenham (Gloucestershire); Stowe, 3 miles from Buckingham (Buckinghamshire); Westbury Court, 9 miles southwest of Gloucester (Gloucestershire); Stourhead, Wiltshire; Tintinhull Garden, Somerset; Montacute House, Hestercombe, Taunton; Iford Manor, Bradford-on-Avon; Canterbury Cathedral and village; and Sissinghurst Castle.