Visit in the rain

We ventured out again yesterday to another open garden, this time one with crafts and ice cream too.  Unfortunately, the weather wasn't quite so kind, but being hardy sorts, would that put us off?  No!  Although the formal gardens were beautiful, with stunning views wherever we looked, it was the wildflower meadow which we were both drawn to.  It was a haze of white daisies with splashes of blue cornflowers and echiums.

 Grasses were intermingled among the flowers to create a relaxing and beautiful space.  Here and there, I spied bold flashes of colour from poppies and one in particular caught my eye.

 I followed the mown grass paths round and there it was, shining out despite the soaking it had received.

 I couldn't resist that colour!

I loved the way the raindrops were clinging to the petals.  Having wandered in the gardens, we looked at the craft stalls and then enjoyed an ice cream (Chris had toffee ripple and strawberries and cream and I went for chocolate - well, you have to, don't you?  It is nearly July!)

 Coming back from a garden visit is always a little dispiriting, but this hydrangea was there to help to cheer me up!  I have always wanted a blue hydrangea and this one is doing a great job of being lilac-y blue.

Watching the flowers change from creamy white to creamy green to blue has been a joy.
P.S Welcome to my new followers - I really hope you'll enjoy reading my blog.

Garden Visit - The Garden House, Saxby (part 1)

 Yesterday, on a really hot and sunny day, Chris and I went to my favourite local garden, The Garden House, Saxby, which has appeared several times on my blog.  On previous visits, we had not managed to visit in time to see the meadow, so I was really hoping we would see it!  I wasn't disappointed.  Initially, it was a haze of white ox-eye daisies and plantains.

Then we could see subtle pinks... (This photo reminds me of an Angie Lewin woodcut or lino print - something like this?)

Angie Lewin - Meadow II

(After that little interlude, back to the visit.) 
..and then the bright red of poppies...

 ...contrasting beautifully with blue cornflowers.  A perfect combination.

 This is one of my favourite photos from this visit.

 A little further on, there were a few irises still flowering. Chris really liked the caramel and butterscotch tones of this one (we think it was 'Howard Weed').

 However, I preferred the pinks and purple of this one.

 I do love to see what I call 'floofy' planting, and this is where my garden cannot compare to one like this, as they have the space to plant in huge drifts, which look amazing.  My poor plants don't have the space to be drifts and have to jostle and crowd one another. I suppose if I stuck to fewer varieties, I could then have more of each one, but "my name is Ellie and I'm a plantaholic", so that would never work!

 The obelisk garden provided a view of greens and yellow.

 More lovely planting, with red hot pokers looking red hot!

More drifts of pastel colours, with a touch of terracotta, for contrast.

 Some varieties of lavender were just starting to flower and the scent wafted alongside us as we walked up here.

The Tudor/Elizabethan gardener sculpture was almost hidden by the rose leaves. 

(More photos of the rest of the visit in my next post.)