We Continued Our Walk,

we planned to walk up the hill in the conifer area,

Diana passing under one of the huge mature trees here,

the house on our left,

also on the left,

this mass of flowers,

it is a jungle out there!

we stuck to the pathway,

this is now a restaurant,

I had stop and look at these,

a bit difficult to see, but a lovely show of Lily of the Valley, (Convallaria majalis),

as we walked uphill the rhodendrens stopped,

and the pine forest took over,

it was steeper than it looked!

on ward and upward,

a panorama of the pine forest,

it was just a bout here that we surprised a roe deer, (Capreolus capreolus), it was to quick for me to take a photograph, it was the first one we had seen here,

time for a few poses,

and there was me thinking earlier on the yellow rhododendrons were not common!

up here they were the only ones here,

we started on our way down,

looking up hardly a cloud in the sky,

down the steps this side,

on my way down,

easy does it,

we decided against going up the other side,

we both fancied a coffee,

so we started on our way back,

we were now deep in rhododendron country,

what a wonderful day,

and still so many pathways we had not yet walked,

what we did find,

was another tree with these bell like flowers,

we got a bit lost here, as we normally do,

but soon found the path and the gardener,

I doubt anyone is to going to nick this bench!

we were going back through the rockery,

on our way to the café,

through the archway,

into the courtyard,

and coffee is served, as we look over a map showing other gardens in the area,

'Cheers!',

past the pond,

on the other side of which,

there is a giant Chilean rhubarb bush, (Gunnera manicata),

with its flower spike,

and its giant leaves,

I do not think that many use it, but here is the local post office letter box,

back into the car and on to our next stop,

Polhill Garden Center, we had visited it before on another of Diana's days off, but first, breakfast!

what a selection,

talk about spoilt for choice,

but it was the old favorites,

that Diana was thinking about,

pots bought, £6.90 for the two,

crayfish tails for Diana, 

whelks for myself,

out into the sun,

to enjoy a very late breakfast,

next into the farm shop,

Diana did not know what she wanted,

but I did, one pack of 4 almond macaroons please!

the fresh produce looked so colourful,

into the plant section,

so many to choose from,

succulents,

now seen in so many stores,

cactus, always a favorite,

next to the cactus I noticed these big succulents,

they were huge,

peek-a-boo!

another favorite, air plants,

before going outside a mixture of tomatoes, peppers and chillies amongst others sold in pots ready to go,

into the water feature area,

this one with a moving waterwheel,

lots more features here,

including,

flying fish,

from hanging baskets,

to dwarf sunflowers,

and pinks,

the choices seemed almost endless,

and of course old favorites,

like dahlias,

outside the sun was as strong as ever,

which was fine for us and the plants,

I am always fascinated by these,

slipperwort, (Calceolaria), such strange flowers,

a bit early I know, but how about a mini Christmas tree for the table?

in the distance,

lupins, as a kid everyone seemed to have them in their gardens in the 1950s, then they just seemed to disappear,

it is nice to see them making a come back,

well we just had to look at these,

rhododendrons,

and azaleas,

we had seen so many of them this morning,

but I am guessing these will not get to the same size, most probably breed for the smaller garden,

lots of evergreens for sale,

and bamboo, but only one specie,

these remind me, it s a shame we have not seen the foxes for some time now,

there is also a clothes shop here,

so a quick stop here,

as well as the shoe and handbag section,

this was a really colorful pottery and glass stall,

we passed some indoor bonsai,

and orchids,

I am sure these have been somehow,

artificially coloured,

maybe not this one, so back into the car and home, I spent some time in the late afternoon and early evening working on the blog for today as I will be out early to visit Duncan in his new home, it is going to be quite a journey, 3 different trains followed by a bus ride, it is a shame that nursing homes are never near a railway station on a line near us!

in the evening Diana made a delicious helping of bangers and mash,

eyes down and tuck in! we followed that with some grapes to snack  on as we watched a Midsomer Murder followed by a New Tricks, rounding the evening off with one from Silent Witness before we were off to bed.