Wakehurst Place.. sunshine and blue sky

Friends of mine are on holiday in Sussex and very nobly offered to take me out for the day as I still can't drive.  The forecast was for light cloud.. so we were delighted with blue skies and sunshine.. for the majority of our visit.

En route there was a buzzard sitting on a heap of earth where new houses were being built; and when at Wakehurst, a Red Kite entertained us flying high above!

We arrived at Wakehurst Gardens as it opened.. and very few people about initially... great stuff..  We had tickets to go down into the Loder Valley and the bird hides.. but it was going to take some time to get there and back so we elected to stay in the gardens.

So off through the gardens.

Trev taking pics.. the colours of the Rhododendrons and Azaleas were stunning

Debbie enjoying her surroundings and the peace and calm ....

Ponders found some friends

Photobombed!!

Bluebells in the woods.. just wondrful..

Some interesting wood carvings...

Where some, fitted better than others...

  We came back to the cafe for some  lunch..

and then went for a further wander around the gardens..

Ponders decided to have a rest with a cousin....

Amazing ancient Yew Tree that had been pollarded to try to save it.. 1630 it was planted which preceded the completion of the house being built by 30 years!!

The Himalayan Glade

 And finally time to go home.  My very grateful thanks to Trev and Debbie for sharing a day of their holiday with me - it was a great day out.