Preparations

This opening of the garden certainly concentrates the mind and the hands that do the weeding. Beds have been weeded that have literally not been weeded for about four years. Further more, ideas that have floated in the background for years have come to fruition. John has constructed a bonsai bed adjacent to the car park. It is shaded and far more suitable than the veg patch which has been their home for years.

A friend bought us a beautiful hydrangea in May. That one hydrangea became the start of the woodland bed at the entrance to the alley. We already had a camelia and azalea that were looking for a home but coincidentally the garden centre were selling azaleas which had just finished flowering with 40% off. There is no need to say more! As our soil is totally unsuitable for these acid loving plants they will have to stay in pots which I hope in the future will be hidden. Who knows the right hand bank of the alley may turn into a woodland walk in the future. Us gardeners are ever optimists!!

Meanwhile a few photos of the long bed looking its best - too early for the opening - but that's what mother nature does.