We’ve had our best charity event yet!
The final visitors to my garden were 20 members of the Perennial Plant Association from the USA. Their President had hand-picked the garden and it was the smallest they’d ever visited on their annual trips to the UK, putting me among the likes of Pashley Manor, Great Dixter and Sissinghurst! Quite incredible. The only problem was that on the day they arrived the weather had been pretty dreadful. Fortunately, it stayed almost dry for their visit but one of my Facebook followers suggested giving my 40 minute talk on the coach to keep them all warm and dry.
I’ve struggled to be able to do anything in the garden due to a serious fall in the house. I damaged my ribs which has meant lots of rest and no gardening.
The ‘Vanille Fraise’ hydrangea has certainly dominated the bed between the kitchen door and the pond and still looks quite spectacular. Just the other side of the pond, the buddleja ‘Buzz Magenta’ is still dazzling
Two stand out annuals I’ve used in the garden this year were both lovely petunias. One is a gorgeous red and yellow called ‘Amore Queen of Hearts’ and the other is ‘Peach Sundae’, which changes through all hues from yellow to peachy orange. So many visitors admire the ‘Amore’, but don't see that the red on each bloom is shaped like a heart. Despite opening only five public days instead of the usual 14, we still managed to raise a
significant amount of money for charity. The grand total for 2019 was £18,912. The interesting thing this year was the number of visitors who booked to see the garden privately. Over 350 of them came between late May and the middle of August.
Late last month Macmillan Cancer Support’s Area Fundraising Manager came to the garden and I, along with some of the garden openers and volunteers, handed over £13,708 to her, the largest amount we’ve donated to the charity.
● Read more of Geoff’s garden at www. driftwoodbysea.co.uk.