On 28/7/04 19:38, in article , "Barry &
Iris McCanna" wrote:


"Sacha" wrote in message
...

8000 people get invited 3 - or is it 4 - times a year, so perhaps she'll
get
around to you soon. ;-)
What is astonishing is how large they are, slap in the middle of London.
--

Sacha

We watched the programme and it was beautiful and brought back happy
memories. I actually did go to a Garden Party (in 1986) and was presented
to Princess Diana. It was a memorable experience. The gardens when you are
actually in them are beautiful, particularly the borders. We actually
strayed too near one border very close to the apartment where HM actually
was at the time, and were very politely moved on! The lake is wonderful and
at that time had hundreds of flamingoes. I didn't see them in the programme.
We wandered around rather than just standing about, and found tucked away
one very "normal" summerhouse full of children's toys and games. OK, some
of you are not Royalists, but for me it was a day to remember.

I'm never quite sure of the difference between a royalist and a monarchist
but I'm certainly one of the latter, politically speaking. And we went to a
garden party in (IIRC) the year one of the young princes was born. William,
probably.

One of the things that struck us most, apart from the size and interest of
the gardens themselves, was the horrible thing of the 'VIP tea tent' in
which the Queen and e.g. Mrs Thatcher sat while others, in the 'commoners'
marquee' sat and watched them eat. It struck me as being just like the
chimpanzee's tea party at the Zoo! I have no pro or anti Mrs T bias BTW but
I did find it funny to watch her bustling in, trying to pretend that she was
unaware of the attention she attracted.

For me too, Monty Don is the absolute best, a real gardener. He can all
the pseuds a thing or two.

Yes, I think he does a great job. He isn't promoting himself but his work
and his love of his work, IMO.
--
Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.co.uk
South Devon
(remove the weeds to email me)