The aim was to find as many herbs as possible as well as meet and chat.....



Whitewitch proudly holding the variegated myrtle plant she bought from Jekka McVicars stand.



Another herb stall, we couldn't resist tweaking leaves and having a good sniff. I can't remember which one this was, but it smelt heavenly none the less :)



Diamond Memories - By Heath End Gardening Club co-ordinated by Carole Nottage. This garden was outside and was a wartime kitchen garden, WW & I spotted the besom before anything else lol, so now we know what the secret weapon was during the war ;) A reflective garden showing the time in history…when onions were as rare as diamonds. In 2004 we will be celebrating 60 years of the D-Day landings in Normandy and remembering the start of the V1 flying bombs on London. It was a time of make and mend as recycle was the only way forward. Every home had to be self-sufficient through necessity. Featuring raised fruit and vegetable beds, with good crop rotations so there’s something for the cooking pot whatever the season!



Teddybear's Picnic - TLC Lottery. This garden I couldn't resist taking a photo of, I soooo wanted to join in the picnic, much to WW's amusement. This colourful, touchy-feely garden was aimed at children and, in particular, pleasing all the senses. Pots of fragrant plants and all manner of attractive shapely ornaments adorn the central feature of a big, friendly topiary bear. TLC Lottery, which stands for Three Local Charities, the garden is to be transplanted to a children’s hospice.



The Secret Garden - By Solihull College. This is an interpretation of the literary classic using modern day plants. The story of the secret garden demonstrates the power of the garden to promote a feeling of well-being and love. With rambling roses, a wild neglected area, a water feature, Mary Lennox’s hat on the swing and even Ben Weatherstaff appearing on his ladder over the wall! A painted backdrop shows the walled garden and door that feature in the story with the doorway framed by statuesque box. The ornamental bed is planned to give a Jekyll style planting with waves of colour. Opposite the doorway a wall broken, down to represent the years of neglect, is planted with aubretia and alyssum.



I got to see Alan Titchmarsh, one of my gardening hero's to, he signed a book for me, much to WW's amusement once again hehe! Poor WW didn't realise why I was getting so excited at this man signing things lol

The Inspirational Garden - By Heidi Thompson and Sabbi Ward. A flexible space that can be adapted to suit individual tastes. Raised beds built with reconstituted slate give shape to the garden, as do the topiary plants, interspersed with lavenders. Large Greek-style olive jars conjure up warmer climes.