From Alan R Hickman

The so called open-house that we committed to a month and a half ago developed all the symptoms of a fiasco and in the end it didn’t disappoint. We couldn’t get any response from the garden tour organizers to repeated phone calls or e-mails so we had no confirmation that we were even on the tour. In the end we cancelled the proposed demonstrations and displays and just a handful of volunteers were in the gardens for a more-or-less normal Saturday work day.

Margaret and Brian tidied up at the front. John R. cleared out weeds by the sweet potatoes and Dianne harassed beetles in the potato patch. It wasn’t until someone noticed a sign on the road "Garden Tour" pointing at the front of the building that it seemed that perhaps the tour was still on. We’d been told that there would to be two reps from Caledon Hort’ to escort visitors but they never materialized.

In the end, between ten in the morning and four in the afternoon two cars of gardeners arrived plus one newspaper reporter who seemed to be lost.

Given the circumstances it was quite a pleasant and relaxing day. John brought the beer, I baked a pizza, and Margaret brought an extra sunshade, so we all sat round the picnic table in the cooling breeze on top of the septic tank. At lunchtime, Sandra showed up with the new acquisition, which intrigued Dexter and Lucas no end. Lucas gave the six-week old a tentative lick and had baby-powder breath for the rest of the afternoon.

Oh well! Just before dark on Friday night the grass in the driveways did get cut, and the effort did resulted in the gardens looking better than they have ever done at this point in the year, so there is pleasure to be taken from that.

With all the excitement over, it’s back the regular routine. There are several hundred dahlias and cannas still to be planted in the display beds, there are tomatoes to plant in the nursery area, and weeds are starting to win again among the onions. Gardens never go on vacation, and the Fall Fair opens in nine weeks time.

Please call me before 8 a.m. any day.

High Temperature:
Actual: 22°C mainly sunny pop up thunderstorms 11.70mm Wind SW14km/h P.O.P.11%
Average: 26°C
Record: 36°C in 2005

Low Temperature:
Actual: 11°C partly cloudy Wind N9km/h P.O.P.0%
Average: 14°C
Record: 5°C in 1945