Tatton awaits

I have been tardy in not blogging for awhile - we had a great trip to Hampton Court but oh how different weather wise to the wonderful 94degrees we enjoyed last year. Rain, rain and a lot of mud, but who cares, we are gardeners after all! Then I whizzed off on a three day trip to Northumberland - you will be able to read all about it shortly on Reckless - gardens to die for and we managed to keep dry - but only just.

Wonderful to see how Alnwick has now blossomed out - what a terrific garden - I think the Duchess of Northumberland should get a big pat on the back for the creation of that garden, a great space to be enjoyed by everyone. Great to watch the kids in little pastic tractors filling up buckets of water from the big fountain and then driving them over to tip the water out - what a great entertainment for them.

Those of you who read my features on Hampton will have remembered me writing about the little grave for Pedro on the Torres Tapas Garden. Designer Anthea Guthrie informs me that Pedro started out as an old faithful dog who had spent many happy hours snoozing under the olive trees, then morphed into a hamster, and finally became a little tiny big eyed puppy, slain by a falling olive. Apparently Miguel Torres was amused by the grave as he does have a graveyard full of family dogs. So thanks Anthea because that solves the mystery of Pedro and I can stop worrying about it now.

Our preview trip to Tatton went well today but everyone was really struggling against the elements - and the usual mud which seems to have been a characteristic of so many shows this year, never mind Glastonbury, very impressed with those gardens which were nearly finished, and hopefully good luck to those who were still racing against the clock and the downpours to get finished. Hopefully, tomorrow might see some dry periods for press day, but I have the boots and umbrella ready just in case.

Will blog again tomorrow and let you know how it went.