Summer inspiration

Torrential rain this morning threatened a planned trip to Barnsdale Gardens in Rutland with my friend C to celebrate her birthday. We stuck to our plan and were glad that we did because despite ominous clouds, the sun came out and we had a lovely time touring around the 38 gardens. For gardeners wanting inspiration - this is the place. A varied array of gardens to copy inspired by the hero of many British gardeners, the late Geoff Hamilton.

This is the Artisan's Cottage Garden and who could fail to be inspired by it? Just how we all would like our summer garden to look.

Can't help thinking that these gardens, on all sorts of themes and conceived for the BBC Gardeners' World TV programme, are much more what the programme should be about than the rather remote offering we are getting on Friday evenings these days that few gardeners can identify with.

For the record: 17C, heavy showers