Bridget has been trawling through Palmstead today, doing a final inspection of the plants there, swapping out(I believe that is a technical term)ones that just don’t cut the show garden mustard as well as searching for the elusive Cornus sanguinea ‘Midwinter Fire’ …..she settled for three Cornus alba ‘Sibirica’ instead, the bright red stems will look stunning against the ‘shou sugi ban’ fence.

Lewis from Coblands has promised to do everything he can to bring out ‘Cocktail geums’ into flower, they will weave through the planting, little gems joining the dots. If anyone can do it,Lewis can!

3DDesign e mailed to say the benches were ready, I am not often speechless but they look stunning….now the only question is ‘to flame or not to flame?’

Bridget thinks we should flame, and I agree they need to be black but I don’t want to risk it, what if the wood warps, is there glue in there, I am minded to paint a beautiful dark/black  wash of sorts….it is too close to the show…….

I tweeted Jo Midwinter today, one of the students that won the SGD student award. I was whinging about the difficulties regarding plant finding and as she was in Avondale Nursery in the Midlands  she took it upon herself to look for Cornus and climbers. Garden designers are the coolest people…..not forgetting 3Ddesigners…..and graphic designers…….and Lewis from Coblands…..of course…and mobile phones with cameras are cool too, the 21st century rocks!

Other plants in the mix today

Fremontodendron californicum

and Astrantia……..

I am off to pick up the benches tomorrow and then off to Birmingham on Sunday….so much to do, so little time……