The second weekend of festival is when Frome's 'hidden gardens' are on view to the public, if they have the map identifying their locations. This 30-venue trail spans the whole town and is always popular, especially in sunshine. I toured six, less than I intended but linger in each tantalisingly beautiful location. Mosaics and ponds featured in several, including a lovely swimming-pool-lily-pond filled entirely by rain water from the winter storms, and a smaller pool with damselflies ~locations 15 & 14 respectively, if you're seeking recommendations.
Then back to my own pocket-sized patch crammed with pots and a bombastic fuchsia, for a cheeky bellini with Emily before tapas at the Cantina Bar in Silk Mill (manchego membrillo and salpicon marisco, since you ask, both delicious). Too many good things to get to all ~ sorry not to make the Griffin for Bad Detectives ~ but I couldn't resist another visit to Al O'Kane's brilliant Secret Magical Folk Garden at Cornerhouse.
Here's Lara Mary, one of a superb lineup. My penultimate festival night ended dancing at Samantha West's Party of Paintings. And as daily life goes on around the festival, I'll end with the current local outrage over Somerset County Council's intention to charge Frome £325,000 for a rate-payer funded building they took from the town for £1 in 1974. To quote comedy club compere Tighe O'Connor, we don't mind paying double that, but that rate of inflation isn't funny. You can read more at Give Frome Back Its Building & watch short summary of the public protest.
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