Just a quick wee update on my garden, below is the newly levelled bench/pergola. As you can see we’ve now got it standing on slabs and have added slate around them, after planting honeysuckle behind the bench and a clematis plant at either side. It should look good when they all start to grow over it, I’ve planted small plants like sedums and teeny violas in between the slate to brighten it up.
Below is a close up of the corner to the left of the bench, the apples on the tree are growing well, I was a bit alarmed when loads of wee apples fell off a few weeks ago but apparently that is a natural self thinning process and should lead to fewer but bigger apples. I’ve planted dianthus, fuchsias, dogwood, lobelia, primula and various other things there too.
Below is a raised vegetable box which was the only other thing in the garden when we moved here, apart from grass and the apple tree. It only had some scruffy looking strawberry plants in it, but I pepped it up, added a rosemary bush in the middle, a lot of shallots which are growing well, sowed parsnip seeds and Swiss chard too. Sadly the strawberries turned out to be the alpine ones and I had managed to bring a few of my old alpine strawberries with me from the old garden. Next year I’ll replace these ones with a big luscious variety. I’m not too keen on the wood surrounding this box so I’ve planted boxwood cuttings which I managed to bring with me. They should grow and cover the wood soon. I always have a few pots full of cuttings as I couldn’t resist bunging them into compost whenever I trimmed my box hedge which of course had to be left at the old garden.
Below is a photo of the veg box which Jack made recently. In the middle I’ve planted a tricolour sage plant, I have sown beetroot in a cross shape and added more shallots. The rest of the space has been sown with salad greens such as lamb’s lettuce and rocket and herbs like parsley and borage. I’ve used stones to separate the different plantings. Salad greens are so expensive at the supermarkets and they grow so easily so it’s a real saving if you have the space to grow them, and even if you don’t have a garden it’s worthwhile growing them in a tub or window box.
It is looking so good. The vegetables sound great. You have been working hard. Makes me feel guilty that I haven’t done anything lately to clean up my small outdoor areas.
TracyK,
We’ve had such a lot of rain that we couldn’t ignore the garden even if we wanted to. The grass is growing like crazy!
Isn’t a new garden fun? It’s hard to leave an old, established garden, but the possibilities in a new garden are exciting. Yours is on track to be a great garden!
Joan,
At least now it is beginning to feel like a garden but I do miss the mature plants of the old garden and wonder how long it will take for this one to feel mature.
It’s fairly coming on there, Katrina. I thought of planting some veggies but the slugs or snails got the seedlings before I prepared the trough for them! It won’t be long before the garden at least looks established. Mine is about 4years old and even last year I’d say it looked like a mature garden. I have to take some shrubs out now though as they are choking other things underneath.
Love your arched garden seat! I’m contemplating something similar under the fruit trees in my garden. Contemplating only, right now!!!
Evee,
I was thinking that it probably won’t be too long before I have to move things around as they grow too big, it’s a temptation to plant things too close to cover up all that earth. Luckily this garden doesn’t have anything like as bad a slug and snail problem as the old one, so I’m hopeful that I can grow veggies, if the rabbits don’t find a way in!
It’s looking fantastic! I love the bench/pergola!
Stefanie,
Thanks, it’s getting there, I’m still thinking about the pond though and the summerhouse arrives tomorrow!