NGS openings and the dangers of to-do lists

 

I did something a little rash last week. I tried to cross something off my 'to-do list'.

You see, having wondered for a year or two whether to apply to open for the National Gardens Scheme, on Thursday I finally did something about it. As with all such important decisions, I didn't really give it much thought, just dropped an email.

"There," I thought.  "I've done my bit. They'll probably take an age to reply" and I put a line through "NGS?" on my to-do list with the smug flourish.

The call came about two hours later. The local organiser was in the area the next day and wondered if he could pop by.

So I had 24 hours. Well, that's a lie.  If you take into account the need to sleep, write, do school runs, feed and bathe children and generally run around after them, I actually had about three hours. And of course, the garden which had looked great in my mind a short while before, was perhaps a little less maintained than I thought.

My mother very helpfully confirmed this. "You might want to take out those dandelions that are seeding all over the place" was her sage advice. I also removed the thistles (one of which had actually reached thigh height).

But against the odds we were ready, and even more surprisingly, the verdict was positive. I had been stealing myself for rejection - not least because this is very much a family garden, catering for children, and I wasn't sure how interesting that would be to the average NGS visitor.

So we're going to open, probably next May and maybe in half term to encourage more children and families to come. This lengthy wait is good as it gives me a year to perfect my baking skills (quality of cake it appears, is at least as imporant as the planting) and several months to listen to wiser and more experienced gardeners whose general feedback has been "Are you mad?".

In the meantime I am also rewriting my to-do list without 'Run marathon?' on it.  It's safer that way.

Comments

[Joanne Roach]

Bravo.
Both on the being accepted by NGS (very cool) and the deciding to ignore the to do list, which we could all copy and be a damn sight happier.
x

[Karen - An Artists Garden]

Well done you!
I am not surprised the man from the NGS said yes - your garden is looking very lovely.

I am sure that there would be garden visitors who would welcome a child friendly garden, (unlike mine, where I wanted to charge children £10 for entrance!) - you will have a niche market as a "children positively welcomed" garden.
K

[Damo]

Wow well done! Good luck with the preparations, both weeding and baking!

[Helen]

Well done. I admire you, not sure if I have the confidence to let strangers roam around mine.

[Melinda Quelinda]

Congratulations!

Its going to be phenomenally hard work getting ready though!

Im so excited for you! And should you need to, shake down your neighbours to borrow some extra seating!

[greenfingersmum]

Congratulations! Very brave of you - hope i all goes really well.
http://greenfingersmum.blogspot.com

[Carolyn @ Urban Veg patch]

Wonderful that you're given a year's notice - plenty of time to sow self-seeding perennials and ground cover to cut down on the work next year. I have a sneaking suspicion that, with 3 children, your baking skills are exemplary having been honed at many a class tea - but, just in case, look out for spectacularly beautiful fairy cake cases and splendid cake stands -the visitors will be wowed regardless! Caro x

[Dawn]

Joanne - wise words madam.

Karen - £10? Cheap at the price but I thought you were just going to install a holding pen for children?

Damo - thanks!

Helen - I see you've tempered your original comment of 'You're mad!'.

Melinda - thankfully I have access to an entire village hall over the road so that side's covered.

GFM - 'You're brave' is one of those slightly scary phrases...

Caro - I can honestly say that flapjacks are the only things I can bake well. My cake failings are legendary.

[Nina Walsh]

This is looking great, i wish my garden looks like this in a couple of years. I have recently moved and slowly am design and building a new garden. The conifer roots in the back of the garden were almost a metre deep in some parts took a day to remove three stumps.