First of all, apologies to those of you who tried to leave a comment here over the last week or so. I think the problem is resolved, fingers crossed! My lovely friend helps me with the mechanics of this blog but is up to his eyes in childcare and working from home, so I’ve only been able to do a patch up job for now…like so many things at the moment!
Here is my Albrighton Rambler, blooming marvellously. The flowers are delicate and don’t last long if there’s much wind. The warm, calm evenings recently have meant we’ve been able to enjoy it like never before. As I do my final sweep of the garden in the evening, picking up children’s discarded clothing and gathering up the last few dishes from tea time outside, the air is full of the scent of this rose, and the creeping phlox which is also awash with flowers. On the allotment I have been building sweet pea wigwams, and the asparagus is coming up. Trying to sow seeds with the children one morning I think we may have mistakenly sown marigolds on top of the broad beans, but never mind!
Over the years I have found endless inspiration for my little green patches by visiting private gardens opened as part of the National Gardens Scheme (NGS). Not this year though. So many charities are struggling at this time, revenues down as fundraising events are cancelled, and the same is true for the NGS. This year, they believe their fundraising may be down by 80%. The NGS was originally started to raise money to support District Nurses prior to the founding of the NHS. Nowadays it raises thousands of pounds for nursing and health-related organisations, including hospices.
Ever adaptable, the NGS have begun filming some of the gardens that would have opened this year, and they are asking the public, if they are able, to give a donation for visiting these gardens virtually. Here is the link if you feel you would like to do this: https://ngs.org.uk. It’s such a great cause, especially given the current pandemic. And one of the gardens is Alan Titchmarsh’s stunning garden in Hampshire. Swoon! Over the garden that is, not Alan, as much as I love him!
