Ickworth House

Ickworth House is a Georgian Italianate palace with an impressive rotunda, which is situated just a few miles away from Bury St Edmunds amongst idyllic Suffolk countryside. It is owned by the National Trust and is well worth a visit. We stopped off here as we were passing through Bury St Edmunds, just planning to grab a bit of lunch and have a quick browse around the gardens. Things don't always go as planned though - sometimes if your lucky in a good way - it was just so beautiful here we stayed all afternoon! 

There are 70 acres of gardens to explore from pleasure grounds, informal woodland walks, a walled garden, Italianate garden to a Victorian stumpery. This is definitely a place to keep coming back to through all seasons, but these are some of the plants and views you may find if you visit during June. 

A cloud of gypsophilia spilling over a beautiful swathe of geraniums. 

The bees were out in force as the geraniums spread on and on throughout the borders creating beautiful hues of blue. 

There is a lake at the bottom of the walled garden, where yellow flag irises were out and waterlilies were out in force and about to bloom. Who needs to sit staring at Monet pictures? Just come here! 

A tortoiseshell butterfly enjoying the valerian. 

The pale globes of allium reach out and stand high above tbe catmint. 

Little clumps of centaurea montana spring up here and there. These cornflowers always remind me of childhood. I can remember being with my mum when I was little and we took some cuttings from a cottage garden to plant in our front garden. It always makes me remember the house I was born in and spent my early years in! 

The borders of the Italianate garden were covered in catmint, its aromatic grey leaves and lavender blooms creating a haven for the butterflies and bees. 

A cabbage white drinking up the nectar in the catmint. 

There were several wild meadow areas which were full of ox eye daisies, creating a mist of white amongst the grasses. I love a wildflower meadow. 

An unusual specimen of tree funghi growing! 

The Italianate gardens.

There is an enormous walled garden area, which has been planted full of wildflowers and also has allotment areas within it too. These had all just been seeded and planted up in May, so have yet to come. I could visualise that these will look fabulous in high summer and early autumn. That is my excuse to be returning soon I hope and then there is the house to explore... well maybe in winter...although I think this place might be pretty stunning in spring too! I think I will be back. 

The Abbey Gardens - Bury St Edmunds

On a recent trip to Suffolk we visited the beautiful Abbey Gardens in Bury St Edmunds. We stopped off here for lunch and to break our stay as we drove over to Woodbridge to spend a week near the coast.

The gardens are situated in the bustling historic town centre of Bury St Edmunds, which has its own cathedral. The site is an Englsh Heritage site and is free to visit. There are extensive remains of one of the wealthiest and most powerful Benedictine monastries in England, Shrine of St Edmund. The remains include the 14th century great gate, a norman tower and the impressive ruins of the west front of a church. 

The ruins are set amongst parkland and gardens and the River Linnet flows alongside them, providing a natural habitat for wildlife. 

Take a look around...

The imposing cathedral looks over the Abbey Grounds. This is a view from the rose garden. The roses were just coming out and are set amongst some lovely clusters of peonies. 

Some of the ruins you will find. There are some excellent information boards set around the grounds.

The first signs of lavender and it is only early June. 

I love the colour of this geranium. 

The River Linnet and its ducks happily sunbathing. 

A lovely, peaceful meadow area by tbe river. 

Delphiniums reaching for the sky, set against an old brick wall. 

Gorgeous peonies unfurling. 

I love this miniature rose against the wall too! 

There are lots of little areas to these grounds. This was a peaceful and tranquil, gated area with very pretty water features.  A lovely place to sit and reflect and listen to the water trickling and the bird song. 

Ancient walls with the cow parsley tumbling over. There are small wild areas set amongst the more formal grounds. 

A stunning clematis, in full bloom and just enjoying the sunshine! 

An almost secret area, we just came upon a little herb garden! 

And a prayer and reflection area, just by the cathedral. You can enter the cathedral grounds and enjoy a visit to the cathedral via this area. It is well worth a look around. The cathedral also has a very good refectory serving snacks, lunches and drinks. 

All well worth a visit! My only disappointment was the huge annual flowerbeds that are scattered about the gardens. They had just been emptied from their spring plants that had finished and were all ready to be planted with the summer plants. They are usually stunning. Never mind, that gives me a good excuse to go back again there soon!