May 5th. Open garden success.

It has been noted that I have been neglecting my blog readers lately. I've been neglecting little B too, he cried last week for his old Mummy back! Who'd have thought that you could feel guilty gardening! It's all been in aid of the National Gardens Scheme opening last weekend. It was a huge success with 500 visitors to the garden here across two afternoons. Thank you to everyone who came along and supported the event, with your help we raised £3000 for charity. If you missed it this time come along on June 14th or August 30th when the garden should be looking even better. 

Prior to the garden opening I had garden photographer Suzie Gibbons here for two days photographing the garden for next years magazines which is exciting. I haven't seen the pictures yet but she inspired me to get out there with my own camera to record what is in flower and where. The parterre (left) is looking pretty impressive at the moment with all the tulips out at once. It is particularly atmospheric on a misty morning very early or late evening when the tulips start to glow in the dark. The Yew shapes are only just getting going and will be quite impressive once they mature.

I love Cow parsley and leave it to grow in less formal areas of the garden. The sun in the picture below was just peeping over the hedge to illuminate the top of the flower heads whilst the rest remained in the shade. I love to gather armfuls of this and plonk it in a vase on it's own in the kitchen.