Cheryl's Urban Garden

I moved into a very small flat in June but as compensation for being small and noisy in the town centre it came with this communal outside space... I live above shops and this paved area is at the back of the building and is actually the flat roof of the shops below it.

I have no very early photo's from when there was nothing there but the pic below is as close as it gets, taken about 2 weeks after I moved in... it started with an orange Lily in a pot, 4 "Aldi's special" vegetable plants and the square planter you see in the pic... plus my long awaited garden rocker

My garden is very much work in progress at the moment... I had a visit from the agent that let me the flat this week and half expected them to moan and tell me to tear everything down :( but they were actually impressed at the work I've done so far... so it looks like I shall carry on! :D:D:D in my photo album; http://www.gardenerscorner.co.uk/forum/album.php?albumid=188 there is kind of a story going on as to what I am doing the plants in the latest photos should get planted very soon.

I have 2 square terracota coloured containers much the same size as the one thats already planted up and 1 will be planted up with red Roses, red Indian Pinks and dark pink Celosia... a red themed container, the other will be planted up with yellowy orange roses, orange dwarf Chrysanthemums and orange Celosia.. orange themed container. They will be placed against the iron railings between the Rocking chair and the steps. In between the 2 planted containers I am fixing a 2ft wide x 6ft high willow trellis to the railings and my baby Jasmin beesianum bush is being planted in a container in front of it hopefully it won't be too long before grows enough to cover it I have 2 identical half moon type baskets which will be attached to the railings above the 2 square containers and mirror the colour schemes in each I already have plants for the orange theme!

Where at the end of those ugly greenhouse shelves I am placing another willow trellis and planting the baby Clematis (sunset) against it... like the Jasmin its still very small but shouldn't be too long before it covers it!

Along the railings from behind the veg planter to behind my rocking chair I am fixing a large willow trellis to grow my big juicy blue grapes on.. :D

I'm amazed at how much I am fitting in to such a small space. My mum looked at the collection of plants I have in the box and said "don't you think you've got enough plants" and "I hope you haven't ordered any more" (I have lol :D ) and once I have removed and planted up all of the plants in the box I'll have plenty of space for more!:hehe:

Once I have planted up all of the plants in the box and put my trellis' in place I will update this thread with more pics as its still very much work in progress and probably will be right up until November when my fruit tree's/plants/vines arrive!

 

Keep up the hard work - you might inspire some of your neighbours to have a go at doing similar as well. Sometimes people just don't try because they don't think it can be done. And even if it's just you, there's nothing like having your own retreat from city life!

 

I'm really impressed Cheryl... A topic started at twenty to seven in the morning!

Joking apart...
You are to be congratulated for what you are achieving.
I guess some of us take for granted that we are lucky enough to have a garden big enough to accommodate our projects, but you've shown that it isn't necessary to create something worthwhile. Well done!

 

Well done Cheryl, looks great, how about a small evergreen clematis to grow over those railings. keep up the good work.

Pete

 

Hi Cheryl I just love what you are doing. If only more people would take a pride in the area around them- I am so pleased for you. Do keep us updated with the progress.

 

Rain has managed to scupper some of my plans but this week I have managed to do many things.

I planted up 2 baskets... an I am really pleased with the look of the "orange" one.

Planted 2 square containers aswell the piccy shows the red one!

 

Pic 1.. planters and my first trellis was put in place... there will be a Jasmin Beesianum bush planted in front of that trellis and trained up it. I really need to plant the Jasmin as its been growing quite alot in the small pot I bought it in.

Pic 2.. I had to brave the rain to adjust the position of the baskets but now everything is in place.

Pic 3.. I fixed trellises to the shelving ready for planting my weedy Clematis (variety Sunset) which should eventually have some lush hot pink flowers up it. Also managed to get hold of some climbing Fuchsia "Lady Boothby" which will be planted alongside the clematis.

 

Well since my last update plants have gone into position... clematis in the tall container besides the trellis... in a shorter container next to it I have fuschia's... "Lady Boothby" a climbing variety which I want to trail up the trellis alongside the clematis to give flowers at a time when the clematis is not!



Planted the Jasmin bush.. in the big black square container... and got the small bistro set in ASDA for 20 quid... bargain :gnthb: I will be putting that to good use!

 

Pic1: My Alpine style planter has been completed with a layer of gravel on the top.

Pic2: Some random unplanned fruit bushes have gone in this one is Green Gooseberry... the blank looking tub is my "experimental" layered bulb tub... was going to make 2 but as its experimental I'm only trying one... don't want to be dissapointed twice.

Pic3: Are 2 new Blueberry bushes... yummy yummy! :P

Pic4: Clematis "Sunset" still very small and growing like a weed but putting on a few new green leafy shoots I can't wait to get flowers on this! :D

Pic5: My Aubergine plant... I'm most impressed with this as I'm a novice gardener and this is meant to be a difficult plant to grow... plant is not in perfect condition but I now have 9 large'ish Aubergines on it and 2 more small ones... definately a vegetable to grow again next year me thinks! :gnthb: