Non-Gardener builds an Observatory, Garden Railway and even Dabbles with Plants!

Discussion in 'Members Gallery' started by ArmyAirForce, Aug 26, 2024.

  1. ArmyAirForce

    ArmyAirForce Gardener

    Joined:
    Aug 25, 2024
    Messages:
    353
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Durham
    Ratings:
    +586
    25th October 2024

    I was in trouble from the wifey on the 24th. I'd gone browsing garden centres while she was at work! I was looking at ferns, as I wanted a large one to fill a gap in the wood.

    I had to redeem myself on the 25th, with a joint trip to several garden centres, as we wanted to price up some bark and see if it was available in bulk bags. All was well again after a coffee and caramel slice at one stop.

    So the looking to find out prices, turned into another £85.00 shopping trip! So by 1pm, I'm unloading five ferns, nine Cyclamens, two 100 litre bags of bark chippings and a pumpkin for my daughter to get arty with. Lunch was lunched fairly quickly afterwards and I was out digging.

    Six of the Cyclamens went into the railway, to give some late in the year colour. One might have been two plants in one pot, because as I tipped it out, the earth split into two even halves, each with a separate root system.

    [​IMG]

    The three others went into the kitchen border, having cleared out some Daisy Pomponettes to make space.

    [​IMG]
     
    • Like Like x 1
    • ArmyAirForce

      ArmyAirForce Gardener

      Joined:
      Aug 25, 2024
      Messages:
      353
      Gender:
      Male
      Location:
      Durham
      Ratings:
      +586
      Of the five ferns, four were Dryopteris austriaca, which were meant to spread around 18 inches. One of these was planted in the slowly disappearing grass area behind the wood. The others were planted in the wood.

      [​IMG]

      The last fern was a Dryopteris affinis, which was meant to grow to around four feet in height. This one was planted towards the left end of the woodland, filling a gap that became more obvious as other plants began to drop their leaves.

      [​IMG]
       
    • ArmyAirForce

      ArmyAirForce Gardener

      Joined:
      Aug 25, 2024
      Messages:
      353
      Gender:
      Male
      Location:
      Durham
      Ratings:
      +586
      After planting all the ferns, I barrowed the first bag of bark chippings to the wood and began spreading it out. I didn't work in the grass area, as this still needs lots more digging out. This is a view from the grass, looking back into the wood.

      [​IMG]

      Following the path, brings us to the middle entrance. Where the path splits, there's one of the small ferns. Once the lawn edging is done next year, the bark part of the path will blend into the slates at the front edge of the wood.

      [​IMG]
       
    • ArmyAirForce

      ArmyAirForce Gardener

      Joined:
      Aug 25, 2024
      Messages:
      353
      Gender:
      Male
      Location:
      Durham
      Ratings:
      +586
      Turning left at the split, there's another fern, planted to the rear of the space where the bulbs are planted.

      [​IMG]

      As the path curves to the right, the last fern is on the right, just behind this tree. In time, as they grow, I plan to split them and spread them further.

      [​IMG]
       
    • ArmyAirForce

      ArmyAirForce Gardener

      Joined:
      Aug 25, 2024
      Messages:
      353
      Gender:
      Male
      Location:
      Durham
      Ratings:
      +586
      The two bags of bark, covered the whole length of the path, from the grass to the Pinetree entrance at the top of the wood. We'll probably need one more bag to finish off in the Spring. Looking in from the middle entrance, there's two ferns in view, 'though the right one is a little hidden.

      [​IMG]

      While I was digging by the kitchen border, I found this little fern type plant, hidden under a Weigela. I'm not sure what it is, but dug it out and potted it in the workshop, to see what it develops into. If it turns into something suitable, it may move into the wood in time.

      [​IMG]
       
    • Busy-Lizzie

      Busy-Lizzie Total Gardener

      Joined:
      Mar 13, 2024
      Messages:
      1,189
      Gender:
      Female
      Occupation:
      Retired
      Location:
      Norfolk and Dordogne, France
      Ratings:
      +3,724
      That might be a Polemonium, Jacob's Ladder, pretty blue or purple flowers.

      I like what you are doing in the wood.
       
      • Like Like x 1
      • Sheal

        Sheal Total Gardener

        Joined:
        Feb 2, 2011
        Messages:
        36,108
        Gender:
        Female
        Location:
        Dingwall, Ross-shire
        Ratings:
        +54,304
        It's all coming together well ArmyAirForce and you can be proud of what you've achieved. :thumbsup:

        But sorry - yes there's a but. The Choisya you planted on the bank looks too close to the conifer and I wouldn't expect it to thrive there. Its mature height and spread is 2.5 metres and with the conifer having drained the soil of water and nutrients in the area I think it will struggle.
         
        • Agree Agree x 1
        • ArmyAirForce

          ArmyAirForce Gardener

          Joined:
          Aug 25, 2024
          Messages:
          353
          Gender:
          Male
          Location:
          Durham
          Ratings:
          +586
          It's about six feet from the trunk of the conifer, on a bank of earth at least two feet above the original ground level and the conifer roots. If it was going to suffer, I would have expected it to do so, soon after it was planted, while it was trying to establish itself. I don't plan to let it get anywhere near 8 feet tall. It's going to be chopped at around three, perhaps four feet at most, same as the Fuchsia will be. It seems happy enough.
           
          • Informative Informative x 1
          • ArmyAirForce

            ArmyAirForce Gardener

            Joined:
            Aug 25, 2024
            Messages:
            353
            Gender:
            Male
            Location:
            Durham
            Ratings:
            +586
            26th & 27th October 2024

            We took a break from the garden to have a bit of fun. We had planned a "Colours of Autumn" Jeep drive on the 26th, but one Jeep had a brake problem soon after setting off. I spent the rest of the day sorting it.

            We tried again on Sunday morning, going for a 19 mile drive around the country lanes of County Durham, looking for nice Autumn scenes for photographs.

            [​IMG]

            It was a perfect day for it, with bright sun, blue sky, warm temperatures and plenty of Autumn colours on the trees.

            [​IMG]

            Despite the trip only being 19 miles, we were out about 2 hours, due to a number of photo stops along the way.

            [​IMG]

            We got home about noon and it's a good job we went out in the morning, as it clouded over in the afternoon. It was a nice break from digging in the garden.

            [​IMG]
             
            • Like Like x 1
            • ArmyAirForce

              ArmyAirForce Gardener

              Joined:
              Aug 25, 2024
              Messages:
              353
              Gender:
              Male
              Location:
              Durham
              Ratings:
              +586
              28th October 2024

              This is the final catch up post, as we are now up to present day in the garden diary. From now on, the thread will slow down, as there's not going to be much happening in the garden until Spring. Autumn was well under way in the garden too, with plenty of leaves covering the woodland floor and lawn. I should probably bag some up for compost.

              [​IMG]

              I did some more digging of the grass area, lifting off more turf and moss, trying to get as much of the grass roots out as possible. So far, I've cleared up to the remains of a brick wall ( centre foreground ), that was part of the air raid shelter.

              [​IMG]

              Back pain finally got the better of me and I stopped for the day, but was pleased with what I'd achieved. Lynne's off work next week and the forecast is looking okay, so we might try for a little more clearing before calling it a day for the year outside.

              [​IMG]

              I'm just about to start stripping the master bedroom and with loft insulation to add, which will require a hole in the ceiling, plus electrics moving, potential re-plastering and all new furniture, it's going to be another big job.
               
              • Informative Informative x 1
              • Meomye

                Meomye Gardener

                Joined:
                Mar 17, 2024
                Messages:
                72
                Location:
                Surrey
                Ratings:
                +48
                @ArmyAirForce, just when I thought you were going to take a well earned break you are now starting indoor projects!
                Congratulations on all of your hard work and I look forward to seeing what you get up to next year.:)
                 
                • Agree Agree x 3
                • Like Like x 1
                • JennyJB

                  JennyJB Keen Gardener

                  Joined:
                  Mar 13, 2024
                  Messages:
                  743
                  Gender:
                  Female
                  Location:
                  Doncaster, South Yorkshire
                  Ratings:
                  +2,162
                  What you've achieved there is fantastic @ArmyAirForce !
                  Looking forward to seeing next year's installments. And I know its off-topic here, but if you're taking astronomy pics over the winter I'd love to see some of those. I think there's a place on here somewhere for non-gardening hobbies/interests.
                   
                  • Like Like x 1
                  • ArmyAirForce

                    ArmyAirForce Gardener

                    Joined:
                    Aug 25, 2024
                    Messages:
                    353
                    Gender:
                    Male
                    Location:
                    Durham
                    Ratings:
                    +586
                    Here's a quick tease...

                    [​IMG]

                    [​IMG]
                     
                    • Like Like x 4
                    • JennyJB

                      JennyJB Keen Gardener

                      Joined:
                      Mar 13, 2024
                      Messages:
                      743
                      Gender:
                      Female
                      Location:
                      Doncaster, South Yorkshire
                      Ratings:
                      +2,162
                      Hehe, I saw "the duck" being pointed out on The Sky At Night, sometime earlier this year I think.
                       
                      • Like Like x 1
                      • ArmyAirForce

                        ArmyAirForce Gardener

                        Joined:
                        Aug 25, 2024
                        Messages:
                        353
                        Gender:
                        Male
                        Location:
                        Durham
                        Ratings:
                        +586
                        31st October 2024

                        My daughter and I spent an hour this morning raking up two bags of leaves and grass to make compost. I've not tried this before, but after reading about it here, mixed in leaves, soil and grass. It took us an hour, so if you added labour costs to that at minimum wage rates, about £20 total. By the time the two bags rot down in a year or two, I'll probably have one full bag of compost - which I could buy for £8.00!! I can't see it being a regular habit for me!!
                         
                      Loading...

                      Share This Page

                      1. This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register.
                        By continuing to use this site, you are consenting to our use of cookies.
                        Dismiss Notice