July 29th day course

We have now had ten days of torrential rain. There was a time when I would have been fearfully embarrassed about the state of the gardens and scarcely allowed people through the gate but I had a day course long pre-arranged for today.... the weeds were reasonably under control a couple of weeks ago but now they're winning again. Botheration. I briefly toyed with the idea of cancelling the day course as it has been so wet it's quite difficult to pick some things, I haven't even been able to deadhead the masses of cornflowers or nicotiana, the ammis are all looking at the ground, catanache, scabious and other delicaate flowers are drowned and unpickable.... But actually there's plenty that is still managing to thrive despite the deluges (and wind). So we went ahead. And had rather a good day. The participants made some utterly beautiful bouquets, tackled wild globes, and even got round to buttonholes. It was great fun and some beautiful results - thanks to all who took part. In the morning we prepared globes, managed a walk round the gardens in between the worst downpours, prepared flowers and made bouquets. Then we had a good lunch (indoors by the Rayburn, very popular!), and in the afternoon people either got stuck into making eccentric and beautiful globes or more arrangements, before a bit of playing with wiring and making up buttonholes.