Greencombe Gardens

 I would consider our first visit to these gardens a mere taster, something to occupy our afternoon,  as a break on our way back walking from Porlock to Porlock Weir.  We skirted the rear boundary along the steeply wooded slope which faces north towards Wales across the Bristol Channel.  

With fine weather and extensive views we waited patiently for opening time, having creeped into the gardens and found a couple of seats. Under an old oak tree looking out down across rich pastures we watched a herd of cattle with their young calves grazing. We sat enjoying the peace and tranquility of the area.

We joined the first visitors to arrive, passing the house and taking in the lawned area by the house.

The roses were magnificent, as were other interesting shrubs, of which I am not sure of their names.  Here is a garden with acid soil with many shrubs that I am unable to grow in my garden.  

Several tall shrubs with very small flowers were humming such were the number of bees feasting on the nectar.  We had noticed  further west along the rear footpath a garden had dozens of hives.

On our walk we noticed some very large Holly Trees said to be very old on the forest side of the path behind Greencombe gardens, and there was another ancient Holly Tree said to be over 400 years old within the garden itself. The Woods on these slopes are magnificent, and bearing in mind these gardens have another period of interest early in the year,   we are sure to return on holiday in this area over the coming years.

Trying to get in a view of this very large holy tree was impossible!

Back to the start, we just had to sit and enjoy the view for a few moments, before setting back on our way skirting the salt marshes along the coastal route back to Porlock Weir.

We had missed the rhododendrons and other early flowering shrubs but these gardens are within a day's outing from home, and it is on the list for a return visit next year.