Open gardens – a success in spite of rainBy Trish Swain
After a hot and dry April with only 3.5 mm of rain (0.14", for those of you working in old money) and summer temperatures, May presented a different challenge for gardeners.
There were 13 days when it rained at some point every day and lawns began to resemble meadows, though the huge cracks in the soil disappeared.
Total rainfall for the month was a staggering 78.5 mm (7"), of which 42 mm (over 1.5") fell on the Sunday when Kingswood House and 2 Kingswood Cottages opened for the National Gardens Scheme. So it was remarkable that we had any visitors at all, and astonishing that around 200 turned out.
As usual a huge thank you to all who came (it was heartening to see so many from the village), and especially those who helped with teas, parking and plant sales.