Day 2 of the garden escape saw Mum and I picking up my Aunt for the day and heading off to Stourhead. At over 200yrs old, Stourhead is a park full of fantastic trees and romantic rolling landscape, punctuated with temples and vistas, all arranged beautifully around a lake. The weather was ideal so we set off first to walk around the lake.
Fresh at the start of the day!
Some of the Rhododendrons were still flowering and the Temple of Apollo looked lovely across the lake.
There was a Kalmia that looked good enough to eat (blobs of icing, don't you think? Iced gems even!)
Beautiful Maples glowing in the sun,
and lots of beautiful spots for peaceful contemplation.
All these trunks are one great ancient tree, worn smooth by generations of young climbers!
Beautiful Laburnum blossom dripping down almost to the the water surface, amongst the reflections.
There was a fabulously gloomy grotto with a wood nymph lit by a shaft of sunlight and views across the lake.
A Gothic Cottage (every garden should have at least one!)
The climb to the temple of Apollo was worth it for the views.
Then into the walled gardens...
where a fantastic Kiwi trained round a pool was covered with tiny fruit,
and deep borders were full of lovely perennials.
And just as we were leaving we spotted a Hummingbird Hawks Moth on some Valerian. It was so exactly like a tiny hummingbird and entertained us for a while.
Phew, time for some lunch I think!
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