26TH SEPTEMBER

 STARTING OUT

In order to chart any progress we need to record the starting point ... so here are a few photos from this morning.

In the spring the front of the house is my favourite part of the garden.  The previous owner filled it with spring bulbs so it is a thing of beauty.  Then blue and purple geraniums take over for a while but this time of year, as you can see,  it is far from inspiring.  This is a task to be carefully planned for next year.

Going through the gate on the right  we arrive in the south garden which is mainly lawn:

Just inside the gate is a small fountain donated by my sister ...

It is incredibly heavy and has started to tilt to one side.  It is responsible for at least one bad back so I will need help to sort it out! Thankfully the wall is supporting it so it will not fall on anyone as they pass by.

A purple clematis (probably Jackmanii) is stuggling to survive at the right hand end of the wall and a heavenly smelling honeysuckle covers the wall on the left of the hebe.  I have had to seriously hack it back this year as it was smothering everything on both sides.

The leaning urn of Fraisthorpe looks quite dangerous and will be sorted today! 

Three David Austin roses thrive against the sunny side of the house ... one in front of the window grows particularly well and together with the rampant wisteria blocked the light in the sitting room this summer so it was the first to be pruned!  

This long border is very gradually filling up as I repeat plant anything the rabbits don't eat!  I was growing  a wonderful Heuchera collection here until I realised I was merely feeding the enemy! 

Bearded iris, peony roses, golden rod, aquilegia, red hot pockers and hollyhocks are survivors so far!  

The large warren is situated across the lane from us and I constantly have to fill in their tunnels.  I discovered they don't like digging through fresh wood chippings from fir trees so that ... and the cat! ... are keeping them at bay for the moment.   

Work has started on the raised bed.  Lots of bulb planting is planned for the next few weeks.

The messy flower bed also needs work ... 

... and to one side is an ancient overgrown pergola that is all together too small.  I am 5 feet 3 inches and have to duck to get under it so my 6 feet 3 husband has to stoop! The top beams are rotting so it will need replacing in the future.

There are two climbing roses on it and a wisteria that never flowers because the clematis has taken over!  

The clematis originally grew up a fir tree but that was hiding the sunshine and lifting the paving slabs on the patio so it had to go.  I thought the clematis had died when the tree went but it took its revenge by forming a full curtain to block even more sunlight!

Lots of work is needed here!!

This lovely monster was rescued from a tiny pot in 2018. Having found freedom it decided to take over the garden!  Perhaps more cordylines would work in the shade near the fence.

 

The path behind it leads to a pond area that must have looked magnificent when it was installed in 2000 but ....

...the pump was disconnected and missing when we moved in and the pond lining needs replacing.   Two fir trees had to be removed and the whole area was hidden under a thick layer of leaf mould and dead branches.  It was like an archeological dig as I realised there was a cobbled path and a rockery buried underneath. 

I have just spent two days clearing the area ready to plant some more bulbs but a few more days work will be needed to finiah the job and brighten it up.  Quite a few flag irises need to be removed too.

I'm looking forward to improving the rockery area ... there are a few nettles to dig out then I will add some new soil and small spring bulbs .  A quick visit to the nursery (who am I kidding!!?) for a selection of alpines should do the trick.

I tidied up in front of the summer house while working on the pond area.  

Rather worryingly the pesky rabbits had dug huge holes under this side.  The foundations are sound so it is not in danger of collapse but I filled in the gap and used the wood chip to create a barrier .... more will be added shortly!

We do have hedgehogs visiting the garden but none have ever decided to occupy the hedgehog house ... still I live in hope!

There the guided tour is over for now ... so time to get to work!!

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