Windmill Cottage, Mill Lane

I understand that it is 3 years since the village of Willaston in the Wirral last had an open gardens event and the last day of June 2019 proved to be excellent choice to repeat the occasion. The high temperature of the previous day when Christleton Fete was held had abated to produce just a lovely warm sunny day. Perfect weather to attempt to see 15 gardens and allotments in 5 hours. Our first visit was to Windmill Cottage, Mill Lane, about half a mile from the village. A long deep and well planted colourful herbaceous bed welcomed us with the towering Willaston Mill behind. The meandering grass track led us to a large garden, the air filled with the perfume of a large variety of rambling roses. In the vegetable garden we found Jim and Judith Ferns who organise the Christleton Garden Club. They knew the garden and owner from previous visits so any questions such as what is that plant called brought a quick reply. Gardening can be fun and Elaine who owns the garden obviously has a sense of humour with all kinds of unusual features around the that made you smile.

6 Buckley Court

There is an excellent car park in Willaston close to the centre of the village and near there was a garden at number 6 Buckley Court that greatly impressed me. Made from a blank canvas over the course of the last 5 years. Every inch of the garden was used to great effect. Beautifully maintained the herbaceous borders, seating area and another area for potting and storage were an inspiring example of what can be done. The owner had some unusual planters and some 20 planted with Agapanthus. We were a bit early to see these in flower but there there were plenty of other lovely plants to admire.

Joe's Dairy, Mill Lane

Gardeners will know that there is a perfect window of time to see a particular part of the garden. Plants go over and if you know what you are doing you plan for this and have other flowers to replace them. This is, I think one of the most difficult things to achieve in a flower garden. When we got to Joe’s Dairy in Mill Lane there was a big surprise. Two large herbaceous beds beautifully planted with repeated patches of the same colour. When you see a Chelsea show garden it is in some ways rather false and unachievable to us lesser mortals. Made to look at its very best for that one week. But looking at Joe’s Dairy garden perhaps there is a slight chance that it can be achieved. We were there on the right day and saw it at its very best. This was only the front garden. The rest of the garden extended round three sides of the house. Lots of interesting hard landscaping ideas and a delicious collection of hostas.

The Old Hall

The Old Hall in Hadlow Road has a large garden that you could easily get lost in. All kinds of different interesting areas including a large vegetable fruit and vegetable garden. The heavily laden branches of gooseberries were just ready for picking. Then you could sit in the large arbour with the white rambling rose cascading over it to top and tail the fruit. Signs of topiary as headed for the shaded lawn area just preparing us for what was to come later. Lots of lovely winding paths lead us through arches and shady woodland paths. Then in front of the Old Hall some amazing large pieces of unusually shaped topiary which I understand were inspired from the insignia of a previous owner of this great house.

Greenacres, Mill Lane

Next door we found Greenacres with a lawn surrounded by herbaceous beds with a heavily netted pond which makes me think that the dreaded herons have arrived in Willaston. The pots on the patio were all planted up with white flowers. A single colour and most certainly white can often give a more relaxing feel to a garden.

Wallcroft and Hadlow Terrace

At a bungalow in Wallcroft we met a gentleman who loved his koi carp. A remark he made me think. “When you have a large garden you are working in it so hard that you never have time to sit down and really enjoy it”. Certainly food for thought. He is happy now with a small tidy garden and a koi pond. He has a space under cover along side of the pond where he can sit, meditate and enjoy the fish. He had removed two thirds of the grating he often has over the pond so that we could see the fish. But his grandchildren usually like to lie face down on the grating and get an even closer look at the multicoloured koi carp.

Onto the last garden in Hadlow Terrace which just made you realise how small gardens are often are when you buy a new house now. This one had a great depth. In the old days probably used to grow vegetables but now divided up into rooms that you travelled through. With flower beds, interesting places to sit and a garden office. Most noticeable was a collection of well established Bay Trees in large planters.

No we did not see all the gardens but did enjoy a cup of tea and a slice of cake at the Village Hall. Thank you to all the welcoming owners who opened up their gardens for all to see. I hope the event raised a good amount of money for the village. I did hear that the last such event raised enough to buy a new boiler. Cannot be bad as every day is not as warm and sunny as 30th June, 2019. I hope the photographs I took might just give you some ideas to try in your garden.