Scampston Hall Gardens was designed by Piet Oudolf as a series of rooms, each in his characteristic style. The perennial meadow is a playground for pollinators, featuring Rudbeckia, Achillea, Phlomis, Verbascum, Helenium, Monarda and Geranium.
One of the ideas behind the idea of a perennial meadow is that the design is more likely to remain stable and balanced as many of the plants will come back year after year, unlike a planting of annuals reliant on the vagaries of seed.
The garden features at Scampston Hall are as high quality and desirable as the planting, if – and it’s a big if – you have the room and budget for them.
Looking back after a year of lockdown, it was a joyful day, but at the time the unrelentingly bright sunlight seemed rather a torture, making it difficult to get a decent picture despite the wealth of plant material.
While we were resting our feet some distance away from the perennial meadow having a drink before setting off for home, a small cloud appeared, heading for the sun. I raced back and just managed to get one picture in duller, more amenable light. Then the cloud drifted on its merry way and the garden was back to its blazing glory.
I would probably not have shared these were the topic of Becky’s April Squares not Bright. As it is, they seemed a suitable choice.
Susan Rushton 
well I am so very glad bright came along to encourage you to share these, rather wonderful. I would love a meadow like this!
Many thanks for the little nudge, Becky!
Absolutely one of the best gardens in the UK and teeming with pollinators
This would be the epitome of having a field day for them.
Thank you for sharing my favorite: wild flowers having fun. The varieties are stunning!
My pleasure.
I can’t believe that there was any chance that these photos would have languished in a memory card somewhere! The day here is drippy and grey, and it’s a real joy to pretend wander with that happy bee. What a beautiful world he buzzes in.
Well, there was an excellent chance. The bee has certainly landed on its feet. I hope your weather has picked up. My sweetheart has had his plan for the day rained off.
Yes, those poor folks in the south have had more than their share of storms. I hope he and all will be safe.
In the third photo, that grass certainly looks like our Gulf Muhly (Muhlenbergia capillaris). The color and airiness are the same, but I’ve never seen it planted like that. It’s beautiful!
The river of grass effect. You do need sunlight to show off grasses to their best.
Have you read The Everglades: River of Grass? It’s a wonderful book.
Beautiful pics of a beautiful place!
Thank you!
Bright but beautiful! It was a warm sunny day when we were there too. 🙂 🙂
Perhaps it is always sunny there and they aren’t letting on 🙂
A garden I would love to visit when I get up to Yorkshire again! And yes, flower photography in bright light is certainly not easy, but you have done a cracking job here.
I once was told if the conditions are really not suited to photography, your only option is to go with it and give it your best try. I often remember that when I’m out there in full sun, grumbling to myself 🙂
What a beautiful range of photos! The flowers are so beautiful and yes perennials are a better idea than annuals. If they come back, it is less planting the next year. 🙂
I am a great fan of perennials, because they are labour saving in the long run, but weirdly it was annual seeds I most wished for when we went into lockdown at the start of 2020. For a little boost, I suppose.
I understand that. We all had desires last year that wasn’t in the norm. 🙂
Bright light certainly is a challenge even with a filter. These are beautiful however, so glad they made it to a post!
Becky made it impossible to resist. I’m just wondering if I’m going to use up all my brights and only have dulls left by the end of the month. 🙂