October 2005 was the "dawning of a rosy future" and by January 2006, after the appointment of Neil Oakman as head gardener, success seemed mapped out for the Royal National Rose Society Gardens in St Albans.
Journalists were invited to follow the story of the re-birth and developments of the beautiful gardens and in May 2007 Peter Seabrook open the newly revamped £500,000 gardens in a splash of publicity.
But now, it is all falling apart as gardeners leave en mass under disillusionment and disbelief that the plan has gone awry.
Apparently the gardens are in severe financial difficulties and gardeners are forced to mulch over weed infested beds because of lack of manpower and Glyphosate to tackle the weeds first.
Gaps are appearing in the borders and with no financial resources with which to purchase new stock the gardens are relying on donated plants to get by.
The chief executive, Richard Adams, quit last September and with the gardens now closed till May 2008, no money to bolster the ailing gardens and very low morale throughout one wonders if the doors will ever open again.
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