Usk’s annual garden weekend has become an unmissable date for garden lovers from far and wide.

Next weekend (June 25 and 26) more than twenty Usk gardens are open to visitors, with something to appeal to everyone.

They range from a small, meticulously cared-for gem of a garden full of topiary and a family garden with tree house and outdoor table tennis to the school garden, the town allotments, the Gibbys’ beautiful garden and the grand sweep of Usk Castle’s glorious borders - in the words of one young visitor last year, ‘like a secret castle that no-one’s ever found’.

Between garden visits you can buy delicious home-made refreshments in the Memorial Hall, the Catholic church hall, and St Mary’s vestry.

This year, the organisers have added a couple of extra events - on the Saturday an illustrated talk by renowned garden designer Sarah Price, who designed highly acclaimed gardens at the Olympic park and lives in Abergavenny, and a jazz-and-bring-a-picnic evening on the Sunday in beautiful Plas Newydd garden.

“People come from a surprising distance to our Open Gardens weekend. This year we even have a coach of keen gardeners coming from Belgium!” said Cathy Davies of Usk Open Gardens committee.

Visitors can park in any of the free town car parks and pick up a ’Garden Passport’ (including a garden map) from one of the ticket stalls nearby. Tickets for the talk and the jazz evening are separate and will also be on sale on the day.

All the gardens are within walking distance of the car parks, and there is a regular free minibus to take people to those on the edge of the town.

There will also be a Gardeners’ Market in the Market Field next to the Memorial Hall.

And there’s a photography competition - with the best garden photo featuring on next year’s programme and the photographer winning a £25 garden voucher.

Garden Passport tickets are £7.50 for one day, and £10 for the whole weekend. Children 14 and under free.

Gardens are open from 10am to 5pm.

Tickets for the Sarah Price talk ‘Gardening in the Round’, on Saturday June 25, 12noon - 1pm at the Three Salmons Hotel, are £4 in advance from Usk Museum cafe, or from Cathy Davies on 07976 633743 or on the day from ticket stalls, and on the door from 11.30am if still available.

Plas Jazz tickets are £10, also from Usk Museum cafe in advance, or direct from Debs Hancock on 07963 465272 or debshancockjazz.com.

Please take along a picnic and a chair. Gates open at 6pm (Sunday June 26) and the concert begins at 6.30pm, with a picnic interval.