UK – TRAVEL WORDS

Garden Portrait: RHS Rosemoor

My weekend in Bude, north Cornwall was interrupted by the first named storm of the year – Amy. Sunday looked to be the better day so the one I decided to travel 50 mins across to north Devon and visit RHS Rosemoor. Not as big as RHS Wisley in the south-east, but I thought it would be nice to revisit this garden, last seen in April 2011.

The lesson I have thoroughly learnt, and wish to pass on to others, is to know the enduring happiness that the love of a garden gives – Gertrude Jekyll

Asters and Pompon Dahlias in the Long Border

Miscanthus sinensis ‘Kleine-Silberspinne’

The Herb, Potager and Cottage Garden with shelter

One moves between the new garden and the original garden, created by Lady Anne Palmer, through a tunnel beneath a road passing this little bridge and fabulous Japanese maple.

The Stone Garden has a very Japanese feel

Cercis canadensis commonly known as Redbud trees or Judas trees

Rosemoor House is fairly modest considering it belonged to the Earls of Orford who descended from Horace Walpole. It can now be rented out for holidays. There is a small tea-room at the side.

A Kaleidoscope of colours (Dahlias – some with bees)

The Lakeside in October is ablaze with autumn colour, from the molten leaves of liquidambars to the bright yellow foliage of Cornus sanguinea ‘Winter Beauty’ and the deep red of Acer palmatum ‘Chitose-yama’ – all reflected on the mirror-like water.

All approaches to the garden involve navigating miles of winding roads, hence Rosemoor is also one of the quietest RHS gardens, but utterly charming and demonstrating how colourful a garden can look in early October.

Jo’s Monday Walk

Just Back From… Brightlingsea Part Four

Another thing we weren’t short of. Boats. Watching the tide ebb and flow, the wind whipping up waves, the ferryman with his foot passengers, row boats, motor yachts, windsurfers and sailing dinghies was fun.

Perhaps not so much fun for this person who fell foul on a sandbank. We got quite a shock this morning and not just from the look of that sky.

1st September @ 10:40 – and yes there are people on board.

29th August @ 17:28 Our first view of the marina

31st August @ 13:57 – sailing dinghies getting ready for a race

We thoroughly enjoyed our week by the water. So much to look at we were never bored.

Just Back From… Brightlingsea Part Three

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

29 August @ 18:56 – Rain clouds to the west and south

1st September @ 18:40 towards the west over Mersea Island

1st September @ 19:18 in the west with the water as smooth as silk (zoomed in)

1st September @ 19:26 in the west (zoomed out)

I did a lot of popping in and out of the terrace doors in the evening to capture the sun setting or the rain clouds. We get some stunning sunsets here in west Cornwall, but I have to get in the car to capture one over water.

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.