Unlike a witches’ coven, when we three sisters meet it tends to be somewhere rather more interesting than round a cauldron, and yesterday we met up at Barnsdale Gardens near Rutland Water. This is the third time I have been to Barnsdale but I was looking forward to the repeat visit as there is always such a lot to admire including, at this time of year dozens of different aquilegias in various forms, resulting in many ‘oohs’ and ‘ahs’ from me, and a determination to investigate and grow more of them.
The gardens were created by the late Geoff Hamilton whilst he was presenter of the Gardeners’ World programme, and consist of 39 individual gardens and features, ranging from the Modern Estate and Courtyard Gardens to the Country Paradise and Artisan Cottage Gardens with numerous other gardens and features inbetween. This produces a scale of garden that feels familiar, comfortable and easily transferrable to our own gardens. I realise, in retrospect, that most of my photos were of individual plants or flowers (not all aquilegia!), but I shall post the few general pictures, some of the features and a small selection of the blooms (not all aquilegias….) The Actinidia kolomikta pictured yesterday was from Barnsdale, of course.
OK, so another aquilegia crept in with the almost embarrassingly huge tree peony, the cirsium and Erysimum ‘Constant Cheer’ (Younger Sister thought the latter might be a little tiring) but who cares?! It was a lovely day out, with sisters, a garden, a nice lunch and a surprise visit from Niece and Great Nephew – I feel quite spoilt, with this and my garden visit last week too.
Rambling in the Garden 
Lucky you, what a nice garden to visit, we went 2 yrs ago on our way north to Scotland. It sounds as though you had a lovely family day out.
Yes indeed
I love those covered walkways.
Perfect timing for a visit to see these, Jason
Oh yes, and Geoff war part of an alltogether different league of gardeners way back then…somewhat nostalgic feelings come up…signs of old age ;)?
And what age might that be, pray?!
The old-fashioned, deeply rooted cottage gardener …browsing through his books always transports me back in time…if you know what I mean 😉
Thank you for sharing your day out. My two siblings do not have a green thumb between them!
We have more than just a sprinkling of green fingers in my family, but I suspect I am the busiest with mine. It’s good to be able to share both our own gardens and days out like this with others
“Oh hubble, bubble, toil and trouble” – a Barnsdale visit is much preferable to gathering round the cauldron Cathy. I’m sure that there was a paint splashed actinidia at Wollerton too 🙂 Love the bottom set of photos.
It is indeed – although usually when we do meet we do a bit of plotting and stirring the cauldron regarding our Mum! I took 63 photos at Barnsdale so had to be disciplined about which I posted (although some were of the great nephew – can’t get my head round having one of those!) 😉
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