The Beth Chatto Gardens

Another hot, sunny day today and where better to spend some time than in a beautiful garden? We visited the Beth Chatto Gardens in Elmstead Market near Colchester today (see here) and were blown away by the beauty and variety of the planting. There are several gardens in the 7 acre site, including the Gravel Garden shown above, full of amazing and new (to me) plants. There's also the Scree Garden, the Water Garden and the Woodland Garden, all looking wonderful on such a glorious day.

We enjoyed a very tasty lunch at their tearoom before moving on to visit Frinton-on-Sea, a very upmarket seaside town with the inevitable row of beach huts on the promenade. There was a lovely, cooling breeze here and we watched the tide coming in over a very elaborately constructed sandcastle, reminiscent of Carcasonne, with Mont San Michel in front!!

Home now with a cup of tea and our feet up, having enjoyed another lovely summer's day. Long may they continue!