Dwarf Sweet Pea ‘Cupid

My judging ‘slot’ was 3pm – 5pm. I was beginning to think they had forgotten, got lost, got fed up and gone  home. But no! At 4.57pm an SUV parked up outside and in they came with clipboards, cameras and rather tired faces which, thankfully, lit up when they began to inspect the garden. I rushed out to meet them and offered them tea but this was politely but firmly refused. I was clearly not going to be able to accompany them and ‘explain’ the garden. They spoke in hushed tones, busily photographing everything and writing copious notes.

Agastache ‘Liqorice Blue’ with Bidens ‘Golden Goddess’

Suddenly, half way around the front garden, the mood changed and I was invited to join them to offer the names of cultivars of agapanthus, dwarf sweet peas, penstemons and lilies. Ah! I thought, this is the Botanical Latin memory test! Thankfully, I could remember them all so this must have scored a few points. I then realised that two judges had disappeared into the back garden without me noticing. By the time I got there they had their heads stuck in my compost heaps which they found ‘very impressive’ as one of them put it! Mind you, I do have six of them which is a bit extreme even by Monty Don standards.

I was trying to impress them with my impending prolific blackberry harvest when they decided it was time to go. It had been a long day…for all of us. They had inspected 40 front and rear gardens at 29 addresses and were obviously tired and ‘gardened out’. I was up at 6 am, had breakfast, walked the dogs, cut the grass and checked every inch of the garden for weeds, dead heads and seed heads. I had swept, watered, pruned, preened and plumped. My darling wife Cathy (the under-gardener!) had filled yet another two trugs with detritus. Between us we were satisfied that no-one could have tried harder or done more to present their garden any better.

Inula magnifica with Verbena bonariensis

Before they left I gathered that the decision would be communicated at an award ceremony on 17 July which we duly agreed to attend! They sat outside in the car for ages, gesticulating and presumably trying to agree where my garden fitted with the 28 others they had seen. Eventually, they drove off. I was exhausted. How stupid! It was only a local ‘Best Kept’ garden competition and yet it meant so much. I had a beer and reflected on what had transpired when suddenly the sky turned black, thunder roared and the Heavens opened.

If you look closely you can see the hailstones on the lawn. In July! Was this retribution for my pride, my selfish desire to win, my coveting the trophy? I like to think it was just good timing!

With everything as ready as I can make it, Judgement Day has arrived! In a few hours time, the four judges from Charlton Kings in Bloom will be arriving to critique the garden. No place to hide now. If there are weeds, I can’t find them. If there are dead flower heads, I’ve missed them. Good stripes though!

I am pleased the Echinaceas have begun to open but I wonder if I should have removed that allium seed head!

Sweet peas are looking lovely and smell divine.

If they want to use the path I’m in trouble. Friday’s rain made everything lean. Agapanthus should impress them.

The changes made to the middle garden earlier in the year have paid off and it is far more interesting and colourful now.

I like the way the grass paths now disappear around the corner of the new beds.

By removing the old Garrya elliptica and scruffy bit of lawn, the new gravel area is a good addition and a great place for a rest and a cuppa.

In the back garden, the raised beds have performed well again this year with bumper crops of fruit and cut flowers.

The Alstroemeria ‘Sweet Laura’ are impressive but will be thinned out in the autumn before they take over.

The cordon grown Sweet Peas have been a challenge which I could have done without and won’t be repeated next year. 

Some plants are so easy and so well behaved they deserve their place in any garden. Lychnis coronaria is such a plant. The crimson and the white versions work well together.

A few last minute adjustments by the under-gardener and the stage is set. Fingers crossed!

It must have been a sudden rush of blood to the head but I have entered the garden in the local ‘In Bloom’ competition which will be judged on Sunday. It’s amazing just how much you find needs doing when you realise five illustrious horticulturists will shortly be walking around your garden with clipboards! More later. Must go. Weeding to be done.