Monday 28th August - Bank Holiday

Morning - I have been doing crochet, and writing thank-you letters. Four done, three to go. That's four for people who gave us such tremendous hospitality in Northern Ireland, and then two wedding anniversaries we went to, and a day with my godmother.

Afternoon - visiting an open garden in the National Gardens Scheme; Durrance Manor in Shipley. My father came along - we arrived tenminutes early, which was just as well, it seems to be an incredibly popular garden and the cars were parked everywhere.

https://www.ngs.org.uk/?bf-garden=19175

The blurb says:

Durrance Manor

This 2 acre garden surrounding a Medieval Hall House (not open) with Horsham stone roof, enjoys uninterrupted views over a ha-ha of the South Downs and Chanctonbury Ring. There are Japanese inspired gardens, a large pond, wild flower meadow and orchard, colourful long borders, hosta walk, and vegetable garden. A Monet style bridge over a pond with waterlilies should be in place in 2017.

True - we saw all of these!

It was baking hot, and so perfect for schlepping round some one else's garden and admiring their hard work, rather than getting hot and bothered in one's own garden. I didn't take many photographs - you could follow the link and view the gallery for the flowers. I just took these of some of the sculptures that were here and there

no sculpture - just a riot of flowers

Then home, with my father, for a sort of tea of cheese sandwiches and wine. Perfect sort of day.