We started off with every intention this year of uploading frequent garden reports, but even the best laid plans for continuous blogging can come adrift. The problem was that we had committed to our first garden opening in April this year – very early for us – and so there was a lot to do in precious little time.
At the other end of the garden, to further break up the regularity of the straight driveway, we dug a new bed, irregular in shape so as to enhance the flowing nature of the planned planting. Bizarrely, and totally unintended, the bed soon took on the shape of a fish. We could change it, but why? Being so close to Port Isaac, a fish is well in keeping with the spirit of the area, and gardens need some fun. We set about planting it with grasses, salvias, eryngiums and nepeta.
Slowly, very slowly this year, Spring came through, with the usual delights appearing on cue and in abundance, except perhaps tulips, which this year probably suffered from a two-week dry spell we had earlier.
Slowly, very slowly this year, Spring came through, with the usual delights appearing on cue and in abundance, except perhaps tulips, which this year probably suffered from a two-week dry spell we had earlier.
The first party of tourists seemed to enjoy their visit, despite it not being a particularly bright or warm day. In fact the organiser, who lives in Vienna, and encourages her party members to mix with the English by staying in local B and B’s, expressed a desire to return twice next year. They were a delight to show round, appreciative and attentive, but with a good sense of humour too. They’d visited Cornwall’s major gardens during their trip, but they said they particularly enjoyed the smaller private garden visits as they could talk with the owners.
The day after was a great deal warmer, with strong sunlight against a threatening sky. A shame they didn’t see the garden in such an interesting light.
The day after was a great deal warmer, with strong sunlight against a threatening sky. A shame they didn’t see the garden in such an interesting light.
And the same thing happened later in the month when we opened for Cornwall Hospice Care. The opening day itself was cold and wet (but we and they still managed to take over £100 towards their funds) but shortly after we began a good spell of weather, during which we did one of those jobs that just rarely gets done, clearing out the barn.
Perhaps there was a little more pressure this year as we moved towards the NGS Open day on June 3rd , as our flower garden features on the front cover of the Cornwall pamphlet, and it would be only proper to have it looking as good as the photograph. But as if to impose a self inflicted ramping-up of that pressure, we had earlier committed to a driving trip to Italy, and when we returned, we had just 10 days left to turn around the garden and get ready for what we hoped would, this time, be a fine day for any visitors.
Sadly that was not to be. We had had to commit to an NGS opening date way back in 2011, and we had no idea then that it was going to be such a busy Jubilee bank holiday. As if that wasn’t enough, the weather was once again very Cornish, and the ticket sellers, Maggie and Marcy, had to shelter from the wind and mizzle. But a number of people turned out, as gardeners and friends do, and all in all over £500 was raised for the various charities. As usual there were some fascinating people to meet, including one man, born locally in Delabole, who now lives in Washington, USA. Apparently he had seen the garden last year, and he said its presence had lived on in his memory, and he had had to return. His enthusiasm for the garden and his thirst for knowledge of it's plants and shrubs repaid all this year's hard work. Opening your garden is no mean task, but if you're lucky, there are constant rewards.