We opened for St. Christopher's Hospice on Sunday 19th June this year. The idea was that it would be a bit warmer than the cold, damp day we had last year - just goes to show you should never assume anything. It poured down! Our visitor numbers were well down (you could hardly blame people for not wanting to turn out in such horrible weather) but there were a few hardy souls who ventured out, some of them coming from a long way so we really appreciated that they made the effort. There were some dry intervals and as soon as we had everything cleared away the skies cleared and we enjoyed a BBQ with Ras, Atul and Gilda in the sunshine.

We had the usual refreshments, a gift stall and a raffle. We sold a few plants and we also had a Just Giving page (www.justgiving.com/Shirley-Sinclair) - people are incredibly generous.

Thank you to everyone who supported us!

We had our worst year ever for raising money on the day (£211.45) but including donations we raised a grand total of £1,684.33, including HSBC chipping in with their usual matching money of £500.00.

Most of the photos without people in were taken the day before we opened in case it rained (it did, a lot), I ran out of time (always do) etc on the day.

The view on the left is our view of the sitting area on the patio from the kitchen door. The pink flowers you can see just beyond the table are lillies - we have two pots of them and they were in full bloom giving a great splash of colour.

When we set up, everything was dry. The rain started about 1.30 p.m. (we opened at 2 p.m.) and rained on and off (mostly on) until we closed at 5 p.m.

The fuchsia pots are just behind where Jonathon is sitting on the photo above. They are in the left hand corner of the top part of the patio whereas the hostas are in the right hand corner. As you can see they hadn't quite opened on the day but were almost there!

The hosta pots, as mentioned above. We moved our hostas out of the bed where they were decimated by slugs last year and put them in pots where they seem quite happy.

The standard euonymus came as one of a pair from Joan and Norman Fabb who very kindly donated them for our plant stall. We bought them ourselves and they seem quite setttled in their new home. The little bedding plants around them are lobelia and were just starting to show a little bit of blue when we opened.

It was raining so hard you could even photograph it! This rose photo is from the day before we opened when it also rained on and off. When it had a rest from raining and the sun peeped out it was actually quite warm - it just didn't last very long!

Although far fewer in numbers, the people who were there seemed to enjoy themselves

Lots of positive comments for the Acanthus this year. Sally was admiring it towards the end so I dug up a self seeded baby and popped it in a pot for her to take home!

This honeysuckle is by the back door.

The pigs were also mentioned in despatches quite often this year. Perhaps they are more obvious in this bed than the one they normally spend summer in.

The Heuchera are a new addition to the garden this year. We bought them from Plantagogo who were really helpful and the plants were in lovely condition when they arrived. They really brighten up this bed and the slugs don't like them so hopefully they'll be safe there.

This silver plant isn't in the silver bed so perhaps I should move it across - it would fit in really well!

Mum and Dad bought us this rose years ago - it's the one to celebrate the Commonwealth Games in Manchester so 2002.

The astrantia is in the bed nearest the pond. As you can see, the pond is quite full at the moment - the fish and frogs are happy!

This rose is also in the same bed - just on the left of the photo.

This honeysuckle takes over the shed, also down by the pond - it's a busy part of the garden as the veg beds are at that end as well.

It's lovely to think that Mr. & Mrs Wilms came all the way from Germany to visit our Open Garden (thank you!!)

It's amazing how the same beds can look completely different from a different viewpoint. That's why I always like to walk round a garden one way then turn around and retrace my steps - trying not to miss anything.

Having survived the unusually cold, snowy winter I guess the Cistus wasn't banking on a cool wet June!

The gravel bed (near the patio) has a few different sorts of lavender in it.

Sadie and Tim came all the way from the far ends of Essex. I hadn't see Sadie for ages so it was lovely to see them both.

All over for another year and time to relax again (the garden and me!)

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