More walking under trees - and floods at Swakestone

After last weekend's rain, the sun has returned, so I've been out again, walking under trees, this time at Calke Abbey.

 Not a long walk as we went fairly late in the afternoon - just round the gardens, though there are plenty of trees there, giving the feel of a small wood. I'm not sure but wonder if these were originally planted to hide the practical kitchen gardens from the house.

 Indoors trees are taking on an autumnal tinge too - this is a pomegranate in the old orangery.

The palms still look much the same as ever but the bedding plants underneath have been changed, with wallflowers ready to brighten up spring.

As I said, there was rain at weekend - lots of rain! I'd heard of floods elsewhere but hadn't expected this sight as we crossed Swarkestone Causeway.











Normally this would be a view of fields - low lying and close to the river, occasionally damp looking but I've never seen them flooded like this. The Causeway must of course have been built for a reason, so perhaps it's more common than I realised.

Returning home, and looking west from the causeway. The area beyond the line of trees is a lake with yacht club, but just in front of them is the access road to it! 

Fortunately, or perhaps deliberately, the houses either side sit on higher ground, though one of their gardens looked threatened.