Through the egg timer..........

As April draws to a close I feel as if I'm about to slip through the narrow bit in the middle of an egg timer. The day comes when you turn over a page in the diary and May appears on the next page - horror of horrors! All those things that could be put off until later can't anymore.
Chelsea meeting this morning discussing statues, bark chips, furniture, fabrics and all those bits and pieces that go to make up the rest of the exhibit apart from the planting. First tickets - the car park passes arrived too.
Spoke to Ricky this morning he seems happy with how things are going with the plants - now that the weather has cooled down. A few warm days after a long cold spell mean lots of work watering and keeping an eye on the show plants. Soft new foliage is particularly vulnerable and if damaged now will not recover in time for the show.
Outside the sun has been shining on the best display of magnolias for years. Early morning frosts have damaged the flowers on close inspection, but the display from a distance is breathtaking!

After a long soggy winter gardeners are starting to complain about the lack of rain - wonder if we'll have water restrictions by the time we get to Chelsea? Anyway, although its been pretty redundant to date the coldstore could come into its own any minute. The cold weather has certainly had a vernalising effect on spring flowering shrubs. As temperatures rise a little those buds quickly unfurl. Rhododendron Horizon Monarch in my garden is showing colour and the wisteria at Ampfield House is unfurling before your very eyes!

Uniform has arrived

Excitement this morning as 3 big parcels arrive from Craghoppers with the uniform for the Chelsea Exhibit in it, an adventure ensues as we unpack, Gill and I fighting over the colours.

Aahhhhhh Sunshine!

The sun's out at last, the temperatures are rising, the leaves unfurl. A couple of warm days and the garden landscape is transformed as green shoots appear, the magnolias bloom and the grass starts to grow. Just been to the nursery for a quick look at the show plants with Rick. The roses look great, the acers are now a cloud of tiny red, gold and emerald leaves, and the cornus buds are swelling. Ten huge Acacia dealbata are blooming, their fragrant fluffy yellow flowers perfect under the protection of glass. These weren't intended for the show - they're for another profile project - but they are so perfect for Moroccan Magic that I might try and borrow them for the show. Morocco looks as if its boundaries might need to be moved - with citrus, Cupressus sempervirens, olives, oleanders and masses of roses Morocco could be big.
Statues and urns have arrived too - they will certainly make an impact. Also pebbles, stone and aggregates from Borderstone are in the loading bay. As soon as these materials start to appear it is a firm reminder that there are only four weeks 'til we start on site.
Had a chat with Tim Redwood this week about the Venetian Palace - he seems confident and I know he'll come up with the goods. We tend to work the same way - there's no way it will be rehearsed in advance - we both believe that the one off originality and spontanaiety of build up produces the best results - that's our excuse anyway!
Photoshoot this morning - Garden Centre pics and a bit of modelling with the Craghoppers uniform - I love it - so Indiana Jones meets Crocodile Dundee - and why not? After all its suppposed to be about Adventures!
Chelsea meeting next week with the construction team - lots of details to sort. What about furniture, book sales tables, drapes for the palace? How will the paving work when it gets to the top of the slope? - Brian from organicstone was asking. The paving team are the ones to answer that.
Also sheduled for next week a meeting with Scotts - to discuss details of the Secret Garden Diary Room, the filming, web presence, car parks, hotels, tickets and all the other bits andpieces that no one sees but make it happen.