Hampton Court 2nd April 05

What a lovely day it was today. The sun was shining although there was a chill in the air still. The gardens at Hampton Court (Royal palace since Tudor times) were absolutely lovely. The tulips are out at the moment and the beds are filled with wonderful displays. All sorts of colours, underplanted with a range of violas, wallflowers and other low growing plants.

this year there is a small fee of £4 to enter the gardens, they have always been free until last year. I suppose it is worth it but we will go less often or spend more time once we get in.

The colour schemes were particularly good this year, in some previous years there were horrid clashes of pink, orange and red flowers mixed up in one bed. This year the colour coordination was much more subtle. One bed had just dark blue and mauve and bluey-pink flowers.

The small gardens - formerly fish ponds - were outstanding in the summer sun. We also went into the greenhouse to see the ancient vine and wandered round the wild garden although mostly the daffodils have finished.

Congratulations to the gardeners.