Here are some more photos of my visit to Barnsdale Gardens. I wouldn't want you to get the wrong idea - the gardens didn't all look perfect and there were areas which needed weeding, plants which needed cutting back and some places which looked unkempt. However, these areas made me feel as though the gardens were real, not show gardens, but changing and growing gardens. (Of course, I am a little protective about them, as I really enjoy visiting, but if you visited, I wouldn't want you to be disappointed!) The photo above is of the Japanese Garden which is not one I usually linger at (not enough flowers), but I can appreciated the meditative qualities it has. I did think the art work really complemented the garden as it used the same colours and was painted in really thick paint, with whirls and swirls which reminded me of a Van Gogh sky.
The woodland painting was placed in the perfect location at the end of a garden vista, in front of real woodland.
The painting in the box garden reminded me of an aerial view of a tropical river, such as the Amazon. The colours really appealed to me too.
This is a view across the allotment area, through the orchard.
Another intriguing vista - where does this lead?
The Ornamental Kitchen Garden was made for the series of the same name and shows how vegetables and flowers can work so well together. Again, there was companion planting of marigolds.
Serried ranks of vegetables, from onions up to beans, which created some lovely lines.
Here were some of the individual plants which caught my eye, from the dainty alpines...
...to the giant artichoke (I think).
This delicate Californian Poppy is from the 'Thai Silk' range and has the most beautiful shading from cream to buttery yellow to blush pink.
I really liked the combination of the tall stately agapanthus and the swishy, billowing grass which moved like a wave in the breeze.
Finally, to end on a real splash of colour, here is a dahlia, complete with hover fly; the brilliance of the fuchsia pink contrasting with the deep purply green of the foliage.
As you can tell, I thoroughly enjoyed my visit and will not leave it another two and a half years before I go again!
