It was to be an unusual day - wet and very windy. It was dry first thing when we left Notcutts (Norwich) but then started to rain again on the way down.

Damp at first in Columbia Road but it was raining fairly steadily by the time we were waiting for the coach to take us to Capel Manor.

The sun appeared before we got to the gardens, but on arrival we found there had been a downpour overnight and a lot of the paths were under water.  There was hardly anyone else there apart from us and the staff were quite pleased to see our coach party!  We left early and on the way home the sun continued to shine!  All in all an unusual day - spoilt by the weather, over which we had no control.

Several people were disappointed by the "London experience".

There were not as many stalls as one imagined so it didn't take long to get round. Lots of cut flowers, lots of bedding plants, and lots of shrubs which you may or may not want - very much like you would see in other plant market, so not that many plants were purchased.  The shops were typical little gift shops which were probably more busy because of the rain but the coffee facilities were very sparse.  My friend and I found a coffee place in a nearby street which was very quiet, a bit like a bar really, where we dried out sitting by a cosy warm fire until it was time to catch the coach!

Capel Manor Gardens

With regard to Capel Manor, I have been there several times but usually during the early summer onwards.It looked very different yesterday with lots of bulb displays - though not a time I would recommend a visit. I think the damper on the weather front had well and truly set in by the time we arrived.