Gigi explores Beningbrough Hall and garden

My newest 8 inch doll is Gigi (Ruby Red Galleria 15th anniversary doll). I had wanted Gigi or Ten Ping for a while because they are so poseable, small and robust (vinyl) so make very good travel dolls. 

Gigi arrived with 2 outfits, got changed into the second outfit (crop trousers and t-shirt) then I put the Llama Jacket and hat on her with some boots borrowed from Jenny and Lexie so she had a suitable outfit to wear for exploring a National Trust house and garden on an autumnal day.

Gigi visited Beningbrough Hall and gardens near York, she took Bouncer the dog for the outing.

There was a fabulous harvest display in the shop courtyard

Gigi and Bouncer couldn't resist standing with the pumpkins for size

They went through the walled garden to the woodland.

Beyond the walled garden Gigi and Bouncer discovered a massive oak tree

Gigi and Bouncer at the oak roots

Beyond the woodland walk was a view of the meadows where many cows grazed

At the edge of the walled garden on the path to the new Mediterranean garden most roses had finished blooming

Miniature rose bud in the garden

Gigi and Bouncer liked the purple blue and white flowers

Gigi and Bouncer with the purple blue and white flowers

In the new Mediterranean garden Gigi and Bouncer discovered ground cover flowers at their height

They heeded the request to be gentle with the newly planted garden

 Further into the Mediterranean garden they enjoyed looking across the garden from a rock

Gigi and Bouncer in the Mediterranean garden

Gigi liked the purple flowers

Gigi and Bouncer discovered a lily pond beside Beningbrough Hall

There were some large fish in the pond but they were hard to spot

Gigi and Bouncer went past the back of Beningbrough Hall to find the woodland playground

In the woodland playground was a large carved acorn

Gigi and Bouncer at the foot of the large carved acorn

A pair of large carved acorns provided an opportunity for Gigi to climb! Bouncer stayed below.

Gigi waved an autumn leaf from the acorn

After the woodland playground, they found the Victorian Laundry rooms.

The Victorian laundry sign

Wooden clothes pegs of various sizes in the Victorian Laundry. Sometimes people made dolls from clothes pegs.

In the Victorian Laundry, the 'wet room'

Gigi and Bouncer were interested in the wooden patten shoes the laundry maid would have worn

In the Victorian Laundry

Washboards and sinks in the Victorian Laundry

Drying racks in the Victorian Laundry

Gigi admired some of the fine garments on display in the Victorian Laundry 'dry room'

This Victorian underwear had been patched carefully

Wonderfully detailed lace baby gown

Next they went through the front door of the house and visited the ground floor rooms.

In the house Gigi encountered the enormously tall red bed

The red bed in Beningbrough House

Upstairs was a special exhibition on loan from the British Museum of prints from the original delicate water colour collages by 18th century artist Mary Delany, who started creating her incredible botanical collages aged 72!

One of Mary Delany's botanical collages on display in Beningbrough Hall

One of the exquisite botanical 'mosaiks' by Mary Delany

Some of Mary Delany's work on display

Gigi and Bouncer had a go at designing their own flowers in the Mary Delany exhibition

Gigi was deciding where to place the flower in Design your own flowers

Bouncer and Gigi discovered they could view the lily pond from the house

There was a large armchair with a cushion which instructed 'sit here' so Gigi and Bouncer did!

'Sit here'

Outside again they decided to return to the walled garden.

Gigi and Bouncer at the entrance to the walled garden

Gigi and Bouncer with giant leeks in the walled garden

Gigi and Bouncer liked the borage and dahlia flowers in the walled garden

Late flowering borage, nasturtiums and dahlia's in the walled garden

The south facing glass house in the walled garden

Gigi and Bouncer went into the glass house

The squashes in the glass house

Bouncer tried to leap up onto the squash while Gigi watched

Gigi and Bouncer at the front gates of Beningbrough Hall

Gigi and Bouncer enjoyed their visit to Beningbrough Hall and garden