Hardwick Hall, gardens

As I said in my previous post- I went a bit photo crazy on my trip to Hardwick Hall. Here are my pictures from the gardens.

The gardens are a mixture of formal and informal, with the borders planted in a way that gives them the appearance of a meadow.

It was drizzling when we visited, which was a bit unpleasant to walk in but it made the flowers look really pretty covered in water droplets.  

 I don't know enough about flowers and plants to identify all of them, these orange one looked like pompoms.

I think this is some kind of foxglove?

When we went a few months ago there was a flower arranging competition on, so inside and outside there was some lovely displays.

I don't think we saw half the gardens at Harwick. According to the info on the National Trust website there is also a woodland trail, herb garden and a fairy tree. There are also deckchairs available so you can sit out, and eat a picnic or read a book.