Compare our visit to Bodant Gardens in northern Wales with that of 1999. The weather was equally cloudy and the gardens were equally magnificent, except that the famous Laburnum arch had finished flowering by July.
The group (left to right): Charlie, Mia & Mats (a Finnish couple working at the college that has joined us in some trips), Matt, Jim (standing behind), Audrey, Kelly, Cindy, Sarah and Troy.
The herbaceous border was, as expected, much more colorful in July than in May.
The lily pond and the blue Atlantic Cedar in the background make for a spectacular formal setting.
The dell: everyone's favorite part of the garden; a deep ravine planted with gigantic trees, with running water, covered in rhododendrons, and planted with many other shade-loving plants.
Dramatic effect was achieved in parts of the dell by the use of mixed color Astilbes.
The lily pond viewed from the house terrace: formal, symmetrical, with a magnificent view of the Welsh countryside.