Autumn at Cliveden

I had intended to tell you about the craft projects I have been working on during our French visit, but this morning Mr D suggested that as it was a beautiful sunny morning - if a bit nippy - we should visit Cliveden, one of our local National Trust properties.

We made firstly for the water garden - always at it's best in the autumn....

We crossed over the stepping stones to the temple in the middle of the lake....

...and admired the view from here....

....the sky was full of vapour trails. This one is reflected in the water....

This beautiful tree is shaped like an umbrella, and if you duck and get underneath the leaves you can see the amazing gnarled branches....

I love the peeling red bark on these two trees, but I don't know what they are! Can anyone help?

I always love the autumn fungi....

After baked potatoes in the Orangery restaurant (Mr D is always hungry and the smell of the cooking as we passed by lured us in) we walked round to the front of the house - or is it the back?....

From this South terrace you can admire the parterre....

...and the lichens growing on the stone balustrade....

As we walked back towards the carpark the sun lit the clocktower....

...and the shell fountain....

By the time we arrived home the clouds were winning the battle with the blue so we were pleased that we hadn't decided to go in the afternoon!!!

Craft next time folks!!