For the 7th year, the garden will be open in May for the National garden Scheme with teas in aid of the Children’s society.
We will welcome back Jitka Palmer, Katie Green and Christopher Townsend exhibiting along with artists new to us.
The garden will also open during the following week as part of Winchcombe art trail from Tuesday to Sunday along with the textiles on show in the garden room.
The garden in May is vibrant with bright green foliage, flag irises in the pond and perennials bursting into flower. With this backdrop, Jane Smoczynski places about 50 pieces of sculpture. They range from small to large, stone, metal and glass, all made by individual artists. They enhance the garden and vice versa. Some stand out whilst others nestle in the beds, hidden until you come round a corner and something catches your eyes. On a dull day, the white stone pieces by Jitka Palmer simply glow and on a sunny day Katie Green’s wonderful glass shines out and leads you to a closer look. The huge metal structures by Christopher Townsend and David Freedman take a few days to settle into their spots but once there, seem very much at home. Willa Ashworth’s bowls and flowers proved very popular because they were very much at home in any size garden. The wren on the fork by Barney Yendall was so realistic that we were convinced it was real.
The exhibition helps us attract hundreds of visitors to the garden to raise funds for the National garden Scheme.
The sculpture is all in place, the grass is cut, the edges are trimmed and there are still far more weeds than I wanted but given we do the garden ourselves, we are pleased with how it looks.
After weeks of endless dry weather when we longed for rain, this week has meant we have often been out gardening in the damp and wet. There is something very soothing and peaceful about being in the garden in the rain and I have found myself enjoying that time as much as the glorious sunny day on Thursday. The photos below were taken late this afternoon.
The garden has been soaking up the longed for rain in the last few days and we have been planting up pots, weeding and edge trimming in preparation for our opening.
Many plants are early and others have suffered from a couple of late hard frosts so the wisteria will be mostly over but the water iris will be open this year and a few roses are already in bloom. You win with something every year despite the inevitable losses!
The exiting part is the arrival of the sculpture and we enjoy watching the hard work that goes into curating the exhibition! There are already some beautiful pieces in the garden which we get to enjoy.
One of the wow factors of the garden is coming round the path and seeing the pond. It still takes my breath away some days. And although I love the views across the garden from various points, for me the best images are the glimpses of individual plants from unexpected points. Above you can see self sown aquilegias, candelabra polyanthus, the layered viburnum mariessi, white osteospurnums and poppy heads just ready to burst into spectacular pale pink beauty.
The garden is a real mixture of careful planting and nature self sowing. With flowers like the welsh poppies we have learnt to love what nature gives us!
Come and see for yourself.
The acer is bursting into leaf and the lime green euphorbia, which have self seeded all over the place (and not where Richard wants them!) earned a reprieve as they are spectacular in the sun.
Spring seems early this year in terms of the bulbs flowering. Many of the flowering shrubs are coming out, the quince is in leaf and the Mount Fuji cherry is flowering. It follows the autumnalis, the bell cherry and the pissardi.
The daffodils are Jetfire, bought in bulk but planted in flower, exactly where we need them!
The forecast isn’t good but the garden always feels especially peaceful in the rain. The sculpture looks good whatever the weather, so don your raincoat, grab an umbrella and help us raise money! You can see a few sunny images from today.
We are open 11 to 5.30 Sat 21st and Sun 22nd May. Details here: http://www.ngs.org.uk/gardens/find-a-garden/garden.aspx?id=29934
