Heading In

Today's "Flower Friday" trip took me to Parham House and Gardens.  The estate, house and long established gardens have been around since at least Elizabethan times, but were in a poor state when bought in 1922 by the Pearson  family, who set about restoring it and populating the house with their historic collections.  It was requisitioned in WWII, and following the inevitable repairs and redecoration needed, the family were persuaded to open the house to the public in 1948. It has been open ever since.

The gardens are undergoing a long-term maintenance program to eradicate pervasive weeds, but were still looking magnificent, with irises and alliums (two of my favourites) taking a starring role.  The insect life seemed to approve too, as shown by my shot of the day of a bee heading into the centre of an iris for for its afternoon treat.