Elemental garden...

I inherited this when I moved in.

When we explored and spoke to the neighbour we found that under the gravel was a circular sunken patio.

I also found an arch buried in the trees in the back.

So the master plan was to lower the gravel till we found the wall, put log roll inside the wall then remove all the grass and weeds to create a whole garden the other side of the wall with the pots on.

The garden is to go have plants and ornaments that relate to the elements and the points of the compass. Unfortunately south is under the trees.

The "plan" is, blue/purple by the hedge. Red/orange under the trees. Yellow, grasses and fragrant plants by the wall and dark colours and possibly edibles by the entrance.

 

Here i am putting the log roll down in the pouring rain.. I was driven to make a start after looking at it for a year pondering...

 

This is how far I've got... lots of the weeds are gone, most of the log roll is done and I am putting bark down to try and retain moisture....

There is still a lot of work to do and I can only afford to buy the bark in small amounts I got this lot at 5 bags for £15 which was great but a very special offer methinks...

 

I think its going to be ace. From the first pic I saw great potential, but with the other pics, I can see it coming together. Keep at it, it will look fantastic when you've finished.

 

Love the elemental idea! Can't wait to see what you come up with!!

 

it's just a bit daunting because I am going to need soooo many plants and they don't come cheap any more... unless I can snaffle bits from friends to grow up.

 

Know that feeling...... just take it a bit at a time. Grow stuff from seed where possible too. Car boots and pound shops are worth a look as well as Wilkinson.

 

today's progress

the first pic is what I had after I trimmed the trees back a little...

The second is where i got to when it rained (well, that's my excuse... in all honest this desk jockey is beat)

The dark soil is the top soil hubby got given on a building site before it got skipped. Bark will be going over this when I have the pennies.

The pile of logs are a "rotting wood" area I have for insects etc, that may be moved over to the right.

I might be moving the bird feeders too, the don't get used at the moment because of the cats.

 

from roughly the same place as the first pic...

You can see I still have a lot to clear

 

That's coming along nicely.

Nice looking acer you have there.

 

Can't wait to see another update!

 

Hi all, sorry I dissappeared... life took over for a while.

I have completed the hard landscaping now. I will upload new pics when I get a moment.

I just need to start getting plants in.

 

a loong time coming.. here's a pic for update.

The wallflowers and sweet williams are just to fill space until I have more plants.

All the bark is down now and everything seems to be doing really well. There have been few losses and the only problem I have at the moment is lilly beetle, that I am combating with Method non-toxic multi-surface cleaner

This was taken a few weeks ago.