Shed of the Year Finals

Popped down to Bow, East London for Channel 4's filming of The Shed of the Year finals at the weekend. Obviously, I'm not at liberty to tell you the outcome of the Pear Hut entry prior to the programme's transmission dates. However, well done to the team at Plum Pictures for making us feel so welcome and looking after us so well - even if they did work us very hard............yawns!!

The Pear Hut

Shed of the Year 2017

Lighting by DSM Electrical and his team!

Gales in June!

Damage & debris

The Top Lawn

The Top Lawn

Yet another flattened foxglove

High winds in June do so much more damage than they can possibly do in winter and this week has just proved it.  With all the trees in full leaf, there's SO much more wind resistance. Leaves and branches were torn from trees, foxgloves flattened and the lawn covered in debris - SIGH!

Still at least it the gales didn't arrive for open gardens.  Today was an exercise in damage limitation, mowing and generally clearing, and tying up.  Even the Wisteria around the conservatory had been ripped off.  After a mow round, things looked a little better although I did feel sorry for the roses!

It seems that a rose garden has evolved quite by accident. It's too pretentious to call it that and so it's known simply as the Top lawn!  

The Lower Border

Cedar Wood Dutch Light Greenhouse for sale on Ebay

Our dear old greenhouse could be yours!

Click this link for full details.

Interior

Exterior

Summer Colour!

Vyvyan Pennell

Graham Thomas

Mrs N. Thompson

Great names and all in flower now!

Ernest Markham

Artisan Anemometer?

I just had to share pictures of Chris's latest creation in solid oak with brass fittings because it's just so lovely!! A rotating and flying duck!! Who wouldn't want one of these? Some people are just too clever!

Peeping Tom at Open Gardens?

Di chatting to visitors

Lindy & Eve serving in their new aprons

Relaxing  between the showers

Flash Gordon is undone!

Just a few more of Dave's photos taken at yesterday's open gardens. Don't be fooled by the sunshine!  It was, in fact, a freezing cold blustery and showery day!

On another note and, as a matter of interest; the Head Gardener would just like to know who was responsible for untying Flash Gordon's red bow!!! Would the culprit please own up?

A Cold & Showery Open Gardens

Paul having a cup of tea & sheltering in the summerhouse

Visitors enjoying a rare glimpse of sunshine

The weather could definitely have been kinder to us! It was cold, dull and showery.  I sat wearing my warmest waterproof jacket with a hood and furry lining in JUNE! However, it didn't deter 57 visitors most of whom came wearing wellies and carrying umbrellas. We made an astonishing £407.00 for the National Garden Scheme. Our total so far this year is £671.00 As the day wore on, the sun came out and it was a pleasant evening but it all happened rather too late. As we know, only too well, outdoor events are at the mercy of the vicissitudes of our English climate! 

A BIG thank you to all our visitors and an even bigger thank you to Lindy, Di, Dave, Eve and Sandra who worked so hard serving teas and cakes and clearing up afterwards. Lastly another BIG thank you to all our cake bakers!! Visitors never fail to comment on the homemade teas!

A couple of visitors relaxing on the terrace

Exploring our shed of the year finalist!

Tree on the Move!

Dicksonia antarctica on the move

Men at work!

Well!!! We managed to get nearly all garden jobs done before our first National Gardens Scheme open day yesterday.  We even found time to plant our tree fern which I've had in various pots for over 20 years. It was of course immensely heavy and required a seriously hole being dug out. We plane to wrap it up in winter and protect it from winter frosts.

Funny thing was: we had an early visitor from New Zealand.  She hadn't realised the garden wasn't actually open until Sunday. We of course welcomed her in and made her tea so she was able to watch one of her own natives being planted!!  We manage to attract some fascinating visitors including a gentleman who'd worked at Kew and had designed and planted a botanic garden in Chile. We've also had a lady who was the former chief propagator at Kew and a Japanese expert on English roses! It's amazing who finds a little cottage garden in the depths of rural Worcestershire!

Summerhouse Painting

On the run up to open gardens, it's all hands on deck! Today, Brian finished giving the summerhouse a new look. As a change from the green and rather anaemic white,we have Farrow and Ball's heritage colours -  French Grey and Dorset Cream.  The cream has far more depth and warmth.

Thanks to Chris, the doors now open freely and the hinges have been well oiled! Head of Maintenance has been spoken to about more frequent and regular oiling of hinges in the future!

...and after.

Brian at work                                                                                     Before...