Upton House on a grey day

Last Sunday was a grey, overcast, bleak day and with our fingers crossed, hoping for no rain, we went to Upton House. Upton House is one of my favourite National Trust properties. I love the gardens, and I adore the Art Deco bathroom that you can see here.

The wisteria was in its full glory - it looks so good against the Cotswold stone

The Main Lawn

the Main Lawn again - the line where the trees are is where the Ha Ha is: one of the main reasons why these gardens are so special

on the edge of the Ha Ha, looking down at the Aster Border, the Kitchen Garden and the Mirror Pool

 

the Main Lawn still

 

 



 

 

 

and looking down at the smaller lake next to the Bog Garden

 

 



 

 

We then took the path that leads to the Mirror Pool

 



 

 

the rhododendrons are in full bloom

and then we came upon this tree with all the white bits hanging off the branches - never seen anything like it

 

we had a closer look and discovered that they are flowers with berry-type things in the middle

 



 

 

 

one more photograph - very beautiful

 



 

 

We then reached the mirror pool - some reflections but it was windy so nothing as spectacular as it sometimes is

You can see the people standing on top of the Ha Ha on the edge of the Big Lawn at the top of the picture

 

loads of grasses growing in the water

 



 

 

a closer look

 

and again

 

 

 

 

the steps that lead up to the Main Lawn

 



 

 

The pond by the Bog Garden

 

big, fat, golden fish

 



 

 

and again

the little bridge over the stream that leads to the Bog Garden

 

a small pond in the Bog Garden

 



 

 

 

very beautiful and tranquil

 



 

 

and one more photograph.

We then did something we have never done before. We joined a tour to walk through the Blackwell Woods which are open to the public twice a year: in the spring for the bluebells and in the autumn for the fungi.

All English bluebells

 

and they were spectacular

 



 

 

 

I love walking through woods

 



 

 

 

but when the path is surrounded by bluebells I am in ecstasy

 



 

 

 

there is nothing like the blue of a carpet of bluebells

 



 

 

 

and the scent is heavenly

 



 

 

 

Too many photographs? I'm afraid so, I just can't help it

 



 

 

 

I hate going round in a tour - but there were only seven of us, so that was not too bad

 



 

 

 

isn't that blue heavenly?



 

 

 

 

A wild cherry

 



 

 

 

you can tell by the rings around the trunk

 



 

 

A view of the garden of the house through the trees

 



and a last look at the wondrous bluebells.