Dersingham Open Gardens delight visitors

The weekend 4-5th September saw fourteen gardens open, an art trail, and a Flower Festival at St Nicholas' Church.

Over what was the best weather weekend for some time, visitors to the Dersingham Open Gardens were able to enjoy the sights and smells in gardens that had been mown, clipped, weeded and pruned to best present their late summer displays. Gardens large and small all had something wonderful to look at and good ideas to take home.

Interspersed with the gardens was an art trail that demonstrated the talent in the village and at the church organisations had created floral arrangements that not only looked stunning and smelled wonderful but also perfectly captured the theme of the festival which was 'Together Again'.

The Knit and Natter arrangement of knitted flowers

Elaine Rowley and Tony Luckhurst's garden at The Old Vicarage was the largest open on the trail. Divided into several areas there was so much to see, the fragrant rose garden, borders still full of colour and interest, beautiful trees and for me the icing on the cake was the Japanese garden. Fans of Monty Don will remember the series filmed in Japan and many elements he highlighted were replicated in this garden; the cloud pruning, wood, stone, rocks and gravel used together with running water and backed by a pagoda with a choice of plants that was simply stunning.

Visiting the Old Rectory Garden for the first time were Dersingham residents Margaret Dixie and Sue Mansfield who are pictured in the Japanese garden. Margaret (left) said: “I always come to the Open Gardens, it is such a wonderful event; I’ve never been in this garden before though, and it is fantastic.”

Judi and Tony Morgan's smaller garden in Old Hall Drive was no less interesting and a magnificent pittosporum aroused much interest. This was also a garden that was joyful and full of colour.

Opening his garden at Tall Trees Tony Bubb, who initiated the Open Gardens with Judy Collingham whose beautiful garden at Fern Lodge was also open said: “We used to do just one Sunday, then fifteen years ago we decided to go to two days and it is much better.” Asked about his favourite part of the garden he said: “my rockery area – I don’t have to bend down for it!”

No Open Gardens is complete without tea and cake and Dersingham's refreshments served by volunteers from St Nicholas' Church did not disappoint - husband's assessment 10/10!