There’s no getting away from it - this summer has been a washout. Almost a total write-off for those of us in need of some good old-fashioned fresh air and just the odd burst of sunshine.
The persistent and torrential rain was getting so bad that Seasonal Affective Disorder was threatening to engulf all of us.
Never mind a run on barbecues, supermarkets should have stocked up on lightboxes in a bid to make the most of the sun-deprived population.
It’s why you just have to pay tribute to those intrepid individuals who persistently refuse to give in and continue to make the most of the outdoors.
While the rest of us were locking up our patio furniture there were those making the most of the many beautiful garden scenes across the country.
Jackie Crick of Bayston Hill celebrated the first anniversary of her Gardeners’ Delight venture at the start of the summer. Back then we all still had high hopes for the weather.
But even as it poured down Jackie continued to organise trips to prestigious gardens and houses across Britain. A packed summer proved you don’t always need the sun to enjoy life.
“If you want to see people enjoying life to the full, you can see it on any trip with Gardeners’ Delight,” said Jackie.
“You don’t have to be a ‘garden groupie’ - many come along for the drive - because a tour of the area, together with a visit to a market town, is all part of the day. Some people decide to stay in the town and be picked up after the garden or house visit.
“In fact Tatton Park House and Garden in Cheshire didn’t know what had hit it last Wednesday when 49 people from Gardeners’ Delight descended on it.
“The sun shone, the grounds and garden were looking wonderful and everyone was on a high from their specially-discounted purchases at the garden nursery where we had stopped for morning coffee en route. The coach boot was full to overflowing, with plants of all shapes and sizes.
“Two ladies who could not have walked around the extensive gardens at Tatton Park took advantage of the free motorised buggies, and boy did they get round those grounds at a rate of knots.
“Youngsters on skateboards would have been quickly left behind! They absolutely flew around the grounds, and you could hear the shouts of glee and laughter before you saw them.
“One elderly lady got stuck in a lavatory (as the song goes) and was quickly helped by another member of the party who went into the next cubicle, stood on the seat and issued instructions on how to knock the bolt back with her walking stick. Her words of encouragement got her out. Help was on hand from the management by this time, but was not needed. We are quite a self-sufficient lot and look after each other.
“Two ladies who regularly come on the trips always enjoy sitting back and having a gin and tonic on the way home as they go over the events of the day, and then come up with lots of ideas for more trips, which is a great help to me.
“It is hard to believe that many of the people are not old friends when you hear the camaraderie between them on the way home.”
Jackie organised trips to such delights as Tatton Park and Stockton Bury Garden near Leominster during summer 2007.
And they proved so popular that she has had to extend the programme for autumn.
“I have had my arm twisted to extend the trips into November this year. ‘Just do one more’ is the constant cry,” said Jackie .
“A tour of the Cotswolds is always popular and the next one on Saturday, September 8, will be a wonderful day out. We will begin with morning coffee in Henley-in-Arden and visit Moreton-in-the-Marsh on the way home for afternoon tea.
“The drive through villages very rarely seen by the public gives breathtaking views across the Cotswolds as we make our way to the magnificent Upton House and its stunning gardens near Banbury.
“Our coach leaves The Beeches at 8.30am and picks up around the Shrewsbury area,” added Jackie, who thoroughly enjoys running the venture which just started as a way of visiting gardens with some other green-fingered enthusiasts for company.
Trips during the next few months include the outing to Henley-in-Arden. On Sunday, September 30, the destination will be Hereford Black and White Trail and Picton Garden, Malvern followed by Painswick Rococo Garden on Wednesday, October 24, for Harvest Festival.
A pre-Christmas festive tour of the Derbyshire Peak District on November 28 is likely to prove very popular with regular fans of Gardeners’ Delight.
Because come rain, shine or even snow it promises to be a good day out.
For further information contact Jackie on 01743 871279.
By Tracey O’Sullivan
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