The Long Border, Great Dixter

Recognised as one of the 50 top gardens to visit in the UK, Great Dixter represents the life's work of Christopher Lloyd. By all accounts Mr Lloyd was a reactionary who cocked a snoot at the conventional wisdom of the times and planted the gardens as he saw fit, mixing colours and plants that others thought should not go together.

In the house, of which you could only see three rooms, was a painting in a cartoon form, given to Mr Lloyd on the occasion of his 80th birthday. In the basket he was carrying was a book entitles "roses and other garden weeds, how to get rid of them" - or words to that effect.

Christopher Lloyd died in 2006 but his work and his ambitions are continued through head gardener Fergus Garrett who has maintained and developed the garden in symathy with Mr Lloyd's ambitions.

It was a lovely day while we were there, we went early to avoid promised showers in the afternoon. They never materialised so the afternoon was warm and sunny and the gardens a picture providing many subjects for interesting shots. Marion thoroughly enjoyed herself surrounded by colour and the fresh vibrant greens of the new season.