Summer & Autumn 2022: Reflections

Since we built the pergola walkway in November 2017,  we’ve had mixed success with the plants we’ve used to cover it. It’s pleasing that the range of plants that are there now, consisting of ivies, clematis, and evergreen jasmine (Trachelospermum jasminoides) seem to be happy enough and are starting to cover the structure nicely. We went on a narrow boat

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November 2019: Planting bare root crab apple trees

In November our order of crab apple trees ‘Evereste‘ arrived. They came bare root via the post so we had to soak them prior to planting. We ordered 12 so we could plant 3 around each quarter of the wall – the picture below gives you an impression. We chose this variety since they are disease resistant and the blossom

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September & October 2019: Late summer flowers and planting for spring 2020

In September I began studying a RHS horticultural qualification at Merrist Wood college – here’s a link to my programme. We visited Wisley and particularly enjoyed the tropical garden; I really liked the contrasting foliage textures and colour combinations. I was particularly pleased with Helianthus ‘Lemon Queen‘  which we planted into the back of the mixed border in spring- the

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May 2019: Digging out the paths

  May must be one of my favourite months in the garden. I’m sad before it’s even over knowing I have to wait another year to see the garden adopt its fresh green foliage. As I discussed in last months post, we finally finished the dry stone wall and in May we launched in to digging the paths and  central

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December 2018: First frosts, winter walks and reflections on on a year in the garden

I took some annual leave in the run up to Christmas and made a conscious effort to not become totally sedentary – I recently got a fitness watch so wanted to see if I could maintain some semblance of fitness. I decided that walking would be our activity of choice and we went on quite a few decent ambles in

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November 2018: Installing a nest box and clearing the garden for winter

I forgot to mention in last month’s post that we installed a bird box that Luke made from scratch (he got the build instructions from the RSPB). The guidance suggests that you put these up towards the end of winter; however, they also say that some birds will use these to roost in during the colder months so we thought

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October 2018: Autumn colours, bulb planting and a garden visit

In reflection of the things we’ve done in the garden this year, I’ve gotten so much pleasure from the hanging baskets we planted back in April. Every time we leave the house (especially in the mornings before the commute) I look at them and they’ve changed and grown so much over the months. I particularly enjoy the red tinge the

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September 2018: Flowering plants, grasses and more garden visits

  At the  beginning of September we visited the north Cotswolds on our honeymoon. The main attraction was to visit the garden at Hidcote and it didn’t disappoint! Since watching a programme on this garden a few years ago we’ve always wanted to go – it’s an incredible place with so many garden rooms crammed into a relatively small place.

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