The Generous Gardener Moves On

I love a plant fair and when it’s in a beautiful garden, it’s even better. So, I was determined to get to the last of The Generous Gardener fairs at The Coach House, Ampney Crucis.

It didn’t disappoint with some of my favourite nurseries, including Cotswold Garden Flowers, Hardy’s Cottage Garden Plants, Tortworth Plants, and Shady Plants.com, and the chance to look around the garden.

New Venues for The Generous Gardener

The fairs have been held in Ampney Crucis for 11 years after being run by Katie Lukas at her former Wyck Rissington home.

Organiser Mel Tanner has now decided it’s time to pass the baton on and The Generous Gardener fairs will be moving to Charlton Farm, near Malmesbury, home of Sarah Rivett-Carnac, while the lecture days will be run by Sarah Biddulph at Rodmarton Manor, between Cirencester and Tetbury.

“It just feels the right time,” Mel told me. “Sarah and Sarah are probably at least 10 years younger than me. So, new life, new energy.”

The best thing about running the fairs and lectures, she added, had been meeting growers and gardeners: “I really will miss the people enormously.”

The two Sarahs are finalising plans for next year with the first plant fair set for Friday March 10, 2023.

“We are greatly looking forward to taking over The Generous Gardener,” said Sarah Rivett-Carnac. “Mel has done an incredible job and we just want to carry on her fantastic legacy.”

The Garden

I admit to a touch of envy while walking around Mel’s garden. Unlike my plot, which was badly hit by the summer drought, there was plenty of colour.

Her dahlias were also faring better than mine and I’ve added two more names to my ‘must buy’ list.

The potager has long been one of my favourite parts of the garden with its mix of flowers and veg, formal structure and loose planting. (It’s also the top picture.)

There are ideas to copy such as breaking up the gravel path with a diamond pattern – a design trick I remember from Katie Lukas’ original garden.

I also like the use of Erigeron karvinskianus and other plants to soften this flight of steps.

And of course, the beautiful greenhouse was much coveted by many visitors.

I didn’t intend to buy any plants – I need to pay for my own new greenhouse – but there was just too much temptation. Deciding I needed more late colour and things that will cope better on my sandy soil, I went for salvias. Hopefully, they’ll improve my September garden.

I’ve been to both the Sarahs’ gardens and they are worthy successors to what has become a Cotswold institution. Meanwhile, The Coach House will continue to open with the National Garden Scheme.

Information about The Generous Garden plant fairs and lectures can be found on the website where you can also sign up for email reminders.

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