Hidcote Manor, Cotswolds

At the weekend, we took "the olds" to the second most spectacular English country garden we know -- Hidcote Manor in the Cotswolds, luckily only 15 minutes from our home. Paradoxically, it was designed by an American called Lawrence Johnston who was born in France and later became a Colonel in the British Army, fighting in the Boer and First World War. In between world travels and battles, he managed to design this gorgeous garden. Its now a National Trust property and a day walking through the intricate and densly populated gardens-within-a-garden design leaves one speechless. It's even a great day out for kids, because there are plenty of places to run and lots of nooks to explore.

Here's just a couple of pics, but they don't even come close to capturing the subtle beauty of this garden in summer.

Oh, and THE most spectacular English country garden? It has to be "The Lost Gardens of Heligan" in Cornwall, of course...........