To Bourn and back again
21 Jun 2014 7 Comments
At the end of a very busy week involving the May ball set up and clear up, plus the usual June activities in the garden; I had been asked to come back and judge Bourns Garden Club annual Rose and Flow show. Alright, being on a Thursday evening it wasn’t quite at the end of the week but I was off skiving the following day (days holiday) so this for me, was the perfect end to a busy week.
For those of you who read my blog regularly, you may remember that I was asked to judge their flower show for the first time last year (An unexpected journey). This was at the time, something I thought I would never be asked to do but I loved every minute of it. So when I was asked to come back for a second time, I was more than happy to do so.
As with last year I was made very welcome by everyone who was there. I was also met with wonderful smells from all the flowers, herbs, fruits, salads and vegetables plants grown and carefully prepared for the show. When you walk into the village hall you are also met with a great palette of colour and as with last year….the standard was very high.
When it came to the judging all of the twelve categories, it was very difficult to do as all the entries were worthy winners. As I said last year, all these gardening clubs you get around the country are massively important to the local communities, getting people together and to the whole horticultural community. I have been and will go again but you can keep your Chelsea’s and Hampton Court shows; it’s places like the Bourn Garden Club, is where the TRUE heart of horticulture lies! I could rant on about this subject for ages but I’ll park up my soap box now and get on with the post.
Hope you enjoy the following photos.
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Of course there is one category I will always look out for and that is the kids section. If garden clubs are a avenue where children can gain an interest in gardening, this will always be a big plus point in my book.
All are worthy of 1st place.
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So there you have have it, a wonderful collection of garden delights lovingly grown from around the gardens of Bourn in Cambridgeshire; a great selection for any flower show.
So a big thank you for the Bourn Garden Club for inviting me back and I will see you all on the 6th of November.
Plants That Bite Back
13 Jun 2014 Leave a comment
The historic, tranquil college gardens… or are they? Most of the time yes- but not always. There are some gardens at Trinity where access is very restricted these are our very own secret gardens. There are others though, that are more accessible and some of our formal courts and more famously The Backs are open to the public. But for the majority of the college gardens these are only for college members and their guests. During the spring and summer months, we do have many events in the gardens from the very small to as large as our May Ball.
I will not bore with stories of the damage we get on our lawns from such events. And some will already know that we are famous for our ‘Keep Off The Grass’ signs, as a lot of our main court lawns only the Fellowship are allowed to walk on the…
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Hemingford Grey Manor (Green Knowe)
06 Jun 2014 Leave a comment
Now, this one is close to my heart.
It wouldn’t have mattered how many gardens I have worked in by the time I hang my boots up… this one will always be my favourite.
I have known about this house and garden all my life, like I said in my first blog, my Grandad ,this garden and the previous owner a Lucy Boston are the very reasons why I am gardening today. I also was very lucky to work there on work experience whilst still at school, then for a short while after I left school.
As a kid I always loved going to visit my Nan and Grandad who both worked there for many years, my Nan as a cleaner and my Grandad as a gardener. When Mrs Boston was not busy she would also spend time telling me the odd ghost story and, giving me a tour of the…
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thetattooedgardener 