Early June.

Kelmscott Manor was the country home of William Morris, a leading figure in the Arts and Crafts Movement.  Read more here.  These photographs (taken with permission, and copyright © Stephen Bigger 2015) were taken on 10th June 2015. Click on photographs to enlarge. There are plenty of roses on show this week.

"Old fashioned roses" flower briefly in June but are outstanding for their scent as well as full appearance. Their name confirms that these are historic plants, often brought in from China in the 19th century and grown before the fashion of hybridising. There are therefore roses with a long history. They need little pruning  and are generally trouble free, unlike Hybrid Tea roses which are like spoiled babies.

A broader walk around, this catmint (nepeta) and hardy geranium wake a good combination near the gate to the meadow.

The house near the rustic pergola is jewelled with this variagated weigela, still in full flower.

I have been waiting for this, the yellow rattle in the meadow grass. It will be here today gone tomorrow, as they say. It reduces the vigour of the grass so the meadow never flops over.

The seed pod dries out and rattles in the breeze in later summer.

The first of the delphiniums

next to a stately cardoon.

and potato vine (solanum) - the flower is just like a potato flower.

We are now near the croquet lawn, ornamental poppies

and foxgloves.

A beautiful pink rose tucked into these vibrant geraniums make a lovely colour combination.

Getting up close to a geranium...

near the bench by the front wall

Enlarge to see the bumble bee feeding.

The medlar still has flower but its distinctive fruit is setting.

Here is a bee sampling nectar in the medlar flower.

Geraniums, alliums,

and a bright dogrose

Here the white rose is in a forest of sysyrincium striatum

Aquilegias are not called 'grannies bonnets' for nothing!

The rustic pergola

seat corner

and summer house

now with a climbing rose

A mock orange (philadelphus) garlands the house and rose pathway.

A few shots of the rose pathway now in flower - standard 'old fashioned' roses on a three foot trunk.

View of the entrance doorway

Down to the river - the Thames runs past the house

with its wildlife, a squirrel

rooks for the orchestra

and a friendly feline.

Here the comfrey hangs over the water

I nearly missed the honeysuckle pointing me to the tearoom

Here the shop is shrouded by the brilliant long flowed weigela Bristol Ruby

A few views of the back courtyard

splendid gooseberries ready for picking

a shrub rose

a climbing rose

climbing hydrangea

and from the other side of the wall

and with back door behand.

Heading to the shop, the ruby weigela again

against the shop

and a rose against the admin building near the umbrella seating

Here is a mystery plant near the meadow gate - any suggestions? It leaves look like salvia and smell like lavender or cotton lavender, a bit like menthol.

Finally, in the meadow near the disabled and volunteer car park, a stately walnut tree.