What a Weekend!

Well, the weekend has been and gone and we are still recovering from opening the garden to the public.  Fortunately Pat and Mel came from England on Wednesday and then worked flat out hoeing dead heading etc. By the weekend the garden looked at its very best. We are thinking of turning the barn into the gardeners cottage!!! In addition we were able to call on the assistance of other summer residents, John and Leslie, Mike and Irene, and our neighbours Jean-Jaques and Nadine.
Saturday morning arrived bright and cool.

We had time to prepare and do last minute watering as, this year, we didn't open till after lunch on the Saturday.

However, yet again we seemed to find hot weather ... Saturday and Sunday were in the high 30 degrees.

So 'customers' began to arrive slowly during the afternoon and we had 25 visiting the garden on the Saturday.

Our rush occurred Sunday morning before it became too hot and, in all, we had another 55 visitors.

Hot work for the head Gardener taking people on tours.

This year, to broaden the interest for visitors, we organised an Art Exhibition in our salon.  We found 4 local artists who allowed us to have about 3 paintings each, and a ceramicist to show some pieces.

There was also a display of paintings in our alley.

 After we had closed on Sunday evening, we and everyone who had helped us collapsed around a table for wine and Tapas!

A very busy and hot time to get the garden ready, a very busy and successful weekend and a great result ... we raised approximately 760 euros for the charities which 'Open Gardens/Jardins Ouverts' supports.


ps We featured in an article in our local paper today reporting on our event.

https://www.ladepeche.fr/article/2018/07/03/2829427-open-gardens-750-e-pour-l-association.html