CAMERA CAPERS

 As members of the Royal Horticultural Society, Angie and I took advantage of their 'Partner Garden' scheme, where various gardens around the country offer free entry to R.H.S. members at certain times of the year.  Leonardslee Lakes and Gardens, quite close to us just the other side of Horsham, was open under this scheme until the end of September, and we made a date.  Our Camera Club friend Anne joined us as well.    Leonardslee Lakes and Gardens is said to be the finest woodland garden in England.  It is a Grade 1 Listed Garden, on a 240-acre site and was first planted in 1801.   Unfortunately, we were not able to explore the entire estate on our one-day visit.  So we did not visit the rock garden, Dolls House Museum, the deer park, or the rare colony of wallabies.  A return visit is definitely on the cards for next year. The gardens had a sculpture trail when we were there - I've put their descriptions with the photos where I have them.  On the whole, I found them to be

Last week my friend Anne from Sweden was over and we went to stay with some mutual friends near Stratford upon Avon at their pelargonium nursery.  On Wednesday our friends took us to Kiftsgate Court Gardens, another garden I have wanted to visit for a long while.   I was not disappointed, despite summer being over and we are nearly into autumn.   I could appreciate how lovely the gardens would be in summer with beautifully scented rose beds.   In the beautiful Cotswold county of Gloucestershire, Kiftsgate Court Gardens is the creation of three generations of women, from the 1920s to the present day; each generation putting their own style and touch on the gardens.   It was a wonderful visit. Ths is what was at the top of the hill - Roger took our photo I tried to capture the water from the leaves.  It's obviously on a timer of sorts as it was just starting to trickle as we were leaving this part of the garden. oooOOOooo