Rustic

A wonderful, albeit very tiring, day.  I took a party of members of the Rhododendron society around OGH in the morning - they were suitably impressed, and very interested in the garden bed we have set aside for our new Rhododendron/Azalea garden.  They brought me a Rhodo as a gift, very kind of them.

In the afternoon, we visited The Cedars - owned by Sir Hans Heysen and now a museum dedicated to his work and memory. The property is just outside the German village of Hahndorf   It's a beautiful place to visit - they have kept Heysen's studio exactly as it was, and the house is a museum.

We wanted to see how they ran their event, and I was able to connect with some interesting groups - the Heritage Rose Society, and the Victoriana Society in particular - both of whom we want to come and visit OGH when we hold out 160th celebrations next year.  The Heritage Rose Society gave me a free rose: Mme Jules Thibaud, which is apparently a sport of Cecile Brunner (much darker pink).  Very very kind of them and I have exactly the right spot for it at OGH.

Members of the Victoriana Society come to events dressed up in the appropriate costumes, no charge - all they ask for is afternoon tea.  the costumes are lovely and authentic, and will be a real bonus for us.

This image is the gate at the entrance to the garden at The Cedars.  Very rustic.