Hanging On

The National Trust holds the national collection of old roses at Mottisfont Abbey, and every year holds late night opening during the season.  This year's season started today, though with the early Spring and recent warm weather the roses have apparently been blooming since April. 

With the intention of staying late, I arrived around lunchtime and found myself parked in the overflow parking area; possibly not a good start - think crowds of people and half-term families making the most of the venue.  In the event, I had a wonderful afternoon, and avoided the crowds by coming prepared with my own lunch and taking a walk round the house and wider estate before heading into the rose garden in late afternoon/early evening.

The rose garden was magnificent and oh, the heavenly sweet scents, though whether the blooms will last throughout June may be doubtful. However my shot of the day just had to be this rather battered six-spotted burnet moth hanging onto a grass seed head swinging in the breeze seen during my walk through the meadows. 

It was a good day out.