Recent Garden Club member, Val, very kindly offered to open her garden for the September Asby Gardening Club event, as the planned open garden for that weekend had to be postponed due to unforeseen circumstances. Little did we realise what a treat was in store. Val’s garden is an absolute delight with such a variety of differing areas, all equally interesting, colourful & wonderfully stunning, the plant list is extensive. Val had prepared her garden beautifully, it’s quite a challenge to open in late September.
There seemed to be limitless different areas to enjoy in the garden, from the courtyard with flowering hanging baskets & chimney pots plus areas planted with perennials like lavender & fuschias, to the kitchen garden where every fruit (the raspberries & apples were looking great) & every vegetable you could imagine was, or had been, grown this season, plus companion planting of ‘friendly’ plants like calendulas, nasturtiums & sweet peas to encourage insects – all plants looking glorious & healthy.
There’s also, amongst others, the gravel garden, the patio, the terrace, the pond – parents & children were observing & trying to identify the wildlife in there. There are walls old & new, hedging of wild apple, beech, blackthorn to name a few. Particularly lovely was the red lobelia cardinalis & the laurentia which drew many admiring glances. Val was busy all afternoon talking to visitors about her garden & explaining what plants were called & how she had grown them, there was a lot of interest.
Despite the inclement weather leading up to Sunday, on the day it was brilliant sunshine, making the whole event even more special to the 40 plus visitors, some from as far away as Derbyshire & Blackpool who were visiting Cumbria & saw the event advertised. Everyone enjoyed the cream teas, yummy scones, homemade gooseberry & plum jams, tea & coffee – all supplied & served by the hard working ‘tea ladies’. Every seating area was filled up with visitors enjoying the sunshine, the views towards Brough Castle & the teas. An especially popular place to sit & take tea or just relax was the unusual revolving summer house with views across the pond.
Overheard was a very apt comment ‘isn’t it lovely to see everyone enjoying the garden’, & it was, that was the best thing about the afternoon. If you missed this treat perhaps Val will open her garden again, you must come & enjoy a wonderful afternoon next time.
In the greenhouse, the magnificent Sqash – Crown Prince.
