The photo above is of the apple blossom on the dwarf tree which was in our garden when we moved here, I took it a couple of weeks ago.
And this is the tree now, if you look closely you can see some teeny apples on it, there’s a good crop coming actually but I’m not sure how long this tree will survive as the idiots who planted it staked it and had two tree ties around the trunk, top and bottom. Unfortunately they didn’t bother to loosen them as the tree grew with the result that the trunk bark has split between the two ties, I live in hope of it healing itself somehow, now that I have removed the ties completely.
I’ve had requests for some more photos of my new garden as it’s being made. I’ve cut island beds into the grass, it looks a bit municipal park-ish at the moment but in the end the planted areas will probably almost join up. Although our house is newish I’m still going with the cottage garden style as I love plants and like to squeeze in as many as possible.
The grass is taking every opportunity it can to die anyway.
The borders are very rough and ready, I’ve just been in a hurry to get things growing and I’ll tidy the edges eventually. I didn’t take photos of all the borders as a lot of the plants were in shade.
As you can see I’ve made a division in the grass at the end of the utility/kitchen area and I’ve planted a wee Christmas tree, hebe, santolina and a couple of heucheras, but you can’t really see them in the shadow. Eventually it’ll be like two separate gardens. Please note my newly erected rotary clothes drier or whirly as I usually call them, it’s wonky of course, it seems to be a family tradition! There’s also a rectangular plastic tub, bought from IKEA and I intend to make a pond from it – copying Stefanie of So Many Books. I don’t want a big pond in this garden, just somewhere for the birds to hang out and have some fun. You can see a raised veggie bed in the distance too, there’s going to be a bigger one joining that one soon.
Jack has been busy constructing the bench/pergola which we bought recently. I didn’t do much except hold bits of it firm while it was being screwed together. This would have been an impossible job without an electric drill and electric screwdriver as there were no pre-drilled holes.
But we’re happy with the end result, we just have to get some slabs and slate to put underneath it as I don’t want the wood standing directly on the grass. Then I can plant the clematis plants and the honeysuckle which have been waiting to climb their way up the trellis. I might want to have some cushions on it if I’m going to be sitting reading for any length of time.
What was I reading I hear you say. Well I’m re-reading Jamaica Inn and it’s in an omnibus edition with Rebecca, My Cousin Rachel and Frenchman’s Creek, which is why it is such an awkward size. I’m doing a readalong with Joan of Planet Joan and I’m sure that when we’re finished and blog about it others will be very welcome to stick their tuppence worth in too!
It’s coming along so nice! You’ve really been busy.
The apple blossoms are beautiful, and I hope the tree survives. The pergola / bench is very nice and looks like a lot of work. Lovely picture of you on the bench.
TracyK,
Thanks, I just hope I get a chance to use it for sitting and reading, so far it has been a very wet summer.
What a gorgeous and comfortable reading spot that is going to be! I love seeing your garden progress and hearing about your plans. I hope the apple tree survives.
Anbolyn,
The apples have grown a lot since I took that photo so it looks like it’s going to be fine this year anyway.
You tire me out! I can’t believe all you’ve done at your new house in just the few weeks you’ve been there. And this is just the outside stuff!
I’m glad I didn’t have your copy of Jamaica Inn to read. Mine is an old, beat up Avon paperback. I dropped it and it split in half!
Joan,
I’m sure you would find my copy painful to hold, it’s so heavy. I used to have a paperback copy but I must have passed it on to a charity shop – sadly you know that feeling I’m sure.
The photos don’t really do it justice, it looks better in reality – although I say it myself!
Oh, Katrina, I love your photos. And especially the two that feature you and Jack. I must say that the apple blossoms photo came out ***spectacularly*** well. We have lots of apple trees in our area that have grown wild now. Once there were many farms in this area, and a number of apple trees along the roadsides are clinging to life all these many years later. The ones away from the road have been reclaimed by woods or brambles and marsh. Some of the varieties make for wonderful eating later on.
I am taking intense vicarious pleasure in watching your garden develop and take shape. Do keep posting! You are lucky to have lots of sun there, don’t you think?
Judith
Judith,
If only we did have lots of sun, I had to wait for the bench to dry out to sit on it. In fact I think I’m going to get a wee weather station so that I can measure our rainfall properly, we’ve had several inches in June already.
I have my eyes on some of the wild fruit trees around here, I fancy making apple jelly, crumble, tart tatin …. http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/tartetatin_80584
Your garden is really coming along! I love your bench/pergola! And hooray for a small pond made from a bin! I hope you have success with it đŸ™‚
Stefanie,
I can’t make up my mind where to put the pond, that’s the only problem – well that and all the thuggish weeds known to mankind which are coming up. I’m catching plenty of rainwater while I decide anyway.
I don’t need a garden, when I can watch yours develop and grow. All my mums whirly’s were wonky and still are, despite my dads best efforts.
As soon as I saw the lovely bench I had visions of lovely cushions. Different colours for the seasons of course!
Jo,
Well, the chaps try their best I’m sure but those whirlies have a mind of their own.
I have lots of cushions, I just need a handy summerhouse to store them all in now, and of course I have bunting too – somewhere. I’ll have to string that up, if it ever stops raining!