The Walled Garden At Holkham

We visited the 'Walled Garden' at Holkam during a recent holiday in north Norfolk. We've been before on several occasions and each time we visit, the garden has been developed even more. The garden is an ongoing restoration project, named the 'Beyond The Walls Restoration Project'. The aim is to restore the beautiful garden for future generations to enjoy. 

It truly is a hidden gem and just as the guide book describes it - 'step through the ornate Victorian gates to enjoy the tranquil atmosphere, stunning array of flowers, seasonal fruit and vegetables and beautiful colours and scent.' 

June was a fabulous time to visit with a stunning wildflower display on our way to the garden and many of the flowering plants in bloom. Catmints, roses, geraniums, rock roses, sweet williams, cornflowers and delphiniums being just a few. I think the rose garden was the star of the show on this visit, out in first and full bloom it made a stunning display of all rose varieties. Having said that the sweet peas were rather beautiful too and then the old greenhouse areas - packed full of sweet williams, cornflowers, delphiniums... mmm... very difficult to choose a favourite. 

Take a look at the pictures and choose for yourself...

The Promenade At Grange

We recently visited the seaside town of Grange-Over-Sands in Cumbria and decided to take a walk along its famous promenade. The promenade carries an aura of Victorian England and is a traffic free zone, so it's lovely for children and walking the dog, and it's very wheelchair and disabled friendly. There is also a tea garden serving light snacks and of course delicious scones and afternoon tea. We've walked this promenade often before, but it doesn't take long to be reminded what a surprisingly beautiful walk this is. 

Flanked by the stunning scenery of the Kent Estuary and Morecambe Bay with its boar tide, sinking sands and saltmarshes on the one side and glorious rockeries and gardens on the other, there's a lot to stop and take in. It's a myriad of favourite garden plants to stop and admire, together with breathtaking views and a haven for birdwatching and wildlife. There is also the train station with trains running regularly behind the gardens, pitch and put, bowling greens and play facilities for children of every age. 

On one end of the prom is the old and disused lido - the town has now been given funding to refurbish this area and under consultation with the public to be make it into another more useable area and point of interest for the community. At the opposite end of the prom, there are more beautiful and ornamental gardens with lakes, ponds and wildlife that can be accessed. 

Parking is available next to the prom and once you've explored and enjoyed a cream tea, there's some interesting shops in the town to have a browse around. When you return to your car by the prom and if you've been inspired by the gardens, there's a pretty little garden centre there, where you can pick up a few plants as a reminder of your visit...

Bursts of valerian give bright interludes along the way

Foxgloves and geranium plants were coming into bloom with vivid blue forget-me-nots still going strong a d interspersed amongst the planting. 

Alliums and aquilegas giving the borders a bold look with strong accents of purples 

Simple sculptures added interest amongst the planting of geums, aquilega and alliums

Vibrant and large rock roses loom over, heavy in flower, enjoying the sunny banks

Geraniums, pinks and irises - all a jumble

Stunning yellow and pale blue irises with daisies and chives in the foreground

The pure beauty of a rock rose

The pink spires of veronica 

Elegant bearded irises

Looking out over the bay

Hawthorn in flower and looking across to Grange

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!