For the first time in 13 years Laxton held an Open Gardens event on 9th June – a perfect day for the 200 plus people walking up and down the village street to see the seven gardens. The church opened and two villagers set displays with vintage tractors. There was a lot for visitors to see.
The start point was optional. The numbered gardens started at the bottom of the village in pretty cottage style garden with attractive borders, a lovely water feature and imaginative planting and containers.
Next was a garden created by a couple who, 13 years ago, inherited some mature trees, a lot of lawn and a sloping site when they came to Laxton. The result of a terrific imagination and a lot of hard work is the most beautiful garden, which would grace any magazine. It draws you in with different little areas, lots of seating and a picturesque stream running down the carefully curated planting and sensitively created contours throughout the main garden.
Across the road is a more open garden on a very sloping site. The borders are full of traditional country flowers, which were at their best on the day. Visitors took their time walking round and examining all the many different plants and admiring the pretty courtyard with its interesting planters.
The owners of the fourth garden have only lived here a couple of years and have been working on their house as well as the garden. They have created a lovely welcoming and peaceful space with some attractive ornaments and planting. This felt like a garden which will develop in the years to come.
A ‘bonus garden’ at the top of the hill was showing a mature herbaceous border, typical of one of the village farm houses. Next door a vintage tractor surrounded by a display of plants in a variety of containers stood in front of the garden wall. The planted pair of jeans was a triumph, which visitors and villagers alike loved. Across the road visitors could look round the church before continuing up Main Street past more tractors and a plant sale.
The appeal of the Village Hall offering a sit down with a cuppa and cake proved irresistible. The servers scarcely had time to draw breath throughout the afternoon as appreciative visitors arrived in their droves. Without exception they rated the cakes ‘absolutely delicious’. The bulging donations box testified to this while the plates at the counter were refilled over and over.
The raffle table groaned with excellent prizes and the helpers were kept so busy selling, marking and tearing tickets all afternoon that the draw was delayed to let them to finish the task.
Moving on, the second ‘bonus garden’ featured vegetables. It looked very well-tended and productive and was complemented by an interesting display of old tools. Finally, at the top of the village was a garden where new flower beds and a vegetable plot are still being developed and the greenhouse has some very healthy-looking tomato plants. Those who visited at the end of the afternoon were treated to the alpacas and llamas who live behind the garden coming right down to back the fence to be admired.
It was a tremendously successful afternoon which raised about £1,700 for the Village Hall.