Portishead in Bloom Open Gardens Weekend

Fifteen gardens in Portishead will be open in June for people to view.

The Portishead in Bloom annual open gardens event takes place on June 11 and 12.

There will be a variety of gardens on offer, including large ones to small gardens in the marina development.

Some will also be running book sales and plant sales while others will be serving teas, cakes and lunches.

Freelance blacksmith Willa Ashworth will be displaying her crafts at Riverbank, 77 Nore Road, while a jazz in the garden event is planned at 53 Nore Road.

The programme for the open gardens event will be available in Morgan Westley and Seasons Florists in the High Street later this month.

The programme costs £4.50 and admits one person to all of the gardens on display.

All money raised from the event will go to Portishead in Bloom funds.

Here is the full list of which gardens are open.

 

1. CHRISTINE AND MIKE VALE, RIVERBANK, 77 NORE ROAD

This garden was greatly admired last year and is making a very welcome return.  A series of "rooms" wind their way up the hillside towards the bottom of Springfield Road with an unexpected surprise at the top.  There are spring-fed ponds, mature and unusual trees as well as beautiful planting.  Willa Ashworth will be here with her beautiful and reasonably priced ironwork for sale.

2. MARTIN AND ANN STERLAND, 53 NORE ROAD

The "Old Bakery" was built c.1830 and belonged to the local farming family of Ashfords until just after the World War Two.  This garden is terraced on three levels into the hillside behind the house and is extensively planted with many rare varieties - Ann is the expert on the plant names.  There is also a vegetable plot.  Light refreshments will be served.  Plant sales..  Toilet available.  A welcome return is planned for a young duo playing "Jazz in the Garden" from 2 - 5 each day.

3. SANDY AND MIKE TEBBUTT, LUNDY LODGE, 45 NORE ROAD

The usual home-made refreshments will be on sale all day in our courtyard garden and deck with a view.  Programmes plant sale and toilet available.  We have permission to use the dentists' car park across the road from No. 45 for the three Nore Road gardens.  Please use this to avoid clogging up the road!!  Toilet available.

4. KEN AND BERYL WINDIBANK, 98 AVON WAY

This garden is a glorious riot of annual colour in the summer months with practically all the plants reared from seed by Ken on site.  His surplus will be on sale.  The whole Windibank family will be serving 'early bird' bacon sarnies, home- made lunches and refreshments headed up by 13-year old Amelia.

5. JANE AND TONY PAGANO, 9 DENNY VIEW

The top lawn is level with flower beds and an ornamental pond and patio.  The bottom lawn slopes towards woodland and has borders and shrubs leading to a second patio.  There are numerous steps and no hand rails.  Access is through the house.

6. MOLLY & COLIN LEWIS, 25 HILLCREST ROAD, OFF NORE ROAD

Molly and Colin will be serving home-made cream teas on one of the three terraces in this previously sloping hillside garden.  The bottom terrace is a lawn, the middle a formal garden and the top terrace has a patio with a pergola and water feature.  Toilet available.

7. **CAROL PRESTON, 6 WETLANDS LANE, NORTH WESTON

This garden has undergone a complete revamp since it last opened for us in 2008.  Vegetable growing is now the order of the day!!

8. **MAGGIE AND PETER PAYTON, STOKE COTTAGE, 35 CLEVEDON ROAD, NORTH WESTON

The enchanting garden that lies behind this 300 year old cottage was a huge talking point last year.  The winding path takes you past stacked borders, mature trees and south facing veg. patch down to the orchard and lawn that butts up to the pastureland of the Gordano Valley. 

9. **THE MILLENNIUM GARDEN AT ST PETER'S CHURCH, CHURCH ROAD NORTH

The Millennium Garden is still a well-kept secret!  St Peter's Church will be open.  On Saturday morning, there will be coffee and cake for sale between 10.30 - 1.30 pm; and on Sunday, tea and cake will be served between 1.30 - 5.00 pm. 

10.  **JANET AND MARTIN GATE, 18  WOODHILL ROAD

This house was formerly No. 1 The Lindens and home to Portishead Kindergarten and Preparatory School from c.1930-1960.  Ham & cheese ploughman lunches, drinks and cakes will be on sale for eating in the conservatory or out in the garden. Honey for sale from local bees.  Toilet available. "Tree Aid" charity stall will be in the front of the house.

11. DEBBIE & TONY JENKINS, SEAWARDS, ESPLANADE ROAD

This 1930s house has an unexpected very large garden with ponds and sculptures that have been created by Debbie.  Tony has just started experimenting with vegetable growing in the new greenhouse and veg. plot.  Light refreshments are being served under cover outside.

12. **IAN MURPHY, 74 EASTCLIFFE, PORT MARINE

A small townhouse garden, combining contemporary styling with traditional planting and a central water feature.  There are trees, shrubs, perennials and pots, with gravel, slate, decking and paving - a tranquil, sunny south-east facing garden with a newly planted border.  There will be a stall selling books.

13. **MARIANNE WARREN, 4 LOCKSIDE, PORT MARINE

Please stop and look from the road at Marianne's interesting use of a small wrap-round front garden.  (No entry to garden)

14. **MAGGIE PHILPOTT, 26 CONFERENCE AVENUE, THE VALE

Margaret's garden is at an ex-show house for The Vale that is full of mature shrubs .  Once again great **** have been nesting in the bird box that has its own camcorder.  Light refreshments will be available in the conservatory.  Local history publications will be on sale here.

15. **1st PORTISHEAD SCOUTS, THE SCOUT HUT, BOTTOM OF SOUTH AVENUE, (near fire station & police station) (SATURDAY ONLY)

The Beavers and Cubs are have been sowing seeds for sale at this, their first ever plant sale.  There will also be a BBQ and tea and coffee.