“You’ve got to know when to hold ’em
Know when to fold ’em
Know when to walk away
And know when to run”
I found myself humming to Kenny Rogers this morning, although I had the lyrics saying ‘You gotta know when to go”. We are not going anywhere but we have metaphorically shut the garden gates to the general public. It is very odd, the end of a personal era. But, for us, it is the right thing to do. As I have said countless times in recent weeks, ‘I do not want to be the Tim Shadbolt or Winston Peters of the gardening world.’
New Zealanders know instantly what I mean, For overseas readers, Tim Shadbolt and Winston Peters were both major players – institutions, even – on our political landscape over several decades. But they did not know when to retire and it is very sad to see old men devastated when even the patience of their most loyal voter base finally runs out. It is way better to go out on a high note.
24 little hours”
If I was in a small, town garden, I am sure I would enjoy continuing to open to the public and meeting many different people – but we are not. To get our garden to opening standard is such a major undertaking that I can not face doing it for another year. It is time for us to call it a day and to just accept the occasional specialist tour group to keep us on our hosting toes.
It was a very successful garden festival this year and that is a great memory to hold close as we choose to enter a new era as gardening recluses.
We laughed out loud when our artist in residence this festival, Jennifer Duval-Smith, presented us with the perfect present. We had been discussing linen tea towels and this one is beautiful linen. However, it was Jennifer who laughed when I rushed off the trim the packaging to fit in a frame I had in order to have a second version of it for our staff kitchen in the shed. “It is like a cat,” she said. You give it a gift and it is more interested in the box.”
I will still keep writing, taking photos and posting on line, Mark will continue breeding new plants, we will continue gardening. Zach and Lloyd are staying with us. It will be very quiet but we will enjoy that, too.
Thanks to any and all who have visited us over the past 35 years. None of us can know what the future holds but it won’t be another garden festival for us. It has been a real pleasure meeting so many of you. Thank you for coming.
Poroporoaki
Farewell,
Abbie
Tikorangi The Jury Garden 
Are you trying to say that you’ve gone senile?
I am a bit slow this morning. It took me a few minutes to realize you were referring to poor Tim. But I am not yet showing signs of dementia!
is your blog going to continue or has it retired as well?
never been able to visit but enjoyed the blog
I will continue that. I am a compulsive writer. So not much wi.lmchange except that the garden experience will be completely vicarious.
What a shame you are closing when I have only just come across you online.
Not sure what you do, but I am hoping at least that you will continue to send out articles on gardening matters quite regularly.
I will keep writing and posting! We just won’t be opening to the general public any longer.
She’s referring I expect to Tim Shadbolt – who has a little I think, and is also – I hear – in debt. What a sad story.
I was so pleased to meet you Abbie, and to see the garden at last – what a treat. It will be lovely to know what the context is, when I read your continuing posts. But oh, the work both physical and emotional must have been so huge!
Yes, of course you are right. I am sure she was referring to Tim. My body and brain are tired today but only temporarily so. I am so glad you could visit. Yes, getting the garden to opening standard is a marathon, not a sprint and I feel too old to continue with the marathon.
Hmmm, judging by your photo at the top, you dont look old.
Thank you Abbie and Mark for sharing your wonderful garden with so many visitors, and may you enjoy your less pressured times to enjoy your creation. I look forward to your continuing posts and pictures as they are a highlight of my week.
loved the linen tea towel – says it all! Pressure will be off and gardening will be truly enjoyed – looking forward to continued posts. Went to Jennifer’s class at your garden- a delight – thanks for hosting.
You are still welcome, Susan!
Ah, peace and quiet and the pleasure of gardening for your own enjoyment alone. You wrote, “To get our garden to opening standard etc” How I wish others took a leaf out of your book and showed such respect for their visitors and pride in themselves!
It is a major effort to get ALL areas to the same standard at the same time. We generally stay on track with weeding and pruning whether we are open or not but that final spit and polish for opening is what sets it all off and across 10 acres, that spit and polish is major. I will not be sad to leave that behind.
Not only do have it looking good on opening but have to keep it that way for 10 days while being open all day. Full of admiration. Loved the variety of spaces in your garden.
What a nice farewell to open gardens. Glad you’re still writing. Perhaps you will wander Aotearoa and visit other gardens? I went on impulse to Riccarton House today. Have you ever visited? It has stunning trees and the gardens close to the house have lovely roses and perennials. Maintained by Christchurch council and just a lovely place to be.
I haven’t been to Christchurch since a poignant visit soon after the quakes.
Ah well, things are a bit chirpier now.
It was so lovely and inspiring to visit your garden over the years and particularly lovely to meet the dogs this visit. Enjoy your garden as we have.
Hello Abbie, As garden owners who’ve also opened for charity over several years, I concur with the often unappreciated final titivations and time spent before any visits, and am sure you’ll enjoy losing this additional pressure, but I’m really glad you’ll continue writing and photographing, and your amazing garden is one have’d have loved to have visited if you weren’t so far away!
But your great blog is the next best thing, so thank you for that.
Best wishes
Julian
That is very kind of you, Julian. Thank you.
Well done you deserve time out!!
I was one of the lucky ones to visit your garden, last week and I’m very very grateful to you and your team. Your garden is in class of its own, absolutely fantastic. I loved everything about it, especially your special and unusual plants, the diversity of the planting, the old Magnolias and Rhodos and the fact they had all been given the space to grow into beautiful trees. I also loved your new meadow garden, I thought your planting was very clever and I imagine you spent many hours planning it!
I was blown away…….your exceptionally high standard is a real credit to you and Mark.
That is such a lovely comment to read, Judith. Thank you so much and thank you for coming.
You had me singing ‘The Gambler’ to myself while working in the garden all day yesterday! We can appreciate just how much effort it takes to get a large garden to the standard yours has always been when we’ve visited. Ours is much smaller, but we are always behind in the maintenance, no matter how hard we work on it: those weeds and lawns and hedges just keep growing as soon as your back is turned. We’d never be able to open for a festival. I know you won’t stop gardening just as intensely as before, but at least there shouldn’t be the pressure of a looming deadline to meet. All the best to you, Mark, Lloyd and Zak for the future.
Thank you, Tim. You are very kind.