This week I took delivery of 68 hanging baskets. This is not my attempt to single-handedly win Britain in Bloom. In fact I don't hang baskets - pictures, mirrors, my head in shame - 'yes'; hanging baskets - 'no'.
However, this driveful of flowers is delightful to me because it funds the pre-school garden for a whole year. A very clued up Lincolnshire nursery, Lilfords, offers these to schools, pre-schools and playgroups all over the country to sell on for a tidy profit. So far they've helped these organisations raise over £25,000.
We've made £170 this year which has paid for our water butt, plants, compost and various materials to build the garden in the first place.
So I may not be a hanging basket hanger but I am becoming a hanging basket fan (now try saying that after a gin and tonic or two).
At first I was concerned but reading on am now relieved - what a thought 68 hanging baskets!!
I think that is a great idea by the nursery - well done them
Posted by: Helen/patientgardener | May 14, 2009 at 12:39 PM
Ooooh I'm in!
I couldn't get you via Mrs Be, so I tried a different browser and there you are!
Looks like AOL doesn't like you, but Internet Explorer certainly does.
So in a roundabout way I'm saying it looks like it's my problem not yours...
BTW - the hanging basket fundraiser's a brilliant idea.
Posted by: VP | May 14, 2009 at 02:09 PM
What an excellent idea and glad to hear the money is going into other gardening projects for the school.
Posted by: Joanne Drayson | May 14, 2009 at 08:12 PM
Helen - it's good isn't it. They're a small family run nursery and I think this is incredibly enterprising.
VP - Welcome!!! I am rolling out an online red carpet for you! Sorry it's been such a pain to get here - equivalent to a long car ride for the under 5s I imagine.
Joanne - yes it seemed fitting we should use the money on the garden (well actually, I decided this without consultation but no one seems to have objected - so far...)
Posted by: Dawn Isaac | May 14, 2009 at 08:39 PM
I love it! Investing a little time and a few seeds equals hanging baskets sold for profit to those who don't have time to do it themselves. Great that your school found such a benevolent nursery. Do the pre-schoolers help to maintain the garden?
Posted by: Avis | May 18, 2009 at 10:46 PM
Maintain might be overstating it. But they are enthusiastic!
Posted by: Dawn Isaac | May 20, 2009 at 06:18 PM