08/06/2026
Thank you, thank you, thank you to everyone who came to my National Garden Scheme open day. And what a day.
The build-up is always nerve-racking. I never quite know how many people will come and, after one of my recent posts unexpectedly went [for me] viral (an experience I found both exciting and unnerving), I had even less idea of what to expect.
As always, I worried far more than I needed to. Hence, I was up at 5am on Sunday, baking scones while my partner David busied himself setting up tables and chairs and taking care of all the finishing touches that I hadnāt gotten round to doing (heās more organised than me).
At 2.00pm, the gates opened and the cars started arrivingā¦.and they just kept coming. David, ably assisted by friends Sarah, Damian, Jane, Rachel, Roger and Jen, took charge of the parking with military precision. It was just as well we enlarged the car park on Thursday, as it soon filled. I was in the garden oblivious to this, chatting to visitors as they arrived.
Out of the 160 scones I baked that morning, nearly all were eaten, along with almost every slice of cake. Fortunately a few slices of my favourite cakes were leftover so I didnāt miss out completely. A huge thank you to Paul and Siekse of Sadlers, and all their team for running the teas so efficiently.
And most importantly of all it didnāt rain!
Finally, thank you to those who came for your support and your kind comments about the gardens. It was a pleasure to share Friars Court with so many people. If you missed this open day, do keep an eye on my website (link in my bio) for details of future openings.
Alternatively, gather a few friends together and arrange a private visit. Iād be delighted to show you around my gardens, after which you can enjoy one of my cream teas with homemade scones and lemon drizzle cake. Whatās not to like?
