{"id":3276,"date":"2019-07-02T12:00:18","date_gmt":"2019-07-02T11:00:18","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/grayshottgardeners.net\/?p=3276"},"modified":"2019-07-02T13:38:48","modified_gmt":"2019-07-02T12:38:48","slug":"leonardslee-gardens-visit","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/grayshottgardeners.net\/?p=3276","title":{"rendered":"Leonardslee Gardens visit"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The 200 acre Grade I listed valley garden in West Sussex was the destination for our annual coach trip on Sunday, a sunny day but not too hot. Event organiser Terry effected a last-minute switch of coach company, which ensured that the trip could go ahead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\nLeonardslee is famous for its spring plantings of rhododendrons, \nazaleas, camellias and magnolia trees, which cover the steep-sided \nslopes; although by June most had finished flowering, they provided a \nmagnificent backdrop of different shapes and shades of green to the 7 \nmostly man-made lakes. Armed with a map showing the numerous trails, \nmany members enjoyed the walks through the rhododendron woods and along \nthe ponds, stopping to admire the dragonflies and damselflies flitting \nover the water, or the huge carp just below the surface. Although we had\n missed the colour display in the spring, coming later gave us a much \nmore peaceful time there. It also allowed us to admire the Kousa dogwood\n trees covered in white flowers, including a magnificent pink-flowering \none.\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n