Mr Grinch's Garden

Got a frog in the pool !!!!!! Saw him sitting at the side today. Now to get the two fish out.

G

 

Glad to know a frog has set up camp...it won't be long before he brings his friends with him!

 

Reserved three Chooks today for our new hen run. Slug control at its best.

 

I've got a fish barrel (I don't shoot them, honest!!), which is for the birds, insects etc. I assume the frogs, toads and newts have enough space in the marsh just below us. However, I notice that I often have a frog in the barrel. It is about 20" from the ground, so they are determined, but it's fish territory, so they will have to share .

 

A couple of design changes over winter. Some Box taken out, a new decking area near the house will be put in next week to raise the level, the chicken run was extended, need to buy some new garden furniture, wildlife pool moved to the border and i need to get rid of that darned trampoline.

Box gone.



Pool moved

Chicken run larger

Decking will go here

Clematis moved to under shrub for it to grown through

G

 

Looking beautiful. A joy to see.

 

Went through the whole thread, so sorry if a few of you had some likes at random hours today..
What a transformation your garden has gone through! You haven't bloody stopped! Sad to hear you have drainage/clay issues but amazed how you've overcome it. To be honest I did like the curved lawn but as you said the borders flopped over and I can imagine it being hard to maintain. Kids area a few years back was a great idea..Also like how you went from chickens are smelly to 'I made the chicken run larger' great stuff! This is the kind of thing I would like borders, defined lawn, few trees here n there. Oh and a shed at the back. Fab

 

Hi thanks for your comments.

I will not lie to you, if I had my time again I would do things differently. I like the blowsey curves of the old garden but after July it became so difficult to look after. The plants spilled over onto the lawn and that killed the grass. The lawn was not flat either which was dangerous at times plus the drainage meant in winter the stepping stones path was a no no. Just was water.
I needed a hard path for sure. I like things semetrical and ordered, that's my OCD, I've tried to do that but it's not quite right. Unfortunately to change it though with the soil conditions and I really need to move the path to the back to a more central position would take a lot of hard work and money. Ideally I would like more height a greenery into the garden but the evergreen trees like Yew hate this soil as well as Sorbus. They get ill and die.
But I have what I have and it will continue to evolve.
G

 

Planted this today.

My first David Austen Rose called Ausunter.

 

Cleared the area where the rudbeckia is, its got huge and needed chopping up. I disposed of the old centres and kept the healthy outer parts of the plant. Ive been left with 20 good plants and i will re plant a few. The plan is to move the Witch Hazel near the house to this part of the border then plant around with Rudbeckia. This will then leave me a nice spot near the patio to plant 2 more david Austen Roses.

G

 

The Whitch Hazel was moved today, hope it lives as the main root run was extensive but i had to chop through them. The new David Austin bed now prepped and new roses ordered.

Ive replanted the Witch Hazel and i think it gives the border so much more height.

Witch Hazel taken out, dug over with added well rotted horse manure.



Ready for replanting



Hole ready



Planted



Roses bought today

Charlotte



The Alynwick Rose



Lady Emma Hamilton



G

 

Hi Shiney,

Everyones ok thanks.

Alas, this co-incides with our annual holiday so i am unable to make it. BUT i will be around next year for sure. Hopefully, will catch up then. The Lamb's ears doing great by the way.

 

Today's the day, for a few hours this afternoon, the light, the warmth in the sun, the tweet of the birds and the early flowers showing off in the border. Today it felt like spring.

G