Simply..open your garden for a good cause....

I'll start with why shall I?

When I lived in Oxfordshire we spent every weekend from April to October of our first year there visiting gardens open under the Yellow Book scheme. It's a marvellous way to get to know a new area. We had a wonderful time! There were so many to choose from (we often managed several in one day), they were varied and fabulous -  grand country estates to tiny back yards in the city and we were struck by the generosity of the gardeners. If it was sunny people would put out rugs and cushions and encourage you to stay a while, the cream teas were to die for, the plant sales were irresistible. I do think gardeners on the whole are very sharing people.

When I came here to the shores of Loch Long on the west coast of Scotland and developed the garden, I realised how many good gardens there are tucked away and decided it was pay back time, so I invited some gardeners to apply to the Scottish Gardens Scheme with me. (This is our fourth time opening.) 

I do it to raise money for causes I believe in and in gratitude for all those visits we made.

And I do it because it's the best possible incentive to getting all those projects done!!


Digitalis purpurea alba.

The spotted one is 'Dalmation'..

I'd love to hear from anyone who has opened their garden (or is thinking about it!)

You will find more posts about opening the garden under Simply Grow June 2012 and June 2010 if you have time for a browse.