Sunday outing

[Gardengirl]

Went on our local Horticultural Society outing yesterday to Audley End house and gardens (Saffron Walden).  Must admit the flower beds left alot to be desired, but Capability Brown's landscaping of the parks were superb with some beautiful trees.  Here are a few photos
The house and parterre garden
A very unusual hedge
Grapes growing in one of the large greenhouses in the organic kitchen garden
Me by the Tea House Bridge (thought I would throw this one in for good measure :D)
One of the beautiful cedar trees - note how one of the branches has come down and rooted (that is the back of my hubby walking towards the tree)
As you can see, we didn't escape the rain, but managed to shelter under a HUGE chestnut tree whose thick branches saved us from getting a soaking.

[Gardengirl]

[tim]

Wonderful. Love the blonde one!! And the wobbly bit. I mean the hedge.

I just have to add - and this is NOT 'showing off'  - but it just so happens - nothing to do with me - Audley was one of 3 such places that one of our great/greats sold off for, I believe, a total £1500. = Tim

PS What was in the bag??

[Gardengirl]

Thanks Tim - nothing exciting in the bag ..... only our lunch, which was just as well with a round of sandwiches costing £3.25 :o

By the way, could you see all of the photos as half of them are not there now, they were when I previewed - or is it just one of those quirky computer moments ???

[tim]

The ones that are there now are beautiful enough! = Tim

[Moggle]

Lovely photos Pat, thanks for sharing.  :)

[eileen]

Lovely pics Pat!! Not too sure I like the knobbly hedge though.

Eileen.

[Gardengirl]

The hedge is weird isn't it Eileen - but looks quite effective in real life (so to speak).  It was made up of a variety of plants.  I think I recognised the leaves of hebe and yew amongst others.  Quite cleverly cut I think.

[Wicker]

I love the hedge, Pat, makes me smile just to look at it - a rebel hedge being  different!  are you sure that bag isn't full of wee cuttings you snipped off on your rounds?

thanks for the photos.

[Mrs Ava]

I lurve that hedge Pat.  Thanks for the piccies.  I am jealous of that grape vine.  Have grown one in the conservatory for years now and never had a fruit on it.  I am obviously doing something wrong.

[Gardengirl]

I must admit I was very tempted Wicker, but thought they might perish before we got back home ;)

The grapes were amazing Emma, there was a vine just as big as that one in the next greenhouse along.

The gardens were not looked after as well as some I have seen (Hampton Court for example - did you see the programme the other night?) alot of weeds growing and the roses needed dead-heading, I wished I had my secateurs with me :) but the parkland with the beautiful tress was lovely.