Heyjude

Beth Chatto Water Garden

A short walk onto the cool, emerald-green grass of the Water Garden feels like stepping into another climate. In stark contrast to the hot, arid Gravel Garden, this area features lush, moisture-loving plants.

Ominous clouds as I stepped into the water garden.

It’s a calming space full of large, dramatic foliage and deserving of a visit on a hot day as the temperature by the water is several degrees cooler than the rest of the Gardens.

Although my garden is on the wet side these plants would be far too large.

Pickerel Weed (Pontederia cordata), also known as Giant Pickerel Weed

Thalia dealbata – the architectural leaves remain but the flower stems are removed as the flowers trap pollinators.

Goldenrods (Solidago) are herbaceous perennials known for their bright yellow flower plumes that typically bloom in late summer through early autumn.

Ornamental grasses are used throughout this garden area too.

Several types of asters, such as Aster tataricus, Eurybia radula, Aster pyrenaeus ‘Lutetia’, and Symphyotrichum ‘Prairie Purple’ and ‘Primrose Path’, are specifically mentioned as being grown or sold at Beth Chatto’s Gardens.

More ornamental grasses and the purple heads of Eutrochium purpureum, also known as Sweet-Scented Joe-Pye Weed, features large, flat-domed heads of pink-purple flowers on sturdy stems, and is attractive to butterflies.

My visit to this area of the gardens was cut short due to a very heavy rainburst, but fortunately the sun did reappear and I was able to continue my ramble. I have only ever seen these gardens in September. I wonder what they are like at other times of the year. The Woodland for instance is probably best in spring with the bulbs, at this time of year I only saw colchiums (Also call ‘Naked ladies’ as they appear in autumn without leaves) and some patches of cyclamen. Sadly flattened by the rain so no photos.

Sadly this is the end of my series on Beth Chatto’s Gardens, I hope you have enjoyed the visit and I recommend it if you are ever in the Colchester area.

Just Back From… Brightlingsea Part Two

Brightlingsea has a sandy beach called Brightlingsea Beach, which features colourful beach huts and runs along the Western Promenade next to Bateman’s Tower.

I am particularly fond of photographing beach huts and had a walk along the promenade on a very sunny though extremely windy day. The clouds were almost more appealing than the huts.

Behind the row of beach huts is a boating lake which looked a lot more attractive than on our previous visit back in 2016.

Sedges and wild flowers line the path by the boating lake

The huts along with Bateman’s Tower make a rather nice backdrop when the sun sets behind them.

Golden sunset with beach huts and Bateman’s tower. Often mistaken for a lighthouse, it’s actually a folly built in 1883 by John Bateman for his daughter to recuperate from consumption.

One thing we weren’t short of was a dramatic sky.

Bench Challenge Anniversary

Way back in 2015 – yes that really is ten years ago – I decided to post photos of the numerous benches sitting in my folders. It seemed that I was not alone and suddenly it turned into the Bench Challenge where I set a particular criterion each month and people joined in posting their bench photos. It was a lot of fun and I met a lot of wonderful bloggers through it.

A simple stopping off point under the tamarisk trees at Lizard Point.

This year I am returning to mark the occasion by posting a bench photo every Sunday. There will not be any particular theme set this year so it’s not really much of a challenge, but if there is anyone out there who still has a bucketful of bench photos and would like to join me, then please do so by adding a link in the comments or a link to my post in yours (a pingback) and I will happily pop along to admire.

Beth Chatto Scree Garden

The Scree Garden showcases a large collection of alpines typically found growing naturally on stony, mountainous slopes. The free draining, nutrient poor soil in this area of the garden provides the perfect conditions for alpine plants to thrive.

I’m glad I’m not the one who has to move these into the glasshouse in October!

I didn’t take many photos in this area, it’s probably at its best during spring and early summer.

Just Back From….. Brightlingsea Part One

It was supposed to be a 2 week break covering Essex (to see our latest grandchild) then onto Suffolk and finally across country to our old abode in Ludlow. But things didn’t quite work out as planned. Such is life.

Our first view from the very extensive terrace of our apartment. The Waterside Marina luxury apartments development within Brightlingsea Harbour has over 50 berths.

We spent most of the week in Brightlingsea itself other than a couple of trips into Colchester which has the most horrendous traffic (and roundabouts). Our apartment however was magnificent and I would move there in a heartbeat if I didn’t have to go anywhere near London or Colchester. The views across the water, the sunsets, even a couple of sunrises, endless fun watching the goings on including people crabbing from the heritage jetty (feature image), the ferryman taking foot passengers back and forth to Point Clear, river policemen stopping for their lunch break, posh yachts coming and going, rowing clubs out on the water and more.

The red arrow points to the apartment we stayed in. Views towards Point Clear, Mersea Island and even as far south to the northern coastline of Kent (Whitstable)

Brightlingsea is a coastal town and civil parish in the Tendring district of Essex, England. It is situated between Colchester and Clacton-on-Sea, at the mouth of the River Colne, on Brightlingsea Creek.

The Waterside Marina consists of apartments and town houses and retail.

I have split the photos up into several posts (there are a lot of photos) so let’s first go for a walk around the Waterside Marina area in which we stayed.

All the apartments have either terraces or balconies.

There are not many of the old buildings left

With the exception of this one on the corner of Fieldgate Dock which leads to the Brightlingsea Sailing Club, the promenade and the beach huts.

Hard Shelter, Built 1898 – this was a former bus shelter situated on the waterside close to the Town Hard with the Harbour Office behind.

This distinctive blue and white building, features a prominent clock on its roof and is located close to the Colne Yacht Club.

‘The Hard’, is a very useful outcrop of water-borne gravel, on the southern part of Brightlingsea overlooking Point Clear and allows for launching of boats

The wooden hut, almost surrounded by water at high tide, is the Hard Master’s office where user charges are collected.

Originally the Angel Hotel built in 1901 by architect George Henry Page. Then it became the Anchor Hotel before being split into apartments. Lovely architectural details and stained glass. Next door is the Colne Yacht Club.

The Waterside Marina on our last day – sunrise at 05:28

The weather was unpredictable with sunshine, some heavy rain and almost always windy, with the terrace doors open we were serenaded by the ‘whap, whap, whapping’ sound of the closest yacht’s rigging slapping against the mast and on the windiest days a shrill whistling or howling sound. I have to say that I actually liked it. Made a change from the usual cattle sounds.