Bournemouth Upper, Central and Lower Gardens

The gardens at Bournemouth run from the pier to the border of Poole, they are about 3km long and form part of the Bourne Valley Greenway. They are grade 2 listed by English Heritage. There are many year round activities in the garden including mini golf, art exhibitions and the Bournemouth Eye - a tethered balloon. 

There are ornamental ponds and streams, rockeries, pergolas and many beautiful flower displays. It was mid September when we visited, but the garden was still full of interesting and vibrant colour. 

Banks of golden rod flanked the stream and there were gorgeous displays of pink lilies in full bloom. Large arrays of pale and deep pink cosmos brightened up and filled the borders and beds and two of my late summer and autumn favourites - rudbeckia and anemones - made fabulous displays.

Walking from the upper gardens through to the lower gardens and then down to the pier and promenade made for a very pleasant stroll. I've included a picture of the lovely Cath Kidsten beach huts I came across on the promenade - well they did look cute and one is covered in flowers! 

 

Wild Flowers by Bassenthwaite

Sometimes you come across the unexpected when you go for a walk. We were just wandering along some very quiet pathways situated on the edge of Bassenthwaite Lake in Cumbria and were pleasantly surprised to discover nature's own wild garden straight in front of us. 

The striking pink spikes of the rosebay willowherb reach out amongst the grasses and other wild flowers along the pathway. 

 

Greater burnet saxifrages enjoying the shady trees and woodland. These plants are neither saxifrages or burnets, but they are actually part of the parsley family and look very similar to cow parsley. 

The creamy frothy heads of the goatsbeard look magnificent against the greenery of the woodlands. 

More rosebay willowherb amongst grasses and oxeye daisies

Masses of Himalayan balsam form huge banks under the tree peripheries and make a dazzling August display attracting the bees. It's a tall growing plant with clusters of purplish pink helmet shaped flowers. 

As we walked through the fields there were masses of horsehoe vetch spreading out on the grasslands attracting the bees and butterflies. They have unusual circular flowerheads which provide the pollen they're searching for. The flowers are followed by seed pods, which when ripe make a horseshoe shape giving the flower it's name. 

Swathes of purple thistle heads sway in the breeze and nod in the sunshine! 

A bit off the beaten track, this walk turned out out to be an unexpected stroll through a secret garden!

The Gardens at Hutton in the Forest, Penrith, Cumbria

During August we visited the beautiful gardens at Hutton-in-the-Forest. It is a stunning country house situated on the north eastern edge of the Lake Dictrict - not too far from Penrith. Magnificent  woodland known as Inglewood Forest dating back to medieval times surrounds the estate. 

It's best kept secret for me though is the picture perfect walled garden, which was built in the 1730s and houses a wonderful collection of herbaceous plants, roses, and fruit trees. We have visited at various times of year and it always looks stunning. 

There are terraces which lead down to the low garden and pathways to the cascade and lake. The pathways lead through beautiful meadowland abundant with grasses and wildflowers. 

There is also an interesting  woodland walk with a wide variety of trees including oak, beech and  limes, which are over 200 hundred years old. The large conifers there are over a hundred years old and in their prime.

The house is open to visitors too - one of the most cosy and inviting country houses I've visited. - and there is a cafe in the refectory for refreshments. 

A view of the house from the front lawns. 

View towards the lake. 

Beautiful perennial displays of roses and late flowering clematis. 

Grand pots of trailing nasturtiums. 

Rambling roses against the house walls with the finishing foxgloves still making a show in the foreground. 

Old steps housing daisies and alchemilla I love it when plants just decide to claim their own spot!  

Tiger lilies adding high summer vibrant colour. 

Floral white lilies. 

One of my cottage garden favourites lavatera. 

View of the house through beautiful pink rambling roses. 

The stunning cascade and steps from the lake. 

The Gardens at Raby Castle

While visiting friends a few weeks ago, back in August, we spent a lovely afternoon exploring the gardens at Raby Castle, near Darlington in County Durham. Raby Castle is situated in approx 250 acres of parkland. The deer park has red deer and fallow deer and we watched them grazing near the castle as we strolled around the pathways.

There is plenty of bird life too and blackbirds were in full song as we explored. We watched the swallows dipping and diving and swooping across the greens. Woodpeckers, mistle thrushes and grey wagtails are popular here too. The ponds in the castle grounds also attract varieties of geese and ducks and oyster catchers.

The 18th century walled garden contains 5 acres of lawns and spectacular herbaceous borders. The garden features two magnificent yew hedges, an ornamental pond and many fruit trees. There is also a glass house, which has it's very own fig tree. 

There was plenty of late summer vibrant colour in the borders - those bright oranges and yellows, which take over from those early summer pastels. Many perennials were out in full bloom - crocosmias - especially the lucifer variety , chrysanthemums, cat mint and lavenders. Heavily scented rambling roses climbed the fences on the outside of the wall, making a lovely frame for the view towards the castle. The rose beds were in full bloom and heady with perfume. 

There are also tearooms and a gift shop to complete your visit. 

Raby Castle