My grandad was a keen veg grower and crazy about runner beans so after harvest I can remember pickling jars full of runner bean chutney everywhere even on the garage shelves and can remember following along behind him on the narrow pathways in between bean plants. Also can remember helping my dad with tomatoes in the greenhouse and cultivating a patch next to the greenhouse with my brother with easy stuff like sunflowers and nasturtiums and ageratums. You cant beat the taste of fresh peas even if you have to spend ages shelling them outside your grandmas kitchen before Sunday lunch. Have always cultivated every strip I ve had of flowerbed in every house and flat be it it rented or owned
My grandad was a keen veg grower and crazy about runner beans so after harvest I can remember pickling jars full of runner bean chutney everywhere even on the garage shelves and can remember following along behind him on the narrow pathways in between bean plants. Also can remember helping my dad with tomatoes in the greenhouse and cultivating a patch next to the greenhouse with my brother with easy stuff like sunflowers and nasturtiums and ageratums. You cant beat the taste of fresh peas even if you have to spend ages shelling them outside your grandmas kitchen before Sunday lunch. Have always cultivated every strip I ve had of flowerbed in every house and flat be it it rented or owned
I remember those kind of days too. Was never allowed in the veg patch on my own. Mum always said we were worse than the slugs and caterpillers, nibbling everything
It all started when i bought my 1st house age 19.Next door invited me round and i was overcome by the smell and the colour in the garden.It was full of hanging baskets with every kind of brightly coloured flower you can imagine.My garden was a square lawn,so boring in comparison.I remember saying to them that i would love a garden with hanging baskets but would,nt know where to start.The lady gave me a seed tray some seeds and said have ago'If you never try you'll never achieve anything'I did,nt achieve much in that particular garden.Too young,night clubing mostly however later on in my next house i remembered what the previous next door neighbour had said and started to have a dabble and to my surprise i was getting results.Ithen started watching the series 'How to be a gardener'by Alan Titchmarsh and i was totally inspired.I followed all his advice and my garden started to be transformed.Then i started watching 'Open Gardens'on BBC 2 with Carol Klein and realised that my garden was as good as some of the garden featured,that was in 2007/8.I then decided that with a bit more hard work i would contact the NGS and see if my garden was good enough to open next year and raise some moneyfor chariy.The answer was 'YES' All my hard work had paid off,So Thankyou to the next door neighbour all those years ago.I,d love her to come and see it!!
When our boys were young we started growing veggies but had a boring garden of just a few shrubs and grass for the boys to play on. Then about 35 years ago my Hubby built me my first greenhouse and the bug well and truly bit me- I now have 3 greenhouses which I love Our garden has just evolved - we both enjoy it (or obsessed may be a better word ) We entered a few gardening competitions and people used to say "why don't you open your garden so more people can enjoy it"
So one day a few years ago I got in touch with the NGS and we have opened 5 times now and are opening again in 2013 all being well
Thank you everyone, I've really enjoyed reading all your stories. I hope there will be more to come. I've seen the video of Lilylouise's garden on another thread. It's fantastic. I looked at Jacqui Whitmore's profile and the garden sounds lovely. Any chance of a photo or two?
Dordogne and Norfolk. Clay in Dordogne, sandy in Norfolk.
I think it's probably in the genes with me. Granddad (on Mum's side) was head gardener to one of the pottery moguls (the Wedgewood family, I think) in late Victorian times. Other family members have shown varying levels of interest.....one uncle owning a thriving market garden in Evesham (Worces).
I was given my very own garden at the age of (about) 10, which I adored and was able to produce some wonderful fruit & veg, for someone so young.......so here I am with 60 year's gardening behind me and enjoying it as much as I did all those years ago.
When our boys were young we started growing veggies but had a boring garden of just a few shrubs and grass for the boys to play on. Then about 35 years ago my Hubby built me my first greenhouse and the bug well and truly bit me- I now have 3 greenhouses which I love Our garden has just evolved - we both enjoy it (or obsessed may be a better word ) We entered a few gardening competitions and people used to say "why don't you open your garden so more people can enjoy it"
So one day a few years ago I got in touch with the NGS and we have opened 5 times now and are opening again in 2013 all being well
Pam LL x
....and the bestist garden I've ever seen....the attention to detail is amazing!
Must just add that I too watched GW, in the Geoff Hamilton days, and he was a brill mentor with his relaxed style and DIY attitude I felt anything I imagined was possible.I also have a vast collection of books Vita Sackville West is my fave. Nothing beats wandering outside and getting my hands full of fresh soil, I look at the shoots, bulbs, plants, flowers etc and thank God, the universe, whoever that it's all here doing well for me to enjoy. I feel privileged to be the custodian for my time here.
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My grandad was a keen veg grower and crazy about runner beans so after harvest I can remember pickling jars full of runner bean chutney everywhere even on the garage shelves and can remember following along behind him on the narrow pathways in between bean plants. Also can remember helping my dad with tomatoes in the greenhouse and cultivating a patch next to the greenhouse with my brother with easy stuff like sunflowers and nasturtiums and ageratums. You cant beat the taste of fresh peas even if you have to spend ages shelling them outside your grandmas kitchen before Sunday lunch. Have always cultivated every strip I ve had of flowerbed in every house and flat be it it rented or owned
I remember those kind of days too. Was never allowed in the veg patch on my own. Mum always said we were worse than the slugs and caterpillers, nibbling everything
It all started when i bought my 1st house age 19.Next door invited me round and i was overcome by the smell and the colour in the garden.It was full of hanging baskets with every kind of brightly coloured flower you can imagine.My garden was a square lawn,so boring in comparison.I remember saying to them that i would love a garden with hanging baskets but would,nt know where to start.The lady gave me a seed tray some seeds and said have ago'If you never try you'll never achieve anything'I did,nt achieve much in that particular garden.Too young,night clubing mostly however later on in my next house i remembered what the previous next door neighbour had said and started to have a dabble and to my surprise i was getting results.Ithen started watching the series 'How to be a gardener'by Alan Titchmarsh and i was totally inspired.I followed all his advice and my garden started to be transformed.Then i started watching 'Open Gardens'on BBC 2 with Carol Klein and realised that my garden was as good as some of the garden featured,that was in 2007/8.I then decided that with a bit more hard work i would contact the NGS and see if my garden was good enough to open next year and raise some moneyfor chariy.The answer was 'YES' All my hard work had paid off,So Thankyou to the next door neighbour all those years ago.I,d love her to come and see it!!
When our boys were young we started growing veggies but had a boring garden of just a few shrubs and grass for the boys to play on. Then about 35 years ago my Hubby built me my first greenhouse and the bug well and truly bit me- I now have 3 greenhouses which I love
Our garden has just evolved - we both enjoy it (or obsessed may be a better word 
) We entered a few gardening competitions and people used to say "why don't you open your garden so more people can enjoy it"
So one day a few years ago I got in touch with the NGS and we have opened 5 times now and are opening again in 2013 all being well
Pam LL x
Thank you everyone, I've really enjoyed reading all your stories. I hope there will be more to come. I've seen the video of Lilylouise's garden on another thread. It's fantastic. I looked at Jacqui Whitmore's profile and the garden sounds lovely. Any chance of a photo or two?
I think it's probably in the genes with me. Granddad (on Mum's side) was head gardener to one of the pottery moguls (the Wedgewood family, I think) in late Victorian times. Other family members have shown varying levels of interest.....one uncle owning a thriving market garden in Evesham (Worces).
I was given my very own garden at the age of (about) 10, which I adored and was able to produce some wonderful fruit & veg, for someone so young.......so here I am with 60 year's gardening behind me and enjoying it as much as I did all those years ago.
....and the bestist garden I've ever seen....the attention to detail is amazing!
These are fscinating stories. What an idea for a book. I just love the way gardening has rescued people in so many ways. It rescued me.
It is the joy, I think, that comes across in reminiscence of gardening adventures past.
Bjay
Must just add that I too watched GW, in the Geoff Hamilton days, and he was a brill mentor with his relaxed style and DIY attitude I felt anything I imagined was possible.I also have a vast collection of books Vita Sackville West is my fave. Nothing beats wandering outside and getting my hands full of fresh soil, I look at the shoots, bulbs, plants, flowers etc and thank God, the universe, whoever that it's all here doing well for me to enjoy. I feel privileged to be the custodian for my time here.