During this drought, we are celebrating what we have – this Acer davidii Viper for instance – as we ration our watering across the Gardens. Other highlights are the waterlilies and the Gaura in the Italian Garden; the Calycanthus and Nandini in the Japanese style garden at the bottom of the Glade; and the ripening fruit (the plums and raspberries in the kitchen garden, which we are jamming, and the blackberries and elderberries for the birds and wildlife in the margins of the Gardens!); and courgettes, which are on sale to visitors. The abundance of hummingbird hawk moths and butterflies feeding on the lavender hedges is a seasonal treat and visitors also enjoy the different views from the many shady benches around the Gardens!
