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October 2005
Saturday October 1
We need water to our tunnel, so my partner Paul, who is very handy at this sort of thing, runs a waterline down Amanda's garden to our tunnel and installs a tap for us.
Wednesday 4th
Amanda and I visit the RHS Autumn Show. Rosie Hardie is exhibiting there. She grows the most amazing variety of herbaceous plants and is supplying us with the Jacobs Ladder and Pasque flowers we will need for the garden.
Friday 7th
We go to Wales to visit David Williams who once again is creating a carving of a sleeping figure for the woodland area.
Saturday 8th
I have been visiting David since 1997 when we first worked together on a Chelsea garden. Whenever we visit Builth Wells we always stay at Care Beris Manor Hotel. It's a wonderful place, set high up on a loop of the River Wye. I have always enjoyed my time there and it was for this reason that Paul and I decided to get married here on the 8th of October. A good time was had by all!
Monday 10th
We now have to start thinking about the Press Pack. Phil and I spend a couple of days thinking of different concepts as this year the Press Launch will be held much earlier on the 6th of December.
Tuesday 11th
I receive confirmation of site from the RHS. They have decided that they need to move us from Main Avenue to Northern Avenue at Chelsea. Michael makes the decision that this is not a suitable site, as the whole design and decision to sponsor another garden was premised on it being on Main Avenue. Reluctantly, he decides to withdraw from the show. I phone the RHS, explain the position and sadly stack all my files for Chelsea back in a box.
Wednesday 12th
The RHS contact me and offer us a site on Main Avenue, though it will mean realigning the garden as the long face of our site will be adjacent to Main Avenue and the two short faces will be adjacent to entrances to the side of the great Marquee. It involves swinging the garden through 90degrees and it will mean that the garden will be viewable to the public from three sides, not two. It will be more work for those planting the garden but, having discussed the practicalities of this alternative site with me and Heather, Michael decides to go ahead.
Friday 14th
Amanda and I set off in a hired van to collect a load of plants for the garden from Jekka. This year, Jekka and I are going to share the load of growing the plants I need for Chelsea.
Monday 17th
The bulbs have arrived and Amanda and I spend a sunny afternoon in the tunnel planting our bluebells.
Wednesday 19th
Looking around the tunnel I realise that we are going to need every square inch for plants. A friend has given us an old summerhouse which we have dismantled and put up adjacent to the tunnel so that we can pot up without taking space from the tunnel.
Thursday 20th
All plans and drawings for the garden have now been finalised. I have some professional copies made of these which I put together and send a set to all those concerned.
Monday 24th
Plants are coming in now thick and fast and I have enlisted the help of two of my old staff from Countryside Wildflowers. Ann and Doreen helped to prepare many plants for the Chelsea Gardens I was involved with between 1991 and 1998.
Wednesday 26th
We have another 4head Garden meeting at Hitchin, to discuss all the developments on the garden. I have received the technical brief forms from the RHS and all the other forms which need filling in to make a Chelsea Garden reality. This year it is very helpful to have Heather on board, as I always find writing the brief and filling in the forms something of a nightmare. Plans for the Press Launch are well advanced and Bonnie and Nicky have already done a considerable amount of work on the PR.
Thursday 27th
The bower featured in the garden design is to be made of driftwood roots intertwined to form a resting place. Phil takes delivery of seven and a half tons of driftwood out of which he will make the bower for the garden.
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