T’was the week before Christmas I’d finished the year
Ninety great gardens so far and so near
The stockings were hung on the gateposts with care
In the hope that the NGS raised such good fare
All gardeners now were so snug in their beds
With visions of plum trees that danced in their heads
With camera on auto and notebook on hand
From cottage to castle I travelled the land
Allotment, walled garden, the street and the square
Hospital, Manor House, Hall and parterre
Through twenty-four counties I cut quite a dash
Most gardens were open, and most didn’t clash
In all sorts of weather, even fresh snow
the owners of gardens put on a fine show
.The statues and sculptures so big and so bold
The carvings and sundials so bright to behold
Water in fountains in ponds and in lakes
Wheelbarrows, mowers and rusty old rakes
Of snowdrops and dahlias I now know so much
To some it is knowledge to most double-dutch
The cakes were delicious but never would last
I used to think thin but now I think vast
That Gardens are good for you – never in doubt
So off you go next year – get out and about
It’s the end of my mission as I drive out of sight
“Happy Christmas to all and a hearty good night”
The Garden Gate is Open 
Brilliant Julia! What a triumph! Fantastic achievement for the year. And love your ode. Happy Christmas!
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So glad you have finished your gigantic task,
So sad that my mornings won’t start with your blog.
But now there is one thing I really must ask…
Please SIT a short while by your yuletide log.
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year of Gardens
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Congratulations! And a very Merry Christmas.
Amanda
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Marvellous!
So well done achieving all this, and you have given us much entertainment! Rebecca read it to me over tea in bed.
I hope your Christmas is happy and peaceful.
Love
Johnny
Sent from my iPad
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That is quite brilliant,I love it so clever and many congratulations on such a successful year bringing joy and interest to so many
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Brilliant Julia- your blog has brought me great pleasure and I’m sad you’ve reached 90. How about 91 next year?!
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Fantastic, Julia! Well done, what an amazing effort and top marks to Gussy for accompanying you….
And almost the best bit was the literary splash at the end! Happy Christmas to you all , see you in 2018…. much love Prue xx
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What a poet you are!! Great finale with a flourish, and now you can sit back and wait for the arrival of a new generation!
Happy Christmas to you all. X
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What a really good rhyme
You do it so well
There’s no end to your talents
We’re under you spell
We’ve loved all the gardens
And the phographs too
Thank you so much
And Happy Christmas to you
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Congratulations what an amazing achievement! I’ve loved travelling the country with you and I really enjoyed hearing you speak at Conference – inspiring! Thank you so much. Have a great Christmas and here’s to an amazing new year.
Susan Paynton County Organiser North Powys
Sent from my iPad
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Wonderful, have a great Christmas and all the best for 2018. Sally, Lincolnshire
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Such a brilliant series Julia. It must have been exhausting but wonderful for all us couch potatoes. A poet as well … is there no end to your talents?!
Happy Christmas.
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It’s a masterpiece!! Well done Julia a fabulous ending to your incredible mission!! Xx
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Well done Julia. Huge effort, and every one was interesting!
Have a wonderful Christmas.
Love Lawn xx
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What a clever end to such an amazing year
Have so enjoyed reading your blogs and will miss them, Huge achievement and every blog was so well written and photographed
Happy Christmas to you all
With love
Fiona xx
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Major problem loomingJulia. How are we all going to get by without our regular garden fix? Your blog has been a joy to us all and I will no longer be opening my ipad each morning ‘just in case’. Superb rhyme! How about Rudyard Kiplings ‘The Glory of the Garden.’ Non gardening husbands take note……’And some can pot begonias, and some can bud a rose,
And some are hardly fit to trust with anything that grows;
But they can roll and trim the lawns and sift the sand and loam
For the glory of the garden occupieth all who come.
Our England is a garden, and such gardens are not made
By singing “oh how beautiful” and sitting in the shade…….
Thank you Julia
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Wonderful Julia. All those years writing assignments have paid off.
Hope to catch up in the New Year.
Sue
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Love the verse! And will miss the great prose, photos and lovely garden descriptions. Hope you’re going to think of something to replace them in due course!
Love Jennifer
Sent from my Samsung device
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A brilliant finale to Julia’s NGS 90th epic! Thank you for giving us all so much entertainment
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Brilliant. What a feat and a poet too. Well done you have given us such pleasure and we will miss your Garden Gate blog so much.
Happy Christmas.
More in 2018 please.
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Totally brilliant Julia. I have LOVED reading about what is behind every garden gate with fab photos.
Happy Christmas 🎄☃️🎅🏻
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Not a garden too small or large, minimalist or opulent, all got the same treatment. The same thoughtful essay and enticing photos. I enjoyed every moment of it. No doubt all will be reread and poured over in the coming cold months. Merry Christmas to you and yours. I hope you have all the best.
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Brillant! Now poetry as well as photography and blogging. You deserve a well earned rest and then what’s your next adventure? Angela
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Many congratulations! Have a wonderful Christmas MM
Sent from Mail for Windows 10
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Well done for your marvellous achievement – your poem rivals Kipling’s “The Glory of the Garden”. Now have a lovely Christmas and successful 2018.
Jenny Reeve
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Fantastic achievement Julia – you are an inspiration and I have so enjoyed your garden travels. Happy Christmas 🎄
S
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Excellent, every garden brought to life by your exhaustive attention to detail and excellent images. Well done you, enjoy your Christmas and Happy New Year to all gardeners!
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Brilliant exit words Julia. I have so enjoyed your blogs.
Love Margie
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Fantastic finale to your year-I have enjoyed your visits so much!Happy Christmas.
Irene ,East Sussex CO
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OK that’s just showing off now Julia! Seriously though – thank you for entertaining us all throughout 2017 and best wishes for Christmas and 2018.
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You have been absolutely inspirational, well done you, we have loved The Garden Gate. Thank you.
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Wel, done, what an achievement. Are you going to do it again next year?
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Hi Julia – you really are a star. So now it actually t’is the night before Christmas and I love your clever version of one of my favourite poems. Thanks for entertaining us so beautifully all year – wishing you a very happy and peaceful Christmas.
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Wonderful selection of gardens and pictures. You really captured the mix and variety of The NGS.
Thank you from the depth of The New forest.
Wishing you a more peaceful 2018!
Elizabeth
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When does the book come out? Well done – I want more!
I have loved following your travels
Pattyxx
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