(To the rest of the group - not one of you has noticed my sneaky addition to Annabel's name at the top of this blog. She's far too modest to show off but I will on her behalf. Annabel, I will have to drop the title from the blog though, you're making the rest of us look inferior).
Back to the story...
Most of us Brits this weekend have been joining in celebrations for the Jubilee and as you might have seen from Linda's blog, have had to make do with cardboard cut-outs of the Queen. Not so for Annabel who along with her guerrilla gardening buddies have been mixing it with Her Majesty for real. For several years now Annabel and her friends have been swooping into the less than pretty areas of Leamington Spa, tidying up the mess and beautifying them with wonderful planting schemes. All this in their own time, with no reward other than the satisfaction of making the town a nicer place to be. The brilliant news is that their efforts have not gone unnoticed and they have been awarded The Queen Award for Voluntary Service (The MBE for groups) which was presented by The Queen at Buckingham Palace.
If you'd like to read more about what she's been up to and see photos of the gardens they've created do head over to Annabel's blog.
Aw crikey! That's WELL embarrassing, but thank you so much for your wonderful posting and support. xx
ReplyDeleteAh well, if you can't rely on your friends to embarrass you....
ReplyDeleteOh well done Annabel old sock! You incredibly heroic girl ... I knew about the garden party, but am MBE - I think I must have been in a different zone for the last few weeks. I guess you her Majesty must be pretty much on first name terms now? Hope you have enjoyed every last well deserved second of it all - Hilary xx
ReplyDeleteTrue!! Would you consider the job of Agent?? Not very well paid I'm afraid, but plenty of biscuits in lieu :))
ReplyDeleteThanks Hilary old bean. Lots to enjoy, and the sun shone for the whole afternoon. Sitting in Her Maj's garden eating small things on plates and people watching, with everyone wearing their finest garb was just wonderful.
ReplyDeleteBrilliant news Annabel, lots of congratulations. Did you tweak a few of Her Maj's beds whilst you were there?
ReplyDeleteCheers Steph! Now, I wouldn't want to cast aspersions on her Maj's beds but we have the same sort of plants in the Dell. There's not a huge amount of wonderous planting and I suppose that's because it's a space where lots of people tramp around all the time, and it has to be kept clear or something. There was a rose bed with some climbing roses over ropes behind an arbour, and a statue, and a lovely summerhouse with garden furniture (which would have benefitted enormously with a few of your cushions Linda and Laura!) and a stainless steel dog bowl for the corgis. There was a tennis court and a lake, but not much else. It was very quiet though; you wouldn't know you were in the middle of London.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations indeed, Annabel! And you have inspired a friend and I in our work to restore an abandoned garden on the edge of our wee prairie hamlet. We spent all of today there, pruning, pulling, digging weeds, noting what needs to be repaired and who to call for help. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteP.S. While the rest of you struggle to catch up to Annabel on the Queen's Honour Rolls, perhaps we Canucks can nominate Catherine for an Order of Canada, eh? ;-)
Thank you and it's wonderful news about the hamlet Margaret. Keep going!
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure what the criteria for the Order of Canada are Margaret, but it probably not gorilla gardening ( or even guerrilla gardening!) unless of course, like all things Canadian,it's done on ice-skates! Do feel free to nominate me, but I will warn you ,it's been years since I ice-skated.
ReplyDeleteMany congratulations Annabel. I will be sure to practice my curtsey before we meet!
Catherine
Hello Catherine! It's so cold and wet here in the Midlands that the gardening almost has to be done in a wet suit - not quite the same as on skates of course, but quite challenging! I think the pain I have in my feet isn't in fact arthritis but is my body adapting to it's environment by making my toes webbed.
ReplyDeleteBack to normal now after the Jubilee rush of excitment. I spent the day trying to choose a new bathroom and boiler, replacing my printer, and my phone. Everything seems to be giving up the ghost at the same time. It might take me a couple of days to understand how the phone works, so if I'm quieter than normal you'll know I'm in a corner somewhere with a headache.