Lyn and Malcolm

[Lyn and Malcolm]

Hi George

Well on Saturday we had 11 hours of rain here, and to go with it, strong winds.
At 9pm we managed to get out to put our signs up around the villiage, in the dark! The rain had eased.

Today Sunday, dawned clear and bright, up at 7.00am, and by 7.30am we were out in the garden rescuing some of the plants which had blown down in the wind and rain, despite more than usual the amount of supports we normally use.
The lawns and paths were plastered with leaves and petals, the Phlox had there heads drooping with the weight of water retained on them.
We were pleased there was a breeze to help dry things out.
Then it was back indoors to fill the cakes etc. By 10.45 our 5 helpers arrived, 2 to man the gate, 1 to help Lyn on the plant stall, and 2 for the kitchen.

We normally get about 100 visitors between 11.00 and 1.00, but today was very slow at only 50, and for the first time in 8 years of opening, Lyn and I were able to actually sit down for a quick lunch.

Back out to the garden, and by 2.00pm it was starting to get busy again, and by 3.15pm there was a call to the kitchen because they were running out of cake and the water boiler needed filling up. Nine cakes with say an average of 11 slices per cake meant 99 slices had gone.
So in desperation, we had to get 2 further cakes from the freezer and defrost them, something we do not usually like to do. By 4.30pm they had gone too.

At close of play we had 189 paying visitors (Adults) which was pretty good. The weather had stayed dry and cool with some sun, and no rain, but very blustery winds, so much so that another 8 foot leaf had been snapped off a Musa Basjoo, poor things have had a rough time of it this summer.

No more openings sheduled this year, so can relax a bit, and enjoy the rest of the summer?.

Malcolm

[ideasguy]

I have to say, you really are a very energetic man, Malcolm!
After that busy day, you found the time and made the effort to post a very good account of the day's proceedings. Much appreciated, I have to say.

I'm pleased to read that it was dry on the day (I'm sure that was a huge relief) albeit not a perfect day for the occasion.
My heart goes out to you with having to cope with the horrid weather leading up to the open day.

You deserve a well earned rest after all that! Well done, all concerned. I hope the charities acknowledge the hard work you folk have put into earning that donation.

[Lyn and Malcolm]

Still no summer down here on the south coast. The wind which reached 45mph gusts today, at the airport about one mile away, is calming down a bit, and we now have rain.

On Monday we had a call from a researcher for BBC Gardeners World. They had seen the pictures of ourgarden, on our website or the NGS site, not sure which. They are coming down to see the garden on the 21st of this month. The researcher and a handy cam operator.

The first visit is to see the garden, take some video of the garden and us 

They then show the producer back at the office, and she/he decides if they can use us/garden within GW. If they do decide to go ahead, then a film crew etc would return.

We have been down this sort of road before, with no joy really. Just 3, yes THREE seconds, of a program with shots of our garden.
If you garden in the nude, or similar, then that would better, more air time 

So not expecting too much. It is not only the garden, but how you react/talk in front of a camera. The winds have tried to destroy the garden, but we haven't come off too bad. We tied down the 3 to 4 metre high brugmansias, and set up some wind net across part of the garden, to shelter the bananas, and other tall plants.

So what was that I said about relaxing a bit and enjoying the rest of the summer

Malcolm

[ideasguy]

Thats a day of excitement for you, Lyn and Malcolm. I hope they do the filming. If so, be sure to keep us informed of when its going to be broadcast. I don't want to miss that!

3 seconds is absolutely ridiculous. I'd still be focusing on the first plant  ?
I used to complain about Eastenders on the telly on Sunday - it was always aggro and grief. I'm unfortunate enough to catch the beginning of that awful Farm program before I escape to the garden each evening. I see it's taking on the same format.
So, heres a suggestion. Stage a family "domestic". You might get your garden program serialised.

As for the weather - well, its the same here. Ive never seen my garden so wet in "summer". It was actually waterlogged last night. I heard there were high winds coming, so I spent the evening staking my Dahlias and a few other plants.
When I stepped though one area that I'd worked in at the weekend, my feet were sinking 3 ins into the soil. Now, I don't think Ive put on THAT much weight since Saturday!
And - its raining again this evening.

[Kathy & Laurie]

The interest that is being shown in your gardens, Lyn and Malcolm, speaks volumes for the amount of effort you've put into them, which has generated this success. 

You can take strength from that and put it to good use to get you through whatever else comes at you.

Eventually you'll get some time to just sit back and 'smell the roses'. 

Good luck with the interest from Gardeners World.

Still no summer up here in the north-east of England either.    Lots of rain, colder temperatures, wind, etcetera, etcetera........

Our gardens desperately need our attention but the weather is so horrible, that everything's wet for most of the time and is getting difficult to give the care and attention our beloved plants deserve.  Ho hum. 

Laurie.