I am not sure how Jill is finding the time but here is her latest blog on days four and five from Hampton Court.
Jill writes...Day four arrived and a fellow exhibitor had it exactly right - she said that every day she is consumed by a new emotion and always ends up feeling as if everyone else's garden is better than your own. I would imagine the months of building the garden in your mind and running through the fine detail time after time, begins to take its toll.
There are some truly fantastic creations emerging and the workmanship and diversity knows no bounds. The team from Slovenia is making excellent progress with their traditional house and garden and is wowing us all with their attention to detail. Every piece arrived in one of two artic's and included every item from stone, plants and paint to bicycles pasta and pretzels!
On our plot, the oak construction is finished and Winterborne Zelston sped back to Dorset. We incurred the wrath of the H&S man again by working at height without a permit, but once again all was quickly sorted. Another sigh of relief.
A good selection of plants arrived from Howard Nurseries. They look good but I barely had a minute to look in detail and will properly assess and pick them through tomorrow. The tree from Deepdale is beautiful - that was slipped into its' extremely large hole during the afternoon. You could almost hear it screaming with relief as it had a massive drink upon completion. (I know the feeling!)
Sustained by copious quantities of wine and delicious chunky burgers expertly cooked by Paul, we finally tumbled into bed at about midnight.
Another 6am wake up on Day five means that we are getting an extra hour in bed as opposed to last year. We are also managing to finish a bit earlier each evening, rather than being chucked off site every night because the security guard has had enough of waiting for us.
The feather edge is starting to go up and the window is in. I am pleased with the colour (Farrow and Ball - Old White) as it seems to go well with the oak and should allow the plants to take centre stage rather than the decorating.
The plants!! Well what a triumph! Both deliveries from Coblands and Howards have cleaned up a real treat and are looking completely stunning. I love the look of them all grouped together as they look so substantial and such wonderful quality. All the hours of heart-wrenching angst about them and the visits back and forth to various nurseries in far reaches of the UK have paid off. It also seems that the poppies I have grown from seed are starting to do exactly what we had hoped at exactly the right time. We will have both stunning flowers and plumptious seed heads too. Another huge sigh of relief.
The sofa and table that arrived this afternoon is beautiful and again was a good selection. I wouldn't mind it myself.
Tom (17 and newly passed driving test) drove back tonight and on the M25 for the first time. Apparently there is some party that is 'happening' and the great weather means camping is in the offing this weekend. Myself, I can't wait to tumble into bed and I'm not bothered if I snore!
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