River Tame. Elford.

I didn’t sleep well at all last night, for some reason or other. It happens.
We visited Elford Hall walled garden yesterday afternoon. It is a charming Edwardian garden in the pretty village of the same name, which is still being restored, but nonetheless very beautiful. The only exception being there isn’t much shade on a very hot humid day.
On our arrival at the entrance there was a small mobile hut, where a friendly young man could dispense tea, coffee, soft drinks and icecream.
Why is it that tea still feels good on a hot day! Or is it an English thing.
I had a very good cup of tea and Stephen a lemonade, sitting in the lee of the outside wall which was overhung with clematis and roses, and other lovely climbing shrubs.
A blackbird was singing his heart out high up in a tall tree situated in a copse nearby.
We did find a bench in the shade of the orchard, as we toured round the garden and sat to have a drink of the water, which we had taken with us.
The roses were all in full bloom alongside climbing shrubs, and long beds which had been filled with cornflowers, daisies, Californian poppies, ordinary poppies, and pink creeping geraniums, (I think it is called Cranesbill. We have a lot in our garden).
Just outside the garden wall on one side are more grounds which border the River Tame. A beautifully tranquil spot.
At the moment our garden here is baking in the hot sunshine.
I’m sitting in the summerhouse with both doors wide open and the windows wide open.
Some of the plants are looking thirsty.
We did have a bit of rain last night. but not a lot. No predicted storms and downpours.
Time to go and get some more water to drink.
The air is still,
Leaves are hardly stirring.
The heat seems to have that effect.
No voices outside across the gardens today.