A Day at Wakehurst Gardens

One of my favorite day trips this spring was to Wakehurst, a beautiful country estate and gardens in the countryside of Sussex, which is administered by the Royal Botanic Gardens of Kew.

The Elizabethan house of the 16th century is the perfect backdrop for a tour of the extensive 465 acres of gardens

which were largely developed in the 20th century by Lord Wakefield--Gerald Loder, who spent 33 years working on his project.

Lakes abound on the property

skirted by the colors of the season.

Footpaths lead you through

an array of changing landscapes

of gardens, wetlands and woodlands.

The Himalayan Glade is a highlight of the tour and showcases Wakehurst's collection of Asian plants.

Flowers catch your eye

at every turn

and it's no surprise

that the gardens are the most visited National Trust Property.

The pheasants were quite friendly

and strutted off their

feather finery at every chance they could.

As the day wound to a close, the sun broke out on what had been a chilly April morning,

and we resolved to come back for another glimpse of all the flora soon.