Garden Friendships and a bit of swearing

 It is wonderful to have garden friends who understand what you do in the garden and even better when they garden along side you. 

Recently my friend Chris and I were offered some gardening jobs . Not your twee suburban gardens where you do a little snipping , weeding and primping but more the over grown acerage. 2 plus acres .

Naturally the inital response as you drive in is Holy cow !, what happened here? . Has there even been a mower or a whipper snipper near the place? Then on closer look is  Oh F ! thats a weed, thats all weeds, thats a camphorlaurel , a chinese elm and we havent even got out of the car. 

We like a challenge and for me it beats going to a gym any day. 

Neither of us is afraid of hard work and seeing a visible difference is both rewarding and daunting at the same time. We may have a job for life. 

The first step is to not tackle everything at once . We take a walk around and decide where we will start . Sight line from the house , a very bad weedy area  or something the owner has expressed concerns about may become the priority. Also being able to move from sunny spots to shade as we are hitting the summer temperatures. 

The second step is to simplify the gardens as the owners are not really gardeners and you really can have too many garden beds to look after. It is hoped that with a bit of planning the garden s can be tamed and manageable but in our climate everything grows at a great rate and needs pretty constant upkeep. 

This morning we started early and tackled the border alonmg a retaining wall . Huge clumps of salvia, bush basil , ornamental grasses have been dealt with . We emerge from the undergrowth a sweaty dirty mess desperate for water like we have been on a Safari . Chuck all the tools in the car and head for home. 

 

     

The Collectors Paradise .Dahlias proudly on display at Gympie .The collectors garden is the pinnacle on that very human desire to assemble collections of objects,name them ,put them in order and plan for the next acquistion . It may be stamps, beer cans, Rolls Royce motor cars or Dahlias. Whatever the object of desire the process seems the same .

When it comes to the plant collector , who doesnt eagerly await a glossy calalogue . For hundreds of years these nursery brochures have offered cultivars of plants,bulbs and seeds lusciously illustrated.Sadly these catalogues came from Southern nurseries and most of the plants would shrivel and fail in our climate .

The Queesland climate has it's benifits . In my grandfathers garden in suburban Brisbane gladioli plants were grown and cut flowers sold to Perrots Florist in the city . The bulbs were lifted and stored in a cool room at the end of the season . When we have visited single genus plant collectors the special needs of their precios specimins will dominate the scene .

Our sub tropical climate is ideal for so many interesting and rewarding plants and I have long since ceased to grow plants that have fussy needs and are better off some where else. I want hardy plants that can cope with dry periods or flooding rain and a garden that has no back up irrigation system . 

New book In the shadow of " The Shambles" by Kyleigh Simpson

  Greetings from the shambles .

My new book has arrived . 

This is a collection of personal stories  taken form a larger scrapbook journal that I have kept over many years. While Michael liked to document the garden in a scientific and historic way I liked to write , draw and create collages for art works and my journal . The theme of the garden is of course the same. 

Michael lived with severe rheumatoid arthritis over his whole life and yet achieved a great deal . Many people knew him through his work as a local doctor and in the many clubs and organisations he was connected to. Yet they often were unaware of the level of pain and disability he endured as he refused to be defined by it. For those of us who were closest we knew the toll it took. Many of my recollections navigate the difficulties that carers face . Michael died just over two years ago and this book is our love story as much as anything . It is a love story set in our garden. 

The book can be purchased directly from Kyleigh .

email  85shambles@gmail.com 

$60 + POSTAGE 

 Greetings from The Shambles

Another wet morning in beautiful Montville . Probably the only down side is the  plants for the plant stall which are saturated . Hopefully we will get a bit of sun for them soon. By the time the open garden comes around on the 19th and 20th April 2025 we will be getting some cooler days. 

I have noticed that there are very few open gardens now and it is a great loss for people who are gardeners and who like visiting gardens. So many of our ideas and inspiration for plants came from seeing other gardens over the years. If you are new to gardening try to do this , you might see what you want and you will definately see things that you don't love .Personally I am not keen on ornamental frog collections but that's just me!

In the 1980's and 1990's gardening was really supported find a thee media . I remember Burkes Back yard show casing a plant and  the next day it was at the nursery . There were lots of independent nurseries often family owned . These days new gardeners are very restricted by what is commonly available at big hardware stores. Often the plants on sale are not even mean't for the area so will fail. There is also a big lack of knowlegeable  shop assistants in those places. 

 Luckily  there are gardeners who are happily sharing cuttings in old plastic bags or tied with string. Just yesterday I came the home with three rose cuttings to pot up. Many who pour over gardening web sites and books and who are happy to share their knowledge . 

I continue to love domestic garden spaces . Gardens that are not too big to manage but can keep you fully occupied and interested. 

 Cute idea I saw at the St Erth garden in Victoria .

Easter in two Montville Gardens

  

We look forward to seeing lots of gardeners and garden lovers at the Open Garden . 

The Shambles and Lower Woontooba are situated on Western Avenue ,Montville in the hinterland of the Sunshine Coast . 

This is an opportunity to see these gardens for the first time in two years and for first time and return  visitors to enjoy the changes in the gardens . Both gardens surround Queenslander homes and are very different . Lower Woontooba has a park like quality and views to the dam . Lovely planting and maturing trees surround the house.

The Shambles  is a mature garden that has been a plant collectors project for over thirty years .  As the garden has grown it has become a shady place which is essential in our hot climate.  See you in the garden , Kyleigh 

Raising funds for Cittamani

 This morning we had a  lovely visit from Melanie from Cittamani . 

Cittamani Hospice Service offers specialist palliative care at home for individuals with terminal illness and their loved ones.

Cttamani Hospice Service is a not-for-profit public benevolent institution  and registered charity. It was founded by health professionals and community members on The Sunshine Coast in 1996.Their philosophy is based on Buddhist principles of love and compassion.

Generally you don't find out about organisations like Cittamani until you or someone you care for needs them . Hopefully by spreading the word to people at the Open Gardens  people will be aware that services are available when the need arises. Join us at Easter as we raise funds for Cittamani .

garden conversations

 If you are lucky enough to have a partner in gardening , a spouse, a friend or a garden club you will have plenty of garden conversations. 

From our experience reading about gardens, visiting gardens and generally being immersed in gardens has been a connection for us over more than 40 years. If I didn't have the garden who knows what would have happened? At our place there are always books out, new ideas of designs for the garden, lists of plants, collections of labels and that is just in the living room . We don't always agree on ideas for the garden , I probably wouldn't have a pool since it has taken up the best sunny spot and did have a prosperous vegie and herb garden there once. Michael would also like it if I was a bit more receptive to his huge knowledge of plants and his zealous need to collect and document everything. Either way we bring different skills and have created a garden that we love.

Even our children were dragged into this obsession as they were constantly being taken to gardens , botanic, historic, foreign and domestic  and never to the Theme park "worlds". Even a trip to Australia Zoo with our grandkids had Michael in raptures about the plants. Some people say they can't have a garden because they have kids or no time . Our babies slept in the pram or when they were bigger played along side us while we worked in the garden . When they were teenagers I found the great escape of mowing  . That aside it is lovely to see our adult children and grandchildren engaged with gardens and being outdoors. 

The Shambles is a child friendly place and at Easter we always have an Easter hunt and an art activity to do .  

The Garden in Autumn

 

The Autumn weather is great for visiting gardens. To me it is the best season for South East Queensland ,not too hot and generally lovely fine days. The three Montville gardens that are open this Easter long weekend will have a display of colourful shrubs and trees and as a result of the rain the gardens are green and lush. A garden is much more than individual plants and there is a unique feeling or atmosphere that comes from a well loved and tended garden. This is evident in each of the gardens and will be a wonderful way to see what are very private gardens nestled behind the hedges of Western Ave and Manley Drive .

Wongawilli , Lower Woontooba and the Shambles gardens are open to share with visitors and to raise funds for Cittamani Hospice .  See you in the garden , Kyleigh

Lower Woontooba  

Woo Hoo a Fine Day !!

 It has been so good to see the sun ,even intermittent sun is good. At the moment I think we are all trying to keep up with the weeding due to the perfect conditions. Weeds are beneficial too so I never worry too much about the odd weed unless they are taking over something better. The constant rain is making mulch break down fast and the large mulch piles are turning to compost quicker. There is something about that earthy mulch smell teeming with worms that I love. The soil is alive and worms are thriving.  Speaking of worms reminds me of the time our friends , The Collies  bought up a canoe and I had a fishing line and decided it would be good to try to fish down on the Mary River. Not having any bait I dug up a few worms and put them and soil in a bag and we headed off. We went to Kenilworth and Little Yabba only to find that there really wasn't enough water to launch the boat and even less to fish in. Anyway we had a picnic and the worms had a great day out and they returned to the garden in the afternoon. K

The fernery looking lush 

The Shambles opening this Easter

It's been five years since we opened our garden, "The Shambles". Every opening is special for us and we see it as a way of sharing the garden and inspiring people to garden . It also brings the community together in fundraising and is a chance for us to catch up with return visitors as well as meeting new people. 

Our garden has seen many new changes that will interest visitors and we are kept interested with seasonal growth the addition of new plants and the on going work of maintaining the garden. I love the variety of work that a garden offers. On a really hot day I can find a shady corner to weed and I tend to work around the garden in stages and will attend to an area such as the fernery or the south rose garden so there is always something new to work on. Michael likes the planning , the documentation and maintaining the website . He has been responsible for the advertising for Open Garden events and looks forward to talking plants with visitors to the garden. 

This garden is set on less than one acre and so it is the smallest in the group and yet it is a full and complex garden. Through thoughtful design the garden is totally accessible and as it has developed over thirty years it has a maturity and sense of permanence that only happens over time. The garden surrounds a 112 year old workers cottage . It has seen our family grow up and has provided the backdrop for numerous social gatherings of family and friends over the years. It is a hide and seek garden that children love to explore and it is over flowing with plants and , secret pathways and art works. It has survived droughts an intense wet seasons and has a resilience that  gardens in Queensland need.

This year with reliable rain we have seen substantial plant growth and the garden is looking lovely. By Easter there will be a variety of flowering shrubs in bloom and perhaps a nip in the air . We really look forward to seeing what

people think of our new additions to the garden. See you in the garden, Kyleigh

Opening for the first time Jeff and Lou's garden " Lower Woontooba"

 As first timers , Jeff and Louise admit to feeling a bit apprehensive about opening their garden at Montville." Lower Woontooba" is at 238 Western Avenue and will be open on the 16th an17th of April . They have nothing to worry about as this garden may be relatively new but it is set on a spectacular site with lovely view to the south west into rainforest. It is well hidden behind a hedge so it is not until you enter the property  and see the old Queenslander nestled into the slope beneath a Jacaranda tree that makes you want to explore further  . To the left of the house there are terraced gardens with raised beds planted with  shrubs, perennials and roses. The pathways lead around the house and beyond to the studio which is further down the slope .There is an orchard and fenced vegetable garden , a viewing deck and plenty of space with lovely  green views. This is a good garden to wander in and to see just how much Jeff and Loise have done in a short time. Gradually the garden will evolve and hopefully reopen to the public so people can see the progress. There is something lovely about visiting interesting gardens and seeing how the owners manage their site and getting a glimpse of their vison for the garden.   Opening a garden is a daunting prospect but it is worthwhile and rewarding as people are supportive and often leave inspired to work in their own gardens. It is a day out for some visitors but for the owners it is the culmination of years of work and several months of preparation in the lead up to the day . We applaud Jeff and Lou for taking the first step and sharing their garden.  Don't miss out on seeing this delightful garden  this Easter . 

Don't miss a visit to Rowena's Garden 16th 17th April

 Rowena's garden  " Wongawilli "  Manley Drive ,Montville 

This garden will be open on the 16th and 17th April  Easter  and is well worth a visit .I believe that most people will be blown away by the scale and variety of subtropical tropical and temperate plants that are on display. I still get amazed by it and I have been fortunate to visit often and through the changing seasons. 

Rowena not only had a vision for her house but for the taming of the steep site from the beginning. Several key features such as the terracing , the swimming pool , ornamental ponds ,stone walls and curved drive have defined spaces in the garden so there are plenty of picturesque views to be had as you walk along meandering paths and down stairs to lower levels. So often a house is built without any consideration to the landscape and a garden will often look like an after thought with a very formulaic style. This property is the exception as both the house and the garden have evolved and there is a unity as the house is nestled into it's environment. This garden is complex and has been carefully curated by Rowena who has a particular interest in tropical plants having lived in New Guinea and Fiji . Having a large garden where the trees were planted early on has ensured there are micro climates that support different plants .There are seasonal surprises such as temperate bulbs, stunning orchids and flowering trees. The fact is that there is no real "down "time in a Queensland gardens and a great deal of work and planning is being done by Rowena year round

 

EASTER OPEN GARDENS AT MONTVILL,E

Plant stalls and refreshments available

Sat 16th and Sunday 17th April 2022   9am to 4 pm

1. “The Shambles’ 85 Western Avenue Montville.  Kyleigh and Michael Simpson have opened their garden since 2001 and in 2019 raised $10000 for the Queensland Drought Appeal

2. “Lower Woontooba” 238 western Avenue Montville. Louise and Jeff Tasker are opening their large country garden for the first time.

3. “Wongawilli” 19 Manley Drive   Montville. Rowena Cavanagh has raised money for reconstruction in Fiji after cyclone Winstone in 2016. Rowena has also provided valuable assistance with Open Gardens at "The Shambles"

Visitors will enjoy three fascinating large country gardens, each with a different character in their beautiful borrowed landscapes 

Plants of all sorts for sale 

Refreshments   “Rising Scone Café” at “The Shambles"

Funds raised for Cittamani Hospice  www.cittamanihospice.com.au

Visit beautiful Montville village and the scenic Blackall Range attractions. Perhaps make a weekend of it with some Montville accommodation. https://www.montvilleguide.com.au/montville-accommodation
 

Entry $10 to each garden, cash only please   children free

See  www.montvillegarden.com

http://www.facebook.com/montvillegarden

https://youtu.be/NCD_gXbgyUk

the big catch up

Just a few short weeks after the rain started and the garden has revived from the prolonged dry weather. It's as if it never happened. Suddenly it is time to pick up the pace with garden jobs and to tackle the weedy bits and tame some crazy shrubs. Yesterday Brent came to take down some higher branches on the red cedar, and bolly gum, macadamia and a few others. This has followed up on his last visit when he tamed the front hedge of duranta and privet  ,a job that no one really looks forward to but looks amazing when it is done. That's about it for help in the garden now and the rest is down to me which is fine.
Yesterday was a sad day as we watched the big bunya pine next door get taken down as it was dead. It now lies on the ground and Shadow for some reason is scared of it. A few weeks ago I collected several small Bunya trees from around the base so we might be able to grow another one near by. I like properties that have a few large statement trees , just to marvel at their size and age and Bunyas are particularly important on the Blackall Range .
We have had a couple of visiting groups recently and people seem to enjoy visiting our garden. It is interesting to see what gets the most attention. The coral fountain is popular and lately it has been the begonias and brugmansias that have been in full flower.The masses of macadamia nuts on the ground are also noticed and some people even race up on the verandah to use our vice to open some.  Family visits are generally more frantic with children running around the path ways, looking for bugs and hanging out with Shadow.

Statues in the garden.

Well, I love a good statue as much as the next person and they definitely draw the eye and create a focus in the garden landscape. The questions are what?, why?, where ?, how ? and who?

What statue will you choose for your garden ? Do you have a spiritual need for a deity or will a classic gnome or wild animal such as a giraffe or elephant be on your wish list. These recognisable statues often tell visitors to the garden something about the owner . Sometimes they raise more questions than answers.
Statuary and garden ornamentation often includes features such as concrete balls and some abstract features involving water. It is worth mulling over the statue you will choose for some time as a rushed purchase can lead to tears.
Why? Of course the why seems such an obvious question, why not ? Statues are everywhere , they are in the shops , magazines and on tv. They are all around your suburb and they can be an inexpensive addition to any garden.   Resin , plastic and concrete statues come in all shapes, sizes and colours and there are sure to be many that will appeal to you.
Where? This is where many gardens come undone.A statue can make or break a garden. A constipated cupid sitting on a ball needs an appropriate spot in the garden,maybe a private corner?
A cheeky gnome or large green frog too needs just the right spot to make it work.
How ? This question runs through your mind as soon as you purchase the statue. First of all , How the heck is that thing going to fit in the car ? Seats down, seats up, seat belt , ropes or special delivery? If the sculpture is light weight and slightly quirky such as a family of meerkats this will be no problem unless you are using public transport. If on the other hand you are taken by a life sized version of Michelangelo's David or a Greek goddess it might be time to organise a ute or trailer and lots of blankets and ropes. The last thing you want is something to break off David!
Who ? This does not really apply to the statue but more to who is going to be viewing the statue. Who visits your garden  ? Do you want to get a reaction ? Do you want to offend? Luckily gardeners are so polite they will generally say they love your statues to your face but over on the other side of a bush they are either laughing their heads off or seriously questioning your sanity.
I say go for it , buy or make some garden statuary for now and for the archaeologists of the future. Just imagine the delight when the 2060 Time Team turn up at your place and dig up the meerkats , the oversized snail and the cheeky gnome . Kyleigh

Big dollar Gardens

I guess like many people who are interested in gardens we get a bit excited about watching new tv programmes about the topic. Alas, we find the current trend is to call in a garden designer and part with exorbitant amounts of cash .Call me old fashioned or "cheap " but it really takes the fun out of it for me. Just imagine the banter , google box style that is going on in most homes as some surburban home gardens  get a  big dollar revamp . Is it the gormless owners who want a pastiche of a garden to fill in that tiresome space around the mansion or is it the insipid presenters who cast a few doubts but always come around to loving the outcome . 

 One such garden and I use that term loosely was no more than a car space at the back of the house. Naturally the whole thing has to be decimated so a " blank canvas " could be the starting point even a mature tree removed which naturally enough was providing shade to the house and needed to be replaced with a fancy roll out blind. Others have gone to great lengths with industrial scale earth works and hard landscaping all with the goal of being able to sit down and have a glass of wine in it when it's finished. The fact is you can sit down and have a glass of wine in your garden without the hoo haa. It is the predictability that sends me off to make cups of herbal tea so I probably haven't managed to watch one entire programme yet !! Did I miss something ?

 Where are the gardeners who will actually assess a property and start to retain mature trees and a broad palette of plants? Where are the landscapers who don't feel they have to build an edifice of hard surfaces with little pockets for plants? In all the eco talk , the bottom line is that doing less is far more sustainable . Generations of people have created gardens that haven't overwhelmed  the dwelling or the suburb.It seems a bit ridiculous that the statement about growing your own vegies is juxtaposed with the three redimix  trucks lined up in the driveway . 
 It simply isn't necessary and if you have a lot of excess cash go and fund a wing at the local hospital in preference to building a mega mansion,garden extravaganza and pretending that you have  eco /sustainable credentials. Give me a humble dwelling and garden any day.
Look I obviously need a glass of wine so I will go and sit down at my stone circle /fire, which is just a circle of actual stones(no expense spared ) and wait for the fire ban to lift. Kyleigh

EXCITING TIMES AHEAD AT 'THE SHAMBLES": A BOOK LAUNCH AND THEN AN OPEN GARDEN IN OCTOBER

Firstly to the Open garden.

We plan to open the garden again ‘’A Royal Spring Open Garden” on October 5^th and 6^th 2019

New and returning visitors to "The Shamblea" at 85 Western Avenue Montville will be able to see an extensive display of orchids, spring flowering shrubs and many rare plants.  Once again “The Shambles” will host a plant stall, toy and treasure stall and light refreshments.  So, if you plan to visit please bring cash and bring bags to carry home your loot.

Already over the Easter Weekend this year “The Shambles “ Open Garden and Plant Stall at Montville raised $5770  for the Western Queensland Drought Appeal. The garden has been opened for charity at least once a year since 2001. Organisations such as Legacy, Cittamani Hospice as well as the local community organizations have benefited from funds raised in the past.

But before we get as far as the October Open Garden plans are under way for a September book launch our our latest books. Our colourful book “Our Queenslanders, houses ♦gardens: Their Second century” illustrates the case for recognition and protection of our architectural and horticultural heritage. In fact, “The Queenslander” house may be Australias best known architectural style on the world stage.  As well as defining aspects of structural detail, our book describes the experience of living in a “Queenlander’ and illustrates fine urban and rural examples of these houses and gardens.  Our book touches on Architecture, History, Horticulture and Queensland identity with colourful images on most pages.

In the 21st century the pressure to subdivide and repurpose urban land threatens to remove or permanently alter the “Queenslander” which once defined the streetscape and the identity of our towns and cities. Modern tastes and expectations of housing lead to alteration of the “Queenslander” structure which threaten this vernacular housing style often making it unrecognisable.

“Our Queenslanders, homes♦gardens: Their second Century" and the accompanying book “Queenslander Gardens, Plants for their Second Century: with Historical References” will join our other high quality self published gardening and childrens books.  see our website www.montvillegarden.com   As in the past we have produced books in hard cover and in full colour. “Our Queenslanders, homes♦gardens: Their second Century" a hard cover book of 400pages will sell for $65, which will cover our printing costs. Only 100 copies have been printed.

“Our Queenslanders, homes♦gardens: Their second Century", after chapters defining the structural features which define a “Queenslander” goes on to discuss the use of timber or masonry and takes some time over structures such stumps, stairs verandas and details concerning corrugated iron and structural ornamentation. Chapters concerning “Queenslander” interiors discuss everything from paint and pressed metal to electrical fittings and furniture.  The “Queenslander” garden is treated in similar detail with chapters on botanizing and collecting, through structural features such as fences, gates and bush houses to the planting palette.

In the latter part of the book urban and rural examples of “Queenslander” houses and gardens are colourfully illustrated along with note pages on familiar Queensland plants such Frangipani and Agagpanthus.

“Queenslander Gardens, Plants for their Second Century: with Historical References” is based on a detailed inventory of garden worthy plants for “Queenslander” gardens and where available historic references of their use in gardens in their second century.

 

Easter in the garden at Montville

This is just a note to say that our garden "The Shambles" at Montville is accessible for people who have walkers and wheelchairs . The property is relatively level and there are bitumen paths throughout the garden. We are very aware of places being inaccessible for people with mobility issues and around the garden chairs are sited to enjoy views and give people a break off their feet. As this Easter there is a prize home open up the street we hope to see many visitors here to support the drought /flood fund raiser. Ironically the prize home is not wheel chair accessible even though it is supporting a special needs organisation. It seems a missed opportunity to design a home that is  not both attractive and accessible as even the fittest and youngest of us can break a leg for example. It is also a worthwhile consideration as the population ages that  instead of needing to relocate have a home that can accommodate your changing needs.It is the same in the garden as we find having good pathways is more comfortable for most people to use and has a extra bonus for our grandchildren when they bring their scooters. 

When you are gardening for the long term you get to see the garden evolve as growth occurs . So often people say they can't look after the garden anymore and proceed to move into a village with a postage stamp sized lawn and a bunch of annoying neighbours. The fact is you might just have to reduce your standards, let some of it go a bit wild and maintain enough of a walk way to get to the front door!Lets face it there are a lot of mowing contractors out there who know nothing about the finer details of plants but they can do a quick sweep with the whipper snipper or a hedger so you can have the illusion of control . Kyleigh

EASTER OPEN GARDEN TO BENEFIT Western Qld Drought Appeal

"The Shambles" 85 western Avenue Montville, Qld

Sat 20th Sun 21st April, Easter Saturday and Sunday

9am to 4pm

PLANT STALL AND REFRESHMENTS

$6 entry children free, ample on road parking

Many parts wheelchair accessible, Heritage garden around  century old farm house

Visit popular tourist village at Montville

Michael Simpson

0458 429524

the summer autumn feeling

Michael has taken total responsibility for all publicity for the open garden and his routine documentation of plants that keep coming . I have been working on the garden as usual and always find that an impending date on the calendar for an Open Garden increases the need for a multitude of lists , working bees with unsuspecting visitors and new ideas to be implemented. I can be found most  days out in the garden somewhere with Shadow not far away. I am still trying to figure out a useful thing for him to do apart from looking like a spunk !
During my latest visit to Sunray a local  family owned nursery at Nambour we had a brief dicussion about the Nursery Industry and how gardening in the 80's and 90's was huge and supported in the media. We had the Open Garden Scheme, some really focused gardening programmes and it seemed that a lot of people were very keen. Since that time it is obvious that many people now live in units, have smaller gardens and perhaps have a more interior life style with electronic devices. I also find that the scope of gardening has narrowed to the point where if I see any more school children in their vegie gardens I will scream. Honestly even if you have the best crop of home grown beans and carrots  there will be a fussy toddler or 10 year old who will refuse it point blank. Time to be quiet!

This weird Autumn /Summer weather does not appear to be affecting the garden. Everything is so hardy and resilient  including some pretty flowering weeds that are filling in some gaps.
We are looking forward to seeing visitors at the Open Garden  this Easter and as usual will have a treasure hunt for the children .