I know many of you
enjoyed last Sunday's pictures of Clyne Gardens and my thanks to those who
have e-mailed so to say. Because of the number of visitors to the Gardens
on Sunday it was difficult to take photographs undisturbed so today I am
making an early morning visit to the Gardens, a time when I know visitors
will be few.
Just inside the main
entrance to the Gardens the lady volunteers
of the National Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Children are setting up their tables and preparing
to serve refreshments to their first customers of the day. As well as
raising much needed funds for their organisation, they provide a very welcome service.
Before getting down to the object of my visit, I have time enough to sit
in the early morning sunshine and sample the tea and home made cakes.
The pictures are in
no particular order. I just wandered about ......
.... following one path and then another.
Away from the main
pathway there are lovely quiet places where the only sound is the song of birds .
In the valley, flower laden bushes line the narrow twisting paths .
Visitors are beginning to arrive ......
This little bridge
crosses the stream which runs through the valley. I go over it and then
make my to the north western side of the Garden to find a spot I'd noticed on my last visit. .
Rhododrendons and
azaleas are the main contributors to the Gardens dazzling display of colour.
In this slightly
wildish corner, bluebells add their colour to the scene..
More visitors have arrived... this part of the Gardens is quite popular..
The Gardens now has 800 rhododrendrons and 2000 different plants.
There is a very
varied bird life here in Clyne. Included, along with more common birds,
are Nuthatches, Green and lesser spotted woodpeckers, and Warblers..
The Clyne Gardens collection of
Rhododrendons is exhibited at major Royal Horticultural Society shows and this year won a host of prizes.
A stroll among the flowers..
One has to get close to appreciate the beauty of these blooms..
The Gardens cover some 50 acres including oak and pine woodlands..
Azaleas tumble over the bank towards the stream.
Clyne Stream winds it way down through the valley to the sea at Blackpill.
I leave you now with my final picture. My apologies if the pictures took a long time to download.
