As the rain pours down and I am forced inside, it’s great to have time to flick through the Yellow Book . (All gardens to visit can also be searched for online too). I mentioned this marvellous tome when it came out in March as a wonderful source for great gems of local gardens to visit all over the UK. In north London there is an Open Garden tonight, Saturday evening, that I wouldn’t mind visiting. ‘A lamplit evening’ with cool blue to hot mediterranean planting influences sounds very enticing. Think I may have a post lunch nap (delicious), then head over to the heart of Islington between 6.30 and 10pm.
Tomorrow is looking equally exciting, with over 20 listings for gardens around London. What’s really caught my eye is a group opening of 5 gardens in London Fields, E8 (yes, as in the book), with a huge range of gardens to visit offering lush tropical planting, a scented cottage garden, sculpture, wildlife planting and ‘a serene designer garden’, all within a few minute walk of each other. A combined ticket is just £5.00 (what a bargain!) and all the money goes to charities supported by the National Garden Scheme (NGS). Just the ticket for a lazy Sunday afternoon!
Out of my shed 
Not in London but Oxfordshire, tomorrow is the Adderbury village NGS open day. Total of 5 gardens open to the public, including ours. Still working away in an attempt to make it look the part! Love the concept of the National Garden Scheme. I hope though that its appeal goes beyond the ‘NGS/Garden set’. Hope you enjoy the London openings.
Hugely enjoyed visiting the garden in Northampton Park in Islington last night. Beautiful garden layout and many interesting and gorgeous plants. Good luck with your opening today-looks like the sun will be shining for you. V.best Naomi
Wow! That’s a bargain, five for a fiver. Hope the weather is good for you.
What a fantastic idea! I’ve had a look on their website for my area, Greater Manchester, and have spotted a group of gardens in Didsbury that are open tomorrow. I can’t wait to see them! And next week there is another open day at Saftofn Park Gardens in Liverpool, including a tower block garden and nearby allotments. It sounds really exciting. Thanks for the idea.
Hi Naomi, what a wonderful blog! Have forced myself to log off as I need to revise – and you are right, I am sure that even the ‘boring’ stuff will be useful one day – but I will return for a proper read later on when I take a break. I could probably call it revision of a sort!
What a great idea, and a fabulous book. Wish we had one for our area! (I’m in US.)