Mo, retired personnel manager and Customer Support for link-connect, an internet service provider Is a rock 'n' roller at heart but like Tez, embraces a wide span in musical taste. Although a republican she is an ardent voice in praise of the much maligned Richard III. Mo loves 19th century literature - Brontes, Jane Austen, Thackray, Dickens, Anthony Trollope, Mrs Gaskell, George Eliot. She is also curious and has a fascination with delving into How Stuff Works. A summer only gardener, she loves sitting and sipping her favourite tipple surrounded by a riot of colourful summer plants, so around spring time she has to get really busy.
Mo had a bit of a rough time healthwise last year but has finished treatment and is doing very well. Here she is in the hotel room Villa del Conde, Gran Canaria in September 2005.
There are three sections to Mo & Tez's garden: Upper Acres (Patio), Middle Acres and Lower Acres (as they are known in the Stokes' family!). Pictured here is Middle Acres with Lower Acres in the background beyond the fence. Since this pic was taken, a greenhouse has been erected (see Mo & Tez's Favourite Place - use Back button to return to this page).
Lower Acres tends to be left to its own devices. There is a fox lair down there and a badger run crosses the boundary; squirrels live in the sycamore and slow worms slither from under the pile of old wood dumped down there long ago. As Mo says - it is left untended for wildlife - that's her story and she's sticking to it!
Upper Acres (Patio Area)
The Hampshire brick wall was built by John Woollard and Tez in 1989 and is a perfect accompaniment to the Yorkstone paving.
Mo & Tez and Kathryn, Rich and Daisy have had some splendid times sitting out here for breakfast, lunch and supper when the weather is right.
Mo planted the shrubs in 1991 - climbing euonymous and solanum crispum on the wall and choisya, spiraea and euonymus on the right hand side. The mahonia (forefront - right) was a mature plant when Mo and Tez moved into the house eighteen years ago.
Click for Mo's Journal of her trip on the Settle & Carlisle Railway (close window to return to this page).
