Thursday 8th May 2025 - Hot to Cold, Garden Maker and Hide

With the winds swinging between the north and east, it was cold over the Bank Holiday weekend.  This did not stop people with their dogs coming to the annual Overstrand Dog Show, held at the back of the Sea Marge on Bank Holiday Monday.  We walked along, with the two dogs we take for their daily walk, but didn’t stay long.  There was a good turnout, plus a variety of stalls and judging was in fully swing, when we arrived.  We couldn’t fail to notice, everyone done up in coats and scarves etc. and wherever possible sheltering from the offshore wind.  So totally different, from one particular year, when we took our dear departed Barney.  We had to come home because it was just too hot for him!  A case of from hot to cold but that’s the British weather for you.

Something totally different this month for members of the Overstrand Gardening Club.  Instead of meeting in the Parish Hall, we headed to a member’s garden.  (Rather than mention her name, I will refer to the member here as ‘Sally’.)  Still chilly, we sat outside on Sally’s patio while Amanda Hensby, who lives in the village, gave an interesting talk on her work as a garden maker.  She had designed and project managed Sally’s garden; a new build five years ago.  As Amanda gave her presentation, she was able to show how she had designed Sally’s garden; with consideration of the soil and back drop and most importantly, incorporating the type of areas Sally wanted, along with the plants and colours she likes.  Amanda was also able to show us before and after photos, her hand drawn design of the garden and the plant listing, as well as two other totally different gardens she has designed.  Amanda told us she has been a garden maker now for seven years and is just completing her fifty fifth garden, at least five of which are here in the village.  Once a garden has been completed to her and her client’s satisfaction, Amanda remains in contact.  She returns periodically to check on the planting and in Sally’s case; to make necessary changes to a bed, she was finding just a bit too big to manage.  Such a comprehensive service, not just for new builds but any garden in any state and pretty well any size, is why Amanda calls herself a garden maker and not just a designer.  After Amanda’s talk we were able to take a walk around the garden for a closer look, after which Sally served refreshments from her kitchen.

Today’s photo continues from our visit to the reserve at Cley with one of the three hides at the end of the board walk, where we sat with the nesting swallows.