Hillier's Gardens

It's been a good day. I cycled to Hillier's Gardens near Romsey to meet two friends, C and J. The main photo shows the pond. The first extra shows Jermyns House with what we thought was a very striking planting scheme. It is mostly different shades  of purple  Salvias interspersed with yellow Black Eyed Susan (Thunbergia alata)with a golden form of Oregano vulgare in the front. However, we never did identify  the  white flower plants.   
The second extra is a Champion Tree :Gymnocladus dioica "Variegata" which was so unusual with its almost white leaves.
There were lots of butterflies and dragonflies flitting about all over the garden. As I cycled home down quiet lanes, I  noticed a number of Red Admiral butterflies on the tarmac, presumably after minerals, or possibly warmth, and also two hares lolloping along ahead of me, which soon disappeared without trace into the hedgerow. 
This evening we joined a few other friends to look  for glow worms in a different area near us. However,  unsurprisingly,  as the area has in th past been cultivated, we didn't  find any. But it was  nice to be out in the balmy dark night catching glimpses of bats and hearing a tawny owl.