Mike's Evolving Garden

Wow Michael. I couldn't deal with so much but well done you.

 

Yesterday I nailed a small wooden trellis to the posts at the side entrance, it has been lying around for a few years waiting for me to fix it somewhere.
I want my Jasmine and white Passiflora to wind themselves around it.





The pallet is where I'm going to have a gate (soon hopefully !) and generally tidy the area up a bit.

 

It is getting nicely organised now Michael.

 

Thanks @Victoria There's still some rubbish to get rid of from when I had the extension built but when that's gone it won't look so bad.
If the weather was better I'd be able to get more done ...

 

As previously mentioned I'm going to have decking put at the bottom of my garden, and the man doing it has been, measured it up and is going to give me a quote.
I've been clearing the area of shrubs - put them in pots,
and I've been taking the Ivy off the old shed (formerly garage) walls





It was a nice little area in years gone by, but it's in a mess now ... but I hope it will be easier for me to look after when the decking is down.

The bins had home made compost in them (I used to make it years ago but they're empty now)

The walls need some attention but they will have to wait ...

Before the work starts I'll have to move the cold frames, and Bella will have to find somewhere else to sleep for a while

 

A lot of work @Michael Hewett , but you're getting there

The biggest step in getting areas sorted is - the first one. Once you see some changes, it spurs you on too. I started rebuilding my shed this year - it was either that or getting a new one. I'm really pleased with how it's turning out, and I'm sorting all the area in behind, and around it, too. It's making a big difference.

Hope you can get a chance to enjoy your decking area when it's finished. Maybe next year eh?

 

Thank you @fairygirl There's a Welsh saying "Hanner y gwaith yw dechrau" . That means once you've started something you're half way there ... and with me, getting started is often the most difficult thing to do.

I hope you finish rebuilding your shed before the winter sets in, it will be as good as if not better than a bought one, and will be exactly as you want it.

 

Shed is going well @Michael Hewett , thanks. I really just have the back wall of it to do, which is next to the boundary fence, but I'll be doing that from the inside. I already have wood, and bits and pieces for that, so it's a case of a dry day to take everything outside to let me access it properly. I've got some guttering to put along the far side for a waterbut, but that's not a vital bit, and can wait. I used pond liner for the roof, which I did a few years ago, and the roofing felt is purely aesthetic. The little section at the front corner is also having to wait, as the bees are nesting under the shed, and that's where they access it.
I've got some pix of the restoration, so I'll maybe put them on the forum somewhere. It's been a good project because I've also tidied up the whole corner, and got it into a more useful state, including some more hidey holes for insects etc.

I just went out for a look at it, as it's been raining heavily here since about 11pm last night. All fine

 

It sounds like you're making good progress @fairygirl, Good that you're including insect welfare in your plans.
It will be interesting to see photos

 

Thanks @Michael Hewett . There's already lots of little places for wildlife, but always room for a few more eh?
I have a pine tree that needs the main trunk taken down, and that'll be used in various sites. I've already removed some of the other trunks/branches, but had to stop because of birds nesting in the conifer next to it. All the branches I cut down/remove from any tree get used for something.
I have a few young trees I've either grown from seed, or have been donated by the birds, so they'll get a place too.

 

I've been continuing to get the bottom of my garden ready for the decking to go down (whenever the man will get around to doing it for me !)
There are three cold frames to move and I moved one yesterday - they're up on bricks to save me bending (bad back) and carrying the bricks and then the cold frame was rather difficult, but I got it done ... eventually

There's an awful mess where the cold frame was but it's on the patio now and after I tidied around it, the place didn't look too bad.

Bottom of garden where the cold frame was and where the new decking will be :-



Cold frame in new position on patio :-



... plus clothes line



You can see the frame is full of succulents - I moved them there from a perspex shelter at the side of my old garage, I can get to them easier now, for watering etc.
The shelter is down a big step and my knees make it difficult to go down it. After the new decking is down I'll have to see about that step.

 

If you'd just moved those pegs @Michael Hewett , I would barely have noticed the clothes line!
You're getting there. Moving anything bulky or heavy is always time consuming. It's easy to underestimate how long it'll take too, or is that just me!
Several shallower steps to get down there might be better if you have room? Don't want you falling, and steps are always a problem, especially if you're carrying stuff etc.
Knees are a pain when they don't work, aren't they? Mine are getting too difficult now, and I don't want to think about not being able to hillwalk.
I think I put pix of the shed on a thread somewhere, but don't ask me which one!
Might just be the 'what are we doing in the garden' one.
I've been redoing the floor with bits of timber I have, and I'm going to use up a lot of excess paint to brighten up the inside. The back wall all got done, and I've got some sealant which I'll just use for filling the small gaps before painting that. There was a small bit of leakage at the front [not surprising with the weather we've had] and I'm sorting that, but it'll help once the bees are definitely away as the outside of that bit can be finished. The rest of the interior is bone dry, so I must have done a decent enough job!

 

Looking good Michael. You are getting there!

 

Thank you @fairygirl and @Victoria

I'm going to try moving another cold frame today ... maybe

It sounds as if you've worked hard on your shed @fairygirl, I will look for your photos, I often miss things ... can't always keep up with forums.

 

I knwo what you mean @Michael Hewett about not keeping up. I don't always tick the 'watch thread' box if I'm just responding to a query, as I don't always think it'll continue for a long time.
Here's a few of the shed to keep you going
These are from about a month ago. It now has it's wires attached for the honeysuckle. The little corner to the left is where the bees were going in and out. They seem to have gone now, but I'm wary of doing the final bit of concrete in case the queen is overwintering. I assume they find a new site, but I'd hate to trap her in there!

The front/door

Other side. Raised bed to the left of the waterbutt, for comfrey etc. The gutter for the butt has all been done since the pic was taken in early August

The little corner along from the door, with my Grandpa's storage box and little places for insects etc underneath. [Dead hedge along the back] There's been a little bit more done there since the pic was taken in a few weeks ago. I just keep adding to all that, and there's a couple of plants that can go in there too