Opening your garden for charity

The Ellenor Lions Hospice want gardens in my area to open in 2010, Thought I might give it a go:gnthb:help raise some money for them,That's if Maximus (5 month old puppy)hasn't destroyed it by then:hehe: Has anyone ever opened there garden?

 

Never opened our garden, but years ago when I belonged to a Koi society, there was held an "open day" every year, when members were encouraged to visit other members pools.
It meant a lot of hard work to make everything look "right," you'd have to get the garden right too, as "you didn't want to show yourself up."
You'd get half a dozen or more lots of visitors turn up (some would arrive "team-handed") at any time during the day, of course you'd have to provide teas and coffees. A member of the committee would bring a video camera and film every pool they personally visited and the resulting edited recordings put onto VHS and copies made available to all members.

There used to be a few "panic attacks" among some, as these events were always held mid-summer. A few would get everything perfect a week before and then a couple of days, or even the day before the event after several days of strong sunlight and high temperatures, they'd get every koi-keeper's nightmare; "an attack of green water" overnight. (No fish to be seen, just green water), the fish aren't bothered. It's virtually impossible to cure this in a day or even a few days.

This was over 20 years ago when ultraviolet sterilizers which prevent this happening weren't that common and were particularly expensive, (I'd made my own out of a quartz glass tube I'd ordered, a "recycled" fluorescent fitting and some plumbing fittings).
After a few years I dropped out of the arrangement as it was too much like hard work.

My garden isn't big enough or interesting enough to give opening it any consideration.

 

You should also ensure that the visitors take care of all insurance issues (in writing)

 

Actually, that's a thought, I guess you'd need public liability insurance.

 

Thanks for your replys the lady from the fundraising team is coming to have a look at the garden on the 16th so we will see what happens:gnthb:

 

The area garden club did view my You Tube pictures. She asked me if I would show my gardens in 2010.
I am thinking about it. But, the big thing is their dates are so close to when we just return back from a holiday each spring, not sure if I can get enough done prior to leaving, and then tiding up just after return, days off from work to do it etc. I told her I would let her know. The other thing, not sure if I really want strangers to know of our property, it is private back here. There are a lot of strange folks out there in the world. Sounds like I am leaning toward "no".

 

That's a shame redstar, but understand your reasons why you don't what to open your garden. I love visiting other people gardens big and small through open garden schemes, seeing what they do with there space, getting ideas for my own garden and some have very cheap plants for sale. I am quite excited to have like minded people come and have a look at my garden and also raise some money for a good cause

 

Thanks for your very interesting and useful reply Shiney:gnthb:
Had a look at the links you put up and have to say your garden looks fantastic and is huge.
The lady from the hospice fundraising team is coming to have a look on the 16th just hope she likes it and if I have any questions I will ask you Thanks :thumb:

 

Great reply Shiney
Well done
I think you have a convert

 

I find it very rewarding. Have already potted on loads of primula, fogloves, lupins, hollyhocks to be sold in June. Go for it.

 

Hi Nat, what a great idea. I can't think of a better way to raise money for charity.

I would love to do it if I had a lovely big garden.

 

Hello Jazmine, My garden isn't massive only about 80ft by about 45ft but I have packed alot in, Yet next door to me have a huge garden about 6 time's the size of mine, but not much in it, what I could do with a that space:wink: