Magnolia grandiflora ..............

…...…….. or at least, that's what I think it is, though it really shouldn't be flowering at the moment!

We dodged the showers to visit a craft fair at Alby Crafts and to walk round the garden - U and S loved it.  We then went on to Blickling Hall, where we were pleased to find that South African National Trust membership qualified for free entry to our National Trust properties.

This Magnolia grandiflora was growing against the wall at the entrance to the Hall, and had a couple of open flowers, and a number of buds - somewhat out of season I suspect (we had also seen a number of flowering rhododendrons during our visit to Sheringham Park a couple of days ago - the plants seem to be very confused).  We had a walk around the inside of Blickling Hall, and then a cup of coffee in the café.  We got back to the car just as another downpour was starting, and drove home through torrential rain, which stopped just in time for us to get into the house dry, before setting in for a very wet evening.

We've had baked potatoes for dinner - a great "comfort food" for a damp evening.