I am sure you have all heard Barbados referred to as ‘Little England’. You can get the newspapers and magazines, Waitrose products are in all the supermarkets, and cricket, rugby and polo are national sports.
They also have the Barbados National Trust, modeled on the National Trust in England. And a good thing it is to, they put on the hikes that Ian and I partake of on Sundays, and they also have a series of open houses. A few weeks ago, we got to see Porters Great House.
From these fabulous gates (why don’t I have these at Kilbourne Grove, oh yeah, the 6 feet of snow in the winter, and driveway goes up a hill),
the driveway
curves through a mahogany forest,
and you arrive at an amazing house.
Since this home (which was built-in 1735), is privately owned, there was no photography inside, but take my word for it, gorgeous. Although if Ian and I ever opened up KG to the public, no one is allowed to check inside my fridge, the cheek of some people.
But the grounds, blew me away. I wish that I had more time to enjoy them, but I got some wonderful ideas, (don’t I always). To the left of the house,
is a marvelous seating area,
and look at where they put their houseplants.
That is a great idea for me when I put mine all out for the summer.
When you walk past this room, the path curves through past
the old sugar factory and the windmill.
Look through the mill, you can see out the other side.
Here is Ian walking the path, back towards the house.
I don’t want to leave you hanging, but I don’t want to overwhelm you with photos either, Part 2 will show you my favourite spot.
I am a floral designer living in a tiny condo in downtown Toronto, Canada's largest city. But on the weekend, I am a gardener/frustrated architect trying to keep up with a 3/4 acre garden in Owen Sound, Ontario, a warm (to Canadians, Zone 5b, and a cold (to Americans, Zone 4b) garden.
Green Theatre 
Garden Walk Garden Talk said,
March 10, 2011 @ 7:11 AM
Oh, I would have no problem taking up residence here. Oh wait, one or two problems come to mind. I certainly could not clean the house and garden all by myself. What a gorgeous property though.
kilbournegrove said,
March 11, 2011 @ 2:50 PM
If you can afford this place, you can certainly afford some help.
Valerie said,
March 10, 2011 @ 7:29 AM
Lovely shady garden. Was there a roof over the sitting area? V
kilbournegrove said,
March 11, 2011 @ 2:51 PM
There was Valerie, Ian made me take a photo of it, but I did not post it on the blog. It was a pergola style with vines.
Marguerite said,
March 10, 2011 @ 8:42 AM
I’m kind of madly in love with that seating area and trying to picture how I could fit that into my own yard. A perfect spot for houseplants in summer. Gosh this place is something else. Did someone really look inside their fridge?! that’s just plain weird.
kilbournegrove said,
March 11, 2011 @ 2:52 PM
We are too. Ian really loved it, the wheels are turning in his brain.
Some people are very nervy, someone actually checked for a dishwasher as well, they were surprised to find it behind a panelled door.
thevioletfern said,
March 10, 2011 @ 12:31 PM
Beautiful! I wish I could have roamed around there with you. I could sit in that seating area all day!
kilbournegrove said,
March 11, 2011 @ 2:53 PM
I have some more photos to show you, it would take all day to see everything.
Ellada said,
March 11, 2011 @ 1:21 AM
I love this place, the garden and the house are fantastic.
kilbournegrove said,
March 11, 2011 @ 2:53 PM
More pictures to come, it gets even better, (in my opinion).
Barbara H. said,
March 11, 2011 @ 9:51 AM
Sure do like these tours! I’m glad you’re (we’re) getting to see so much of the island.
kilbournegrove said,
March 11, 2011 @ 2:55 PM
Barbara, I am glad that you are enjoying the tour, I sometimes wonder if I am boring people. You know, like when someone whips out a thousand travel slides.
The Idiot Gardener said,
March 12, 2011 @ 5:40 AM
That’s one good looking pile. Mind you, I am very anti countries with a British feel. I get enough of that here!
kilbournegrove said,
March 21, 2011 @ 5:47 AM
If you hadn’t gone and ruled the world at one time, you wouldn’t have to worry about it, lol.
debsgarden said,
March 13, 2011 @ 12:35 AM
Barbados has some fabulous old homes! I love the seating area and the curving path that takes you to such interesting places.
kilbournegrove said,
March 21, 2011 @ 5:49 AM
Ian made me take lots of pics of the seating area, I think he has plans….
catmint said,
March 13, 2011 @ 7:21 AM
now this is what i call grand and elegant – how enjoyable to savour the ambience.
kilbournegrove said,
March 21, 2011 @ 5:49 AM
It is very grand, I got lots of great ideas.
Gloria Bonde, Dakota Garden said,
March 13, 2011 @ 6:30 PM
How wonderful. I can almost feel the warm moist tropical air as I sit upstairs looking outside at the remnants of snow and ice. Beautiful pics. Deborah, I have the Stylish Blogger Award for you on my blog! You do have style!
kilbournegrove said,
March 21, 2011 @ 5:51 AM
Gloria, I am glad that you were able to enjoy the ambiew, even through some photos. Thank you for the award, but I do not participate in these anymore.
janelle said,
October 20, 2011 @ 7:12 PM
I absolute LOOOve Porters Great House! The grounds are magnificent! When I was at school some of my school mates and I actually served at a tea party and I enjoyed every minute of it.
kilbournegrove said,
October 25, 2011 @ 9:22 AM
Janelle, I looove it too, what an amazing place. When I was there we were not allowed to go up to the stairs to the summerhouse, wish I could have got a closer look. Thanks for visiting my blog and leaving a comment, I hope you visit again soon.