Gardens and Pretty Places we have visited

@AnniD, @Plantminded - Just did an 'Image Search' and it came back with Stokes' Aster (Stokesia laevis)

 

Thanks very much @LunarSea

 

Thank you @LunarSea. I’ll ask the Head Gardener to be more diligent with labelling next time I’m there . (To be honest I didn’t look very closely as there was a polite notice at the entrance asking visitors not to trample on the borders .)

 

Yes @simone_in_wiltshire we’ve had quite a bit of rain recently, mostly at night which is the best type . I’ve had to keep watering my thirsty Heleniums though.

 

A Rugby playing Cherub -- Cordy loitering in the background
Jersey Botanic Gardens, last week.
DSC_1998 by Cordyii, on Flickr

 

Jersey July 2025
DSC_2013 by Cordyii, on Flickr

 

Sad to see that Hestercombe house and gardens in Somerset now in administration.

 

Went on a coach trip to Aberdaron and Criccieth yesterday. No gardens to visit but plenty of scenery ...first five are Aberdaron

 

Love that area @Bluejayway. We'll be in both those places in September. We stay in a cottage in Criccieth twice a year and always visit Aberdaron at least once each time. We always go in the cafe shown on your third photo, having walked to it from the back of the headland shown in photo 1 (we park near Porth Meudwy where the boat goes to Bardsey Island) .

 

We were really impressed with Criccieth @LunarSea , never visited there before. We only had a couple of hours there but would like to return. It was a surprise visit as the trip was supposed to be four hours in Aberdaron until the driver had a brainwave

 

I like all those flowers over the wall at that white cottage.

 

They were really striking @Busy-Lizzie , plenty of food for thought too

 

Another visit to Ness Botanic Gardens, Wirral, today.

 

We visited Farringford gardens on the Isle of Wight. We went for the first time 2 years ago in October so this time we were a bit earlier. The gardeners have incorporated veg in among flowers and used coppiced hazel branches from their wood to make very attractive arches and supports. They had one raised bed for the pumpkins and what a size they were. So much colour and diversity of plants. The woodland area was closed off because of the very high winds. In amongst the plantings were snippets from Tennyson's works. Made you stop just a bit longer so you appreciated the plants as well as his words.
Very friendly people and a great visit.

 

Parc yr Esgob (Bishop's Park)

This was originally the grounds around Palace of the Bishop of St David’s. It is situated just off the A40 at Abergwili near Carmarthen.
Built in the 1830s it is now being restored, and includes wooded areas and gardens, and is a haven for wildlife.

The outbuildings of the old Bishops Palace included a laundry, dairy and brew house where the servants of the Bishops’ household worked. These have now been restored and include a café, toilets and learning space.
There is a walled garden which is in the process of being restored but is not open to the public at present.








Carmarthen museum is also situated in the old building (but I didn't go there this time. Maybe some other day ...)

Walking around ...






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Bishop's pond - old Oxbow Lake, but the path down to it wasn't open yet ...



Old toll house at the entrance, and by the road into Abergwili village ...





A nice way to spend a relaxing hour or two