Last year June & Alistair Martin participated in the Scotland’s Gardens charity programme, opening their garden for 2 days, one in June and another in August. The support from villagers and other garden lovers was quite amazing with their nominated charity, Alzheimers Scotland, receiving 40% of the funds raised on the days and the remainder going to charities supported by Scotland’s Gardens. The total raised over the 2 days was an excellent 850.00
This unexpectedly led to the garden being recommended for, and appearing on, Beechgrove Garden, fronted by Jim McColl. As well as being fun to do, the response from locals was so warm and brought the community together. Walking the dog in the days following the TV show took 3 times longer than usual with so many people stopping to say how much they’d enjoyed the programme. The profusion of flowers prompted Alistair to enter Clovenfords Flower Show in September and he won the Meigle Cup for his vase of mixed flowers.
June and Alistair are opening their garden in Whytbank Row again this year for 1 day only on Sunday 15th June, 1.00pm – 5.00pm, with Alzheimers Scotland being their nominated charity once more. Admission is 3.00 and children free. Homemade teas and plant sales will again be available.
Like any garden, June and Alistair’s is always evolving. Changes have been made since last year and as usual, plants come and go. The milder weather has helped the bees through the winter and Alistair hopes to have a second hive up and running later this year. So if you visited last year why not come along and try to spot the differences or if visiting for the first time see what you missed last year, such as the collection of 34 different varieties of Hosta around the pond (which should be full of tadpoles). You will all be made very welcome. So come along and meet the neighbours and have a good old chinwag over a cuppa!
