Those of you who know me, know that I moved house last year (down sized seems to be the in phrase!) It was hard leaving the family home as we had lived there for 19 years and had created the garden from a black canvas, apart from two huge oak trees and a hawthorn hedge.
However, it was a decision we both made and knew that wherever we went had to have something which really grabbed us!
When we viewed this house we both knew it had great potential as a home and garden – a project for both of us.
The property had been let and then left empty for a long time and the garden had been totally neglected and was a wilderness but it had great bones and structure to it and I have to admit gave me a lot of excitement!
While builders were busy doing their job inside we had a landscaper clearing a lot of large overgrown shrubs and had several trees cut down – opening up the garden and giving far more sunlight.
The worst plant in the garden was a ‘Polygonum’(mile a minute vine) I have never seen such a large one it covered virtually all the side garden – however it was removed and underneath totally hidden was an old rotten shed! I am still trying to kill off the roots of this vine!!
Richard, (gardener and friend) and I set to clearing weeds and cutting back more shrubs and trimming some really lovely box plants – starting to tame the wilderness! Eventually I could see how I was going to plan and plant my new garden.
We have had a lot of laughs while we’ve been working in the garden, particularly one day when Richard’s foot disappeared into some very smelly water! – we dug and probed further and eventually discovered a waterfall which led into a pond – this had been filled in with loads of rubble and rubbish and just overgrown with weeds – it is now a pond with running water stocked with fish and a white water lily.
Another area I originally called ‘Dingley Dell’ because it was just like an overgrown woodland area but while we were clearing the ivy, brambles and weeds we discovered some patio slabs – this has now been levelled – 4 ton of top soil – a larger patio laid and plenty of grass seed surrounding the area. Already we have had several barbecues and enjoyed this lovely sunny area.
When I was first planning this garden I really thought I would keep it simple and low maintenance (just thinking of the next ……hence!) – but I can’t! I’m obviously a ‘plantaholic’ – there are so many fabulous trees, shrubs, herbaceous and fragrant plants to have and one can have interest throughout the year.
Most of the plants I had grown and moved in containers have now been planted and seem to like their new home – I am adding plenty of soil improver and fertiliser as the ground has been so neglected – but they desperately need some rain. By the way the removal men nearly had a fit at the number of pots they had to move for us!!
Judy
Swanland Nurseries |
