We opened for St. Christopher's Hospice on Sunday 12th May this year - the earliest we've ever opened. The weather was dull and chilly with rain from 4.30 p.m. so not the best but we still had quite a few hardy souls venture out and support us for which we were very grateful. We had the usual refreshments, a raffle and a plant stall. We also had a Just Giving page (www.justgiving.com/sandjay-garden) - people are incredibly generous.

We had justgiving donations of £870.00 and raised £399.24 on the day. With HSBC's matching money of £500.00 that gave us a total of £1,769.24 so a decent result and we were really pleased.

Thank you to everyone who supported us!

Most of the photos without people in were taken the day before we opened in case I ran out of time (always do) etc on the day. If anybody would prefer not to have a photo of themselves on this website, please let me know and I'll remove it.

It was a long, cold winter this year - everything is about 1 month behind where it usually is at this time of year and so I've got lots of plants tucked up safe in the greenhouse waiting for it to warm up a bit (intend to plant out last weekend in May, weather permitting).

I don't know if you can see from the photos but it was cold and damp! At this point I was just hoping the weather would improve for opening tomorrow (it faired up a little bit on the Saturday afternoon and then it threw it down and I got a bit wet!).

The Bergenia seem to like the weather - best they've ever been!

We had lots of plant to sell ....

... plenty of places for people to sit and enjoy their coffee and cake

.... and bits and bobs to buy and take home

The bluebells and forget-me-nots add a lot of blue haze to the garden.

The Magnolia is growing slowly. Every year it has a few more blossoms on it and it's such a lovely colour.

The Kerria is in full bloom but the rest of the bushes in the bottom bed are nowhere near yet.

The funny "marks" on the water are plastic circles with segments in them. Our latest Heron deterrent. Pam (next door) says heron arrives every morning as the clock strikes 8 but the fish seem more confident with the new protection.

The acers have only come out in the last couple of weeks but are now looking lovely.

The Lady's Mantle looks pretty with the rain drops balanced on top.

The snow in summer is just starting to come out. No white carpet so far this year but it's promising.

The Spiraea bushes are lovely at this time of year - we also have several at the front of the house.

This little beauty seeded itself from an earlier year (possibly with the help of a bird or squirrel)

This year I planted the wallflower in the small bed (where most of the hyacinths used to be). Hyacinths are now in pots (but over and done with by this weekend). The wallflowers smell lovely.

We thought we'd lost the Robinia tree to the cold this winter (and wondered if we'd had it pruned too hard) but I was delighted this morning to see a couple of leaves coming through so perhaps it's survived after all!)

These tulips were also in the bed where the wallflowers are this year. Now in pots and looking pretty.

A final look at the front garden and it's all over for another year.

Thank you for your support.

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