Garden Not Open Today!

Today we should have been flinging the garden gate wide open, boiling the kettle, slicing cake and putting plants out for sale – all to raise money for the National Garden Scheme.  Sadly due to coronavirus the garden gate is firmly shut and locked and the only tea and cake served here will be for us and three of our adult ‘children’  who are in lockdown with us.  There are worse places to be and the last few weeks have seen me gardening more than ever.  There are still weeds that have evaded me, I see more each day waving to me from the borders but many have pretty flowers anyway,  so some will be allowed to stay for a short while.

Some  plants that I envisaged being at their best today have co-operated.   Alliums are looking splendid and so far our two springer spaniels have managed not to destroy any of them as they charge round the garden.   The spring borders are now full of Geranium phaeum Samobor, Queen Anne’s Lace (cow parsley), Comfrey  and bumble bees!   All looking just as I anticipated it would before it all slides into disarray next month.  The first roses are just opening, Mme Alfred Carriere climbs up and through a partially hollow apple tree and the first couple of flowers are open right at the top.  Rosa Gertrude Jekyll is always one of the first to flower and hasn’t disappointed this year.   There are many buds on all the roses, promising a lovely display over the next few weeks.

As I won’t be able to sell tea and plants this afternoon I’ll be in the garden anyway – weeding!

For more about the National Garden Scheme open gardens visit www.ngs.org.uk