Staying Closed For Now

Hi everyone,

I hope you are all staying safe and well as we continue through this strange time. I have had many messages from you guys this week (since the government announced the first ‘relaxing’ of the lockdown measures) regarding when we might re-open and I thought I better inform you all of what’s happening here with us as we consider the best and safest way to move forward.

Stuart and myself (Natalie) have been thinking about ways in which social distancing might work when we re-open the garden, nursery and shop. We have ideas about how to create a one-way system as visitors enter the garden and how they exit, and we are currently in the process of building a new pathway from the garden exit to the shop, so visitors walking in to the garden will not pass people as they exit. The garden itself is a myriad of pathways all in the open air and we are very reluctant to fill the garden with signs enforcing a one-way system. We hope that when we do reopen; our wonderful visitors will be conscious of others and abide by the social distancing measures during their visits.

The nursery areas are outside and our shop is the only place where we have an indoor space. Parts of the shop we think will work well with a one-way system, but other parts may have to stay closed during this pandemic as safety of our staff and visitors is of the highest importance to us.

Although we are very eager to reopen and see so many of your lovely faces again (from a safe distance of course) 😊 We are not yet in a position to do so. We hope that you will bear with us and will visit us when we do re-open!

My visit to the garden this week – 

Yesterday I spent some time in the garden wondering around the empty pathways; competing only with the plants that are all growing like crazy. The sun was shining and I had been very busy watering all our Bonsai and plants prior to getting in to the garden so the light was just turning golden by the time I starting taking photos.

This visit was (again) all about the flowers 💐 The azaleas are looking absolutely sensational. The purple irises, lilies, wisteria, rhododendrons and candelabra primulas are blossoming their hearts out. Everywhere I look there is colour.

I took some fish food down with me to feed the Koi carp and there was a busy period of frenzied feeding as I watched from the bridge. The fish are so wonderful to watch; I always spend time admiring them gliding around the pond and I lose all sense of time.

The sound of running water, birdsong and bees fills the air throughout the garden and I feel as though life is totally normal for a moment. Such a welcome feeling during all this turbulence. I could have spent all day sitting in the garden but there is so much work to do! Weeds are coming up everywhere and everything is growing so well I know I will need to get my gardening gloves on 😊

After a very peaceful visit I grabbed my pruning scissors and pruned all our Show Bonsai and most of the big trees to keep them looking and growing beautifully. I have included pics of my handiwork for you Bonsai Lovers.

Hope you all enjoy looking at the photos from my visit yesterday –  I will keep you informed of any developments regarding when we will be able to re-open.