I took up bridge some 18 months ago. And as a result found myself at RHS Rosemoor, North Devon, yesterday, with four new friends. Strange how things work.
Anyway, I took dozens and dozens of photos, and had a very difficult time reducing them even to the large number here, many more than I would normally put in one post. In fact I resisted taking photos to begin with, but I knew that one regular reader adores astrantia, so this, seen quite early on, was for him. 
That set the rot in, and I was clicking away once we got to the Queen Mother rose garden, and I didn’t stop for the rest of the day. 
There were not just roses in the rose gardens.
The shrub rose garden came next. 
There we took a rest.
Gill, Trisha, Daphne, Venetia, Beth
I would have died happy after that, but there was much, much more to see.
I tried to comfort this poor old scarecrow.
We did sit discreetly observing a wedding party at one point, though of course I did not take any photos of it. However five females had a great time airing their views on the wedding garb, of which, on the whole, we approved. 
Finally, and to finish on a rose theme, here is one from my own garden of which I’m particularly fond. Even this I can’t name because it was here before I arrived.
Musiewild's blog 
Some stunning blooms/photos there – what a gorgeous place!
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Unlike the others I was visiting for the first time, and was absolutely mindblown.
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What a wonderful place, your photographs must really do it justice. I can well understand why your finger couldn’t stop clicking. I am glad you were able to give us a taste.
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I’m sure I shall be back.
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It is illegal to pass an astrantia without photographing it so you did well. That rose garden looks wonderful.
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Then I broke the law many times, I’m afraid. There were many more! I could have done postful of astrantias. I do agree, they are wonderful.
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Absolutely amazing place to visit – no wonder you could not stop clicking. Was there a lovely scent in the air from all those roses?
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No strong scent in the air, but if you thrust your nose into the heart of the flower, some had wonderful scents and some had none. There was no correlation between the simplicity or otherwise of the roses and the strength of their scents.
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Haha, that poor scarecrow, he looked so sad. Not enough crows to scare, I take it?
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None at all at Rosemoor, but 20 paid gardeners and lots of volunteers!
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Hmm, I think the scarecrow has become obsolete then. Poor guy.
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Une fois qu’on a craqué pour une photo, c’est trop tard ! A notre très grand plaisir ! Ma préférée – très difficile à choisir – est peut-être la petite rose rose tout juste ouverte ou le camélia. Et la tienne ! Merci aussi de m’avoir fait découvrir RHS Rosemoor.
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My favourite, I think, is the small group of pure white roses. But it’s very difficult to decide. Fortunately one doesn’t have to.
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