We are now a day away from the visit by the Hordle Gardening Club which the lovely Jan has organised, followed by opening for the NGS on the 8th and 9th June. The pace is picking up and there is much that is still left undone!
My super helpers have been to Ferns Lodge for a first look at the garden, discussing the challenges of the garden in restoration and how on earth we are going to give everyone tea and cake! The new urn is here ready to dispense much hot water – we have tested him and he now glowers shiny and capable in the garage, ready for his starring role in the opening. The last of the cups, saucers and plates are boxed and ready for their first outing, and then there are the cakes…
I have an admission – when it comes to cake making I am afraid that I am rubbish! A combination of lack of attention and not fully understanding exactly where in the Aga is the right spot for sponge, has gleaned some pretty average offerings – but I am getting better!
Fortunately, Sophie, Barbara and Jean are expert at the art and they are helping and filling in for my lack. Visitors will also be able to sample Ferns Lodge meringue with fruit and cream – jolly good it is too.
Whilst this glorious weather has brought on the foxgloves, daisies, rhodos and all manner of other lovely things wonderfully, we are now massively short on rain. The skies darken and I think that the rain might come, but then they brighten again. We have had just a few little droplets of rain but that is all.
I have talked to Ghillie about a rain dance, but he prefers to collect sticks or to lie prone on the grass and enjoy the early summer rays!
The lack of rain brings unwanted visitors to the lupins – doused with weak Fairy liquid (we don’t do sprays) but all the advice that this will deter them, doesn’t work at Ferns Lodge! The grass is drying out and all the re-seeding of damage grass in the restoration area has provided a banquet for some now very fat pigeons – but the bare spots remain!
For all that, it is a glorious time of year and Sarah has taken some amazing shots of the garden which can be seen in all the usual places.
Nests are being built, you can almost hear everything growing, the bees are buzzing big time and the sound of bird song is deafening.
We still have signs to make up, tables to find and all manner of stuff to organise – all very exciting. The plant stall is another thing that we are working on and keeping moist and you will need to look out for some interesting and very green china that will be for sale on the open days – ‘nuff said.
We are looking forward to seeing you on the 8th and 9th June and to meeting the Hordle Gardening club too.
Contact sue.grant@fernslodge.co.uk.