With a lot of the visitor gardens closing for winter, I made a last minute dash to St Mary's House and garden in Bramber.
The exceptionally attentive staff guided my every step through the beautiful 15th house but the garden was a far more relaxed affair.
Mobile phone snaps below...
It's belting down with rain here in West Sussex so I'm glad I grabbed the chance to whizz around High Beeches while the sun was shining on Saturday.
Although it's late in the year, I found a magnolia and rhododendrons still in flower along with trees getting their autumn colour.
Here are some mobile phone snaps..
Well it seems I'm on a mini mission to see some Hampshire gardens while I'm working in the area and before winter sets in.
Yesterday was the turn of Sir Harold Hillier gardens near Romsey. It is owned by the county council and includes a memorial garden to murdered landscape architect Jo Yates, who used to work there.
It's a large and varied collection which includes a pinetum, herbaceous borders and hydrangea garden.
Here are the snaps I took on my phone...
Today's gardens visit was not in Sussex but in the New Forest.
These days my work means I spend a great deal more time in Hampshire and Dorset so, I thought, why not take advantage of being nearby some of the most beautiful gardens and countryside?
Exbury, which is packed with rhododendrons and azaleas, is clearly best viewed in the spring and early summer but today I was wowed by the amazing hydrangea gardens and the acers that are beginning to get their autumn colour.
This is what I saw...
On Monday, I ventured as far as London to watch athletes do unimaginable and seemingly impossible things at the Olympic stadium.
I never imagined my trip would result in a garden blog post but the planting of wild-looking gardens around the Olympic park is stunning.
Here are a few snaps I took on my phone.
