Border control

The next job was to replace the border of comfrey with something more special . The border is beside the garage and is in full sun with a free draining gravel and soil mixture ground , it used to be a gravel path . It is the first part of the garden as you enter through the gate so I want it to look good. So I removed the large Belfast sink and dug up all the comfrey and weed roots leaving a pretty clematis Florida and Sambucus nigra black lace , and planted a Passion flower passiflora violacea , abelia x grandiflora , Myrtis communis subspecies.tarentina, Nandina domestica, Achillea terracotta, Gladiolus Papilio, Echinacea purpurea ruby giant, Agastache Black Adder, Verbena bonariensis, Aster novi-Belgium 'lady in blue', lavender, thymus golden king, Origanum rotundifolium, perovskia blue spire , grasses miscanthus flamingo , calamagrostis brachytricha , stipa Tenuissima .

Time to focus on my garden

Now that the hard work, highs and excitement of Harrogate flower show has passed it's time to put some effort into my own garden. When we got back from Harrogate I needed a few days to recover so I worked on a design for a client who had been waiting patiently . And spent some time catching up with the jobs that had been neglected. Then began the task of sorting all the plants and the landscaping materials it will take some time but eventually it will all find a home in our garden . The first job is tackling the long border in our garden it measures about 3mx50m and is a beautiful mix of grasses, perennials ,and annuals ( mainly of the couch grass / thistles/ dock and nettles variety ) haha . So with some help from Jono I have dug out the weeds and roots and am in the process of planting a mixture of shrubs and perennials more on that later.

Back to reality

The first half of the breakdown on Sunday went so well. Then we woke up early on Monday morning knowing it was time for round two . Dad helped us unload the van and trailer and after dropping the kids off at school off we set off up the A1 again. Brian and I talked all the way about how brilliant the experience had been and the great comments we had heard at the show. We got to the show ground at about 11.30 am and loaded the trees and shrubs on to deliver back, Brian left me to it . Where do I start . it looked like more than I remembered and I was running low on energy . It feels so much harder on your own . Brian's journey took an age but when he got back we loaded the rest on and were done by 5pm I was exhausted and emotional and after a minor panic about gravel and compost which show director Martin Fish helped us sort out we set off home .

The last day of glory

It was chilly and very breezy today , but I didn't care I was looking forward to seeing my wonderful family . We all had a good time at the show . And mum even did some spinning in the studio . It was so good to hear the lovely comments about the garden .

All good things come to an end

Today it was forecast as rain and gales - not good. But actually it wasn't as bad as that . It was chilly and windy with the odd rain shower. I was dreading the break down , last year it was sunny all day and as soon as we started the break down it poured we were soaked to the skin and cold. This time though as soon as we started the sun came out and the wind dropped . It went so well . Indi and my mum came up with a genius plan for emptying the ponds using guttering and buckets to the drain. It was perfect. Cameron worked really hard with the battery powered screw driver . Someone bought all the potato trays , Brian and dad worked really hard as always . We still need to go back tomorrow for the rest of the stuff . But its gone brilliantly so far . We're on our way home . And I will be ready to celebrate with a glass of something red .

Show morning

I got up early ready to head off up the A1 to get to the show ready for showtime . I'd been told that daybreak would be filming the weather from the show gardens over the morning , Brian put the weather on while I set off for the journey up. He had great pleasure later on when I had stopped off in telling me that he knew what award I had won. It was announced on the Telly , it seems I was the last to know ! I was over the moon I'd won best in show !! Woohoo . As soon as I arrived I had two radio interviews and was congratulated by the NEHS president Lucinda Compton . It was lovely to hear all the wonderful comments about the garden and talk to people about how we made the garden. I had a great day .

It's Thursday and I need to get finished

I arrived back at the show ground at 6am and worked like a maniac sorting the planting out on the decking and the grasses around the oak sculpture . I bought some more plants achillea and delphiniums from roanne nursery , millet and asters from the cheeky chaps at Lockyer's. then the photographers and news reporters turned up , me no make up and looking like a scruff frantically trying to finish . They were all lovely to me though and BBc look north stayed for ages. Once the gravel went down it really started to take shape. Then I found out I only had until 2 pm not 3pm argh . I was running here and there! Paul Watson and Ian from ripon walled garden helped me clear up my mess from around the garden so that the lawn mower could tidy up . I finished just in the nick of time exhausted and relieved . Then the tears came, I'm an over emotional soul .but I was so happy with how it looked and relieved . I spoke to Brian to let him know we had done it . And then just tweaked bits and bobs while waiting for my turn with the judges. They came over and asked me questions about the garden and then it was time to leave . Time to get a cup of tea and make my way home not knowing what they might like or if they noticed any faults . I drove home thinking of all the bits I could have done better.

So much still to do

Wednesday was a really good day , Brian came all the way back from Peterborough to work so hard , getting the gravel and laying the bags out where they needed to go, I got stuck in with the planting and it flowed well , then I spotted John from westshores nursery arrive , a husband and wife team who work together growing a wide range of beautiful grasses , they always make me laugh . The grasses they bought for me were perfect. Then I went to see Dave from DK plants in hall one where he was setting up his stand and bought some beautiful aconitum, gladioli papilio , echinacea , agastache, and more. It rained for most of the day , but it wasn't windy or cold so it was ok . Brian had to go back home at 6.30 I knew I was going to miss him loads. I carried on until 9.30 when it got dark I worked in the studio .with a lamp. It was starting to come together but there was still so much to do I was worried.

Time to get serious

It took longer than anticipated to get back to the show ground after collecting the tree and shrubs so on we cracked , we put the water feature together , and tested it out . Planted up the window boxes , planted the bog in the second pond . And then moved on to the back of the garden but it just didn't seem to go right whatever I did , I started to get a bit stressed about the progress we were making and the fact I would soon be doing it on my own , as Brian was going home soon . Then he said he would come back tomorrow, yippee!! I started feeling better and after messing about with the planting it started coming together better , but then it got dark just as I was getting into the flow , so I put my headlights on the garden and carried on as long as possible . At 9pm I just had to call it a day . Tomorrow will be better.

Waiting for some yummy grub after a long but very good day

It's Monday night and we are at the oak tree inn in Helperby near Harrogate , it's a real gem and the food is divine ! Today has been really productive with lots achieved although you wouldn't think it from the photos! Brian the brilliant (my husband) had to load the van and trailer on his own , as I was here already. He manage to squeeze every single thing I wanted on . When he got here we got the windows put in to make the studio watertight , window boxes on . Decking done , door on and finally the potato chitting tray back wall. We had a few down pours , but we were able to retreat to the studio for a sit down and cuppa . . By 7pm we were frazzled so we called it a day and headed here ! Oh and now my food has arrived and it's looking good.

Collecting trees and shrubs from Wykeham mature trees

We have set off after a hearty breakfast on our way to Wykeham mature plant near Scarborough . The scenery is breathtaking we passed Byland Abby so beautiful. Wykeham mature plants are supplying us with a beautiful tree Rhus Glabra and some Sambucus nigra black lace , hydrangea and Cotinus .

The long awaited lantern parade

Back in march I entered an open call for 4 artists to work with Metal and the lantern company in Liverpool . I got picked and so began learning new skills , and then teaching them to others in preparation for the magnificent lantern parade ! I finally got my bed lantern finished yesterday. the atmosphere was great! The forecast rain stayed away and the kids made great parade lantern carriers !

It's been a long day but a good day

We got to Harrogate at 11am after a slow journey up the A1 . To find my show position waiting for me . Putting the deck and studio base together was a bit frustrating but once we got the right pieces in the right places it started coming together talk about krypton factor ! Then it got windy typical just as we started putting up the shed , lucky there was three of us to hold it .it went up well though , then the roofing sheets . Show director Martin fish came over to welcome us back to the show and said how excited they all are in the office to see the finished garden .then the second battery for the drill ran out ! Argh so Martin charged it for us while we went to get some tea. Lastly we laid out the hard landscaping ready for Sunday when I go back . It's 7.40pm and were heading home with a much light load on the van and in my mind .