I grew up with Lego. It is an endearing and familiar part of my childhood, multicolour castles and space ships longer than my bed. Through the children I have been able to relive my childhood joy of building; on wet days last Christmas we played Lego Olympics; who could build a set in the quickest time, who made the best space ship from the spares box (it’s a big box, created by the need to constantly replace bits that mysteriously disappeared). I resort to Lego sometimes to build bits for gardens. Despite the efficiency of 3D cad and the speed with which I can model a space to the closest millimetre, there is something more essential in a model, of seeing the space for real (even if it’s in miniature). I have just noticed that Lego have started to make architectural models..The one that attracted me is “Falling water” a model of the Frank Lloyd Wright house. It’s not available in the UK yet but I am sure it will be. It’s a thinly veiled way to get enthusiastic about a toy.

Before leaving for our summer holiday, I submitted my design for next year’s Chelsea Flower Show- urban garden. (That is the middle sized 7x5m gardens). We have just been informed that the design has been accepted (it will appear on the website this week, promise!). The contractor has been working on costings and plant lists have been issued. It’s a huge relief to get the thumbs up from the RHS, however the elation lasted about 30 secs as the realisation then hits that it will never be realised unless we get sponsorship. So now we are calling, writing, and selling the design , to get the funding in place. Last year we were scrambling around in late January for funds ( its was a very "tight" year), so whilst it should feel more relaxed this year, the truth is that knowing what is coming makes it even more of a priority to get it sorted as soon as possible.

We never plant between July and September. Nursery stock is in full growth, plants are easily damaged and transport costs go up as stock is naturally at its largest. The weather is unpredictable and a dry spell will annihilate plants struggling to come to terms with their new home. This July however we were forced to plant two gardens. Circumstances meant that the stock was ready and both clients promised they would accept the risks and be able to water their gardens daily. That hardly seems to have been necessary in hindsight, but I can happily report that both gardens are lush and full of vigour. I think that there has been only one fatality, and the effect is that the gardens look like I might have expected them to, next year. I still don’t intend to make a habit of planting midsummer but whilst it’s been a season for us to tdream of hot Valencian gardens, the plants there would wish they were here.