Silverstone Farm: open garden and Honey Buzzard

Following our visit to the incredibly beautiful gardens at East Ruston, Peter and Sue suggested a drive out to North Elmham to visit Silverstone Farm. This garden is only open to the public once a year and - accordingly to the Telegraph - is rated among the top ten in the UK. Hmmmm! It was certainly well-designed, but  almost totally architectural, with masses of topiary and maze-like hedges. There wasn't a single herbaceous border and the only colour came from a straggly white rose in one of the courtyards.

While we were enjoying a cup of tea, a Spitfire flew north, the characteristic growl of its Merlin engine causing everyone to look upwards: I don't think the mewing of a group of ten Buzzards had the same effect on the crowds! I was only using a shortish lens, but the picture below seems to support my thoughts at the time that one of them was a Honey Buzzard.

On the way home we dropped in at Bawdeswell Garden Centre: in contrast with the farm, their gardens are extremely colourful and more traditionally laid out: a beautiful place!