The annual plant sale at Charlton House is run by the Charlton House Garden Volunteers and CABAHS. It's always a popular event, raising much needed funds for the Community Hospice and maintenance of the grounds at the House.

Set in the lovely walled garden, we lent a hand getting things ready for the event:

🌻 Collecting trestle tables from Charlton House and setting them up in the garden.

💐 Setting up the display shelving.

🪻Fetching plants from the small walled garden to the sales area.

🍰 Putting up the gazebo for the Women's Institute cake stall.

🌹Putting out signage boards around the estate.

When it was all set up the garden looked wonderful with loads of plants ready to go to new homes (well, gardens really!)

With opening time approaching a long queue of customers had formed, all eager for the gates to open.

We left before the rush, and headed to the Old Cottage Tearooms for a coffee to round off the morning.

Another week and another weed or should that be many many weeds. Today we concentrated on the long border. We were also visited whilst doing it buy Mr Robin who was helping himself to bits & pieces we were digging up for nest building

What is a weed? The dictionary says that a weed is “a wild (not deliberately cultivated) plant growing where it is not wanted”. At the Old Pond Garden and in fact, every garden, there are weeds and it’s a constant battle to keep them at bay which is why this task is never ending 😱 However, today we had a break from weeding and took over 100 cuttings from the penstemon plants ready to plant later in the spring.
There are so many knowledgable people here that being involved is not only helping but also an opportunity to learn about all things horticulture.

This time of year is a never ending battle to keep the weeds at bay. But what a lovely afternoon to spend a couple of hours blitzing these blighters and preparing the soil for some lovely flowers.

A lovely couple of hours helping return the gardens of Charlton House to their former glory. However with nature this is a never ending task and along with about 20 others primarily from Charlton & Blackheath Horticultural society we attacked the weeds not only in the Old Pond Garden but also the Peace Garden and the Long Garden. This is a regular Tuesday & Thursday activity in a lovely setting with some very knowledgeable and friendly people. So give it a go and they are happy for you to join even if you cannot dedicate the whole time.