A sea of Astilbe.

We have had a glorious day today in the Lake District and the forecast was potentially atrocious so it felt like a bonus.

After our trip in March we said we would return to visit Allan Banks in Grasmere which didn't open to the public (for the first time) until April. Much work has been done to restore the building after a destructive fire but it is still quite a blank canvas. The National Trust has yet to make decisions on what type of restoration to make in the long term and therefore all visitors are being consulted.

The place has stunning views over Grasmere and extensive woodlands.

We then went on to Holehird which is the Lakeland Horticultural Society garden in the grounds of a Cheshire home at Troutbeck above Windermere.
It has the national collection of Astilbe which as you can see were in full flower today.

Had to make tracks back home then as soldier son texted to say he was coming home for a few days between Olympic duties and paralympic duties. Bed to make etc!