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.
Trengwainton Terrace, Penzance, Cornwall.
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.
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.Still lots of colour.
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.One of the pondsPickerel Weed (Pontederia cordata), also known as Giant Pickerel Weed
They use the boat to clear the pondsThalia 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.
Brightlingsea has a sandy beach called Brightlingsea Beach, which features colourful beach huts and runs along the Western Promenade next to Bateman’s Tower.
Beach huts along the promenade
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.
A convenient shelter from the wind
Behind the row of beach huts is a boating lake which looked a lot more attractive than on our previous visit back in 2016.
The boating lake
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.Another western sky
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.
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.
The Scree GardenI’m glad I’m not the one who has to move these into the glasshouse in October!Exotic looking Eucomis / Pineapple LilyVerbena rigida – a low growing varietyUrn
I didn’t take many photos in this area, it’s probably at its best during spring and early summer.
TRAVEL WORDS 