Leeds Castle

[Gardengirl]

Had a lovely day out yesterday at Leeds Castle.  What a beautiful place.  Weather could have been brighter but still managed to get loads of photos.  Here are a few.






One of the beautiful black swans who kindly posed for me :)
Does anyone know what this shrub is.  It looked like a rhodedendron leaf but the flower was HUGE as you can see.
This was taken in the grotto.  It was very dark and the colours in the ceiling could not be seen with the naked eye, but luckily the flash showed them all.
Two of the beautiful birds in the aviary.
The Castle had a flower festival and there were beautiful flower arrangements everywhere, also harvest fruit and veg.

[Gardengirl]

[Mrs Ava]

Lovely pics Pat.  We went to Leeds castle when living 10 minutes away in Maidstone.  Stunning grounds and the kids loved the aviary.  Very artistic photos indeed.  Kinda misty....very romantic!

[dibberxxx]

lovely pics, and looks a stunning place

[Georgie]

Superb pics - love Leeds castle.   ;D

G xx

[Vony]

Exceptional place and lovely gardens, did you manage to visit Churchill's place just down the road.?
Vony.

[Gardengirl]

No Vony, we didn't get a chance as we were on a coach trip with our local garden centre so had to be back at the coach on time.

Thanks for the nice comments.  Could have put on loads more photos (I filled up my memory card :D)  There were flowers, fruit and vegetables everywhere in the castle.  In one room there was a large harvest festival display.  You could smell the strawberries.  Couldn't get near enough to get a good photo unfortunately.  Also watched a couple of falconery displays which were amazing.

[Plastic Pig]

Lovely photo.. been there a few times. there are some lovely places in Kent.  I was a kentish girl. Now live in Norfolk. Any photos of kent are special :-*

[Mimi]

Never been there Pat but the photos are lovely.   The photo with the bridge in is fantastic and the flower festival piccys are gorgeous.

[Gardengirl]

Glad you like the bridge one Mimi as I have chosen this one for the October competition ;D  The fruit & flowers were really lovely.  So much patience involved.  Here are a couple more.  The stairway ones were very unusual - tiny crab apples I think.

[Heldi]

Great photos. I think the weather gives the castle a touch of atmosphere.  :)

[GREENWIZARD]

like the stair display~good one for xmas decorations-there are only 74days,21hours,45min,12secs left till christmas :o :o :o

[Gardengirl]

Oh stop it GW - thanks for reminding me :o

Can't stop posting photos now - here are a couple more.  The first one was a  nice little display on the grass verge as we were entering the castle and the second was a clever little arrangement set through picture frames.

[GREENWIZARD]

little arrangement set through picture frames

~now that's different....must keep that in mind  :)
fab pics GG~ looks like you had a super day out :)

[lorna]

Great photos, lived in parts of Kent and Sussex for years but never got round to visiting Leeds Castle. I really love photo no 4 (first set) almost like a painting. Thankyou for sharing with us. Lorna.

[undercarriage plan]

Wonderful pics!! Love black swans...Think the flower may be Magnolia Grandiflora? Blooms around now has huge dinner plate flowers, and smells like heaven! But remember, it's a "think"!  ;DLottie

[Doris_Pinks]

We love Leeds castle, and sister in law visited from overseas, turns out she actually hand raised some of the parrots in the aviary, so was well excited to see them over here and doing well!
One of our favorite places to visit, thanks for the photos.

[Gardengirl]

Thank you for your 'two' answers Lottie ;D  I did stick my nose right in the flower, but alas no scent.  I will have a search through my books from the suggestions given and see if I can identify it.

[Marianne]

Wonderful photos and reminds me of when I visited whilst living in Kent.  Many years ago !  ::)  Stunning views.  thanks !  ;D

[kentishchloe]

Great photos GG- I agree with Lottie, am fairly sure it's a Magnolia grandiflora - leaves look a bit smaller than the species so it could be a cultivar like 'Victoria' or 'Exmouth'

[Yellow Petals]

little arrangement set through picture frames

~now that's different....must keep that in mind  :)

My mum (Rosebud) used to make those for customers and also flowers in gift cards (same set out as the picture frames)  they truly were beautiful.

Leeds Castle and its grounds is a wonderful place to visit.  I underestimated the walk from the car park to the Castle itself and made the decision to get the little train back again at the end of the day, LOL!

Gardengirl, lovely photographs.  Looks as if you had the exact same weather we did when we visited last year (in October too!)