I don’t think I’ve ever seen such a change to my garden in just a month. Not much my doing – just a really speedy change of season: instant leaves, flowers and grasses. My lovely meadow bulbs planted with an augur and drill last October, are up and out and will probably be over by the time I open my garden with the Whitstable Group of Gardens for the NGS on June 12th(10 till 5).
As you can imagine, thoughts of the opening are foremost in my mind as I garden. Everything has a time limit, a deadline and it’s hard not to wish this month away. Such a lovely fresh time of the year, I may suggest we open in May next year, but who knows what the weather would bring.
If you’d like to pay us a visit, look us up on on ngs.org.uk or on https://www.facebook.com/whitstableopengardens/ or https://www.facebook.com/ events/452410098296873/. I’ll also be tweeting @FrancineHens as time goes on. Just drive down Borstal Hill into Whitstable and turn left after the Murco garage into Joy Lane. You can park at Joy Lane School on the left past my house, and look out for the familiar Yellow Signs.
Come and buy your ticket/route map and have a quick look at my garden and then set off on foot following the walking route, or visit the gardens near here and do the second leg by car and park again (not easy on a sunny Sunday in this popular holiday destination).
We have seven gardens open, plus several more indicated by a Yellow Balloon that are showing support (including Joy Lane School, Wynn Ellis Almshouses and a Guerrilla Garden) that can be viewed from the road, seafront or path; a Plant Fair at the Umbrella Centre in Oxford Street; and Tea & Cakes at Stream Walk Community Gardens. Come and enjoy a day by the seaside and take in a few eclectic gardens at the same time, what we lack in acres we make up in imagination and creativity.
If you would like to join us next year, please contact mary.bruce@churchmans.co.uk.
Email me at francine@kitchen-garden-hens.co.uk if I've forgotten anything.