I accidentally visited an open garden the other day. It was a happy accident.
I was staying at Peggy’s, for our monthly Texas Hold’em and spam fritter night, and Welsh Ann tipped me off that her friend CJ was opening his garden the following day. It would have been rude not to make the small effort; it is just up the road from Mum’s and, more especially, he has the plant sales of legends. I cleared it with OH, assuring him that all purchases would be for clients’ benefit only (fingers crossed at the time, obvs).
And I was very glad that I popped by. Apart from the obvious purchasing experience, it was joyful to wander the garden alone, appreciating the many and varied aspects of his plot. And it also reminded me of things I needed reminded of.
Analogy alert: If undue and often tenuous comparisons offend you, you should at this point leave the post by one of the designated safety exits.
I’ve been watching the Athletic World Championships/Commonwealth Games/European championships all summer long. The noble competitors train day in, day out, often with little funding or support, whether they are triumphant record holders or the valiant also-rans. And, to my mind they all deserve their moment centre stage.
The same can be said for the many private gardens that pepper our world, tended by fine folk who work relentlessly when sometimes it all seems a hiding to nowhere. They battle contrary weather and non-compliant wildlife. Months in advance they must provide dates for opening to the public, when they hope their gardens will be tiptop, ever at the mercy of the precariousness of the seasons. Still they share their gardens and expose their very souls for criticism. Have I gone too far again? Perhaps, but there is little as personal as offering up your own kingdom, designed and tended over months and years, only for Joe Public to point out a weed. And all this for charity.
What I needed to be reminded of is that we need to support these Open Gardeners, tell them they are great, buy their plants, listen to what they say and be inspired.
So, here we go. CJ you are great, your garden is amazing, your plants happy and healthy, keep on keeping on! I’ll be back. Unless you ban me for harassment, which is a distinct possibility.
Off The Edge Gardening 
We have a fair few happy accidents love them
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I am in good company then!
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OH may not have had cause to complain about the depletion of his savings toward the utility bill rise but I wonder whether clients will now be paying the price of your purchasing proclivities. You know, plant(s) for a specific place in the garden which turn out to be education in the art form of being more specific about the specifications of what the specifics are. 😏🙏
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Que?
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We need a more detailed Manuel, perhaps. 😎
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John – you should hope for a positive outcome. Whatever she purchased for your garden will be perfect. (Maybe…) 🙂
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Absolutely. It is entirely perfect but for another space which we were able to create. The original place remains vacant but *I* will find the plant for that. 🥴
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Will you …….
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Will I? You bet! The garden centre is open on days other than Tuesday. 😂 I can’t afford Tuesday visits (when I just know things will turn out far.more.expensive). Or there’s mail order (by male).
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It is perfect, just perhaps not for his garden ;D
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I’m not convinced that anyone can accidentally visit a garden, but I suppose that’s one way to get away with all those plants that just happened to jump into your arms on the way out! I agree with you that people who open their gardens are stars.
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It’s a fair cop!
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Photo shows a breathtaking garden. Truly lovely. I got confused for a minute and thought you were in Texas, which didn’t make sense along with the “national garden scheme”. 🙂
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Ha! It is lovely, although I was disappointed with the photos I took on my phone. I will have to go back with my proper camera.
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My favourite pastime , and I agree that the folks who do it are stars, I love them all!!
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I really should do it more, I will promise myself to make more of an effort.
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Do try, there is very often Cake, if that helps?
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It helps a lot 🙂
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You are too kind!
It was a lovely day and thanks for visiting. I love ‘showing off’ the garden, propagating and making cake – NGS is a perfect combo.
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Not at all, you deserved a shout out. 🙂
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“buy their plants,”?! That is against my rules! Otherwise, I could end up with a Canna farm., . . . or some other sort of farm!
Okay, so ‘sometimes’ I do, but only ‘sometimes’. Seriously, I believe that I am responsible about it, particularly since only a few plants are available for sale at such events. I have not been to an Open Garden in many years.
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