"The Haven" (5)

You really have made this a haven David and love those steps you ve created brilliant and how gorgeous is that arch too. love that golden grass with seeds its like a big glow of gold gorgeous hope they appreciated all your knowledge and hard work.

You're ideas are as natural as nature itself, I like it. It must be so nice to have your own stream, my little dog would like it too. The log steps look grand though with all that work I'd want them to last. Are the pegs treated? maybe Elder pegs would last longer. Your choice of planting is also good especially the Ligularia and tree stumps. Well done.

Great work!

You'll have your own bit of heaven to look forward to. Every season different and of special interest. To re-use a phrase, "Things can only get better".

Some great work there, David. You have done an excellent job and it looks really good. As you are not averse to including a few exotics in the plantings I could suggest that a few candelabra primulas might look nice as well.

My word David what a great job you ve done and if it were me I d be wanting to move in what a lovely setting.I m all for wild but comes a time when things need to breathe a little ..hogweed yuk the sap is truly awful.

Sure all the wildlife will benefit from you considering them re - chemicals and something very satisfying about reusing materials I ll resist the Scottish stereotype lol we in Yorkshire have a similar reputation , perhaps why like this so much ! Think after all this you should be known as m ' lord..

The hard work has definitley paid off- lovely and well done :)

You`ve worked so hard David but its definitely paid off. Its a real haven as you say and a credit it to you, come next spring with M`lady`s bulbs alongside your planting it will be really lovely.........

Well done, one of the most interesting blogs I have read for a very long time. Thoroughly enjoyed reading it, would love to come and walk through there myself. Pity I live so far away !! I love it all.

Many Thanks, folks, for all the lovely comments. :-))

Candelabra primulas, Bulbaholic - great idea, Thank You! These would look perfect in this area, and a lovely replacement for the Himalayan balsam. Have added this to the plantlist. :-))

LOL! Bb, I don't mind being stereotyped, especially as this project, so far, hasn't cost a penny. :-))

Yes, Heron, the pegs for the steps are of treated exterior timber, but will keep the elder in mind should I have to cut any more back. :-))

A truly beautiful blog David, what a change you have made, I love the elder arch, logs and grasses, how lucky you are to be in such wonderful surroundings ! =`0)

You really sound as though you're enjoying it all, David. Good on you! You're doing a great job there. That Himalayan Balsam gets everywhere, doesn't it.

I spotted some upstream of our garden - I'll get OH to go round and remove as much as he can,or we'll be inundated again. :-(((

great blog & pics David ,best thing is it cost you nothing ,love the steps they look like they have always been there..well done :o)

David I'm so impressed with how much conservation work you have done in what seems like a short space of time , how on earth do you get time to do your own garden ? those steps are brilliant and add to the natural character , I must send you some snowdrop bulbs when I dig some up ,, every little helps ...:o))

Many Thanks, Grandmage. Yes, I am lucky to have this wonderful place to be able to try out so many different things. :-))

Thank You, Spritz. I did always want a stream, especially after seeing your own. Never really thought I really would, of course. Yes, that HB does get everywhere. I can't do anything with the opposite bank, which is covered, so will keep getting "immigrants" I suppose. Hope your OH can get rid of as much as he can. Thank Goodness it does pull out very easily! :-))

Amy, that would be wonderful, Thank You so Much! My own garden, being small, is so easy to keep, and doesn't require much apart from watering, and tending to the small amount of veggies we grow in containers. :-))

Many Thanks, Joan! Yes, I'm pleased with the fact that I was able to use materials to hand rather than cost the owners unnecessary ezpense. :-))

Wow David what a transformation it is looking wonderful "themselves" will be thrilled when they return, I love the steps, much better use of the wood than the lounge fire!! the elder arch and planting are inspired additions to a lovely peaceful spot, thankyou for taking us to Haven again :o)

You're very welcome, Neellan! I expect my mobile to be alerting me to messages next weekend, lol, especially from "M'lady". "Squire" doubted that this area could ever be "tamed", but we knew better!!! Thankfully, I hardly raided the woodpile to make the steps, which only took an hour or so to make. May need that log fire this winter, as we have so many ideas, much of which can be started, and continued, over the coming winter, when most of the "mundane" tasks of lawn-mowing, hedge trimming, etc. can stop Yes, I particularloy liked creating the arch shape from that overgrown elder!

Am looking forward to seeing this "reclaimed" area in the Autumn, with its leaf colours and (dare I say this?) even with a "dusting" of snow next Jan/Feb !! :-))

Tons of hard labour in that David, but Wow! how it has paid off! Your colleague should be well pleased with such a major transformation!

A brilliant blog David, and what a transformation.I do envy you having that space to work with,and the peace and quiet.I may work at Kew Gardens but we have the noise of traffic and aircraft overhead,not to mention thousands of people! Thanks for posting and I hope all your hard work is appreciated.

I feel I am out for a walk when I look at your photo's David, they are really nice ,lots of work you have done and I look forward to your next photo's.

Many Thanks, Grammazoo! Yes, I know that she will be excited, when she sees it! :-))

Thank You, Rbt! Must admit, never thought of the noise and the many visitors you have at work. I occasionally see walkers on the lane outside who sometimes stop to chat, which is nice, but a bit of a "distraction". Down on the stream banking, however, it is very very quiet. ;-))

So glad that you enjoy the "walks", Khayla! Many Thanks for this lovely comment. :-))

What a great job, i love the rustic steps and the snowdrop walk through. It must have been a treat working there too. :)

What a fabulous job you've done David.
It must have been hard work but the feeling of satisfaction on completion must have been immense.
I almost envy you !

you have done a fantastic job david, dont know how you find time with your work and your garden and looking after the kids to, would love to have a stream bank, they look wonderfull, well done ;o)))

you have been busy. lovely ideas and lovely blog.

It sure is, Mrsparrow! You have done well with your own plot, and am sure that your Grandma is going to love what you do with her garden. Will "hop" back over to your pages to see what you get up to, and am sure that you will get loads of help, and ideas, from GOY, as I have!! :-))

Many Thanks, Val - my "mission" is to make you envy me, totally!! LOL! :-))

Should have been a "time management manager" in real life, Sandra ( and they say that us blokes can't do more than one thing at a time??? lol! Many Thanks!! :-))

Am really enjoying trying out a lot of what I have learned over the years, in this place, Sbg! :-))

Will be back there on Wednesday and Thursday this week, to strim the lane, trim the hedges, give the lawns a mow, and check the borders for weeds When they come back from the Maldives early Friday evening, and drive round the bend, just before the cottage comes into view, I want them to reallly think "There's no Place like Home" (to borrow a famous quote from a previous garden theme of ours, lol!) The Maldives???? I know where I'd rather be!! :-))

lol david thats why i was surprised, "multi tasking" etc hahah good on ya david ;o))

Fantastic! Love the Juncus. The steps and banks look brilliant now after all your work. Roll on next spring and snowdrops! Added blog to my favourites!

David wow fantastic and I know you are on your element.

This really is stunning and I too am watching this blog.

Hope we get to see this snowdrop walk in person.

Fascinating stuff David!!!..you are really in your element here.....keep up the good work...and look forward to the next blog :-)

:-D), Sandra!

Hope to see some snowdrops here next year, Lulu - Many Thanks! :-))

Does it show, Scotkat and Alice? :-))) Many Thanks!

:-))))))))).....sort of....lol

Oh, dear!!! Will better get a move on then, to have something to look at at a future date! :-D)

Just had another gr8 day there today, but not down by the stream :-((

Enjoy :o)

I did, Bo'sun, and the hot tub soak after, even better, lol!!! Going back in the morning for more "punishment" . time to get out the big, industrial power tools, again!!!. Gr8!!! :-))

Thought I had a job on, but it looks like I got it easy looking at your project, its starting to look well and I love the way you have planed the steps,best of luck with it looking forwards to seeing the finish job.
Regards Terry

Oh, this blog is a joy to scroll through, David, I felt as though I'd taken a walk in the woods ! The 'new' steps look so fitting on the slope, very creative of you to construct them. I have visions of the Spring now, the stream banks a mass of colour from the bulbs you'll be planting. Want to borrow my bulb-planter ... lol ! !

you doing a fantastic job there david , loveing that steam . all looks so natural. i to like the steps . and all the grasses .

Great work been done there Reminds me of St. Annes park.

Insustrial Power tools? oooer sounds like more hard work in Haven, more improvements to the already perfect Haven that is!...............you definitely deserve a hot tub after all that work lol

u got a hot tub david lol

Thanks, all!

Terry, I doubt if this will ever be "finished", haha! I'm wondering how it will "evolve", though :-))

Oh, yes, please, Shirley, to the bulbplanter offer, if it's a petrol-driven industrial sized one! :-))

:-D) Neellan and Christina - no, to the hot tub in the garden! :-))

I think that this area of the garden looks very much like a park, too, John. :-))

David!! my kind of garden!! heavenly and basically left to it's own devices once every thing get settled in - how divine!! mine is an Aussie version of it but how I wish I had that much space - sigh with gentle envy =)) how fulfilling to be able to spend you time watching it all meld and thrive - wonderful blog - thank you =))

PS - well done for fending off the 'take the easy way out and damn the consequences' brigade!

Many Thanks, Cate, from my fave land! :-)))

i hope to be able to be "in control", of this area, especially, as I have seen some marvellous wildlife around the stream since spending real time here.
Expecting a text from the owners tomorrow (Friday) night when they return from the Maldives, and have a couple of pics of wildlife in their garden, which should cause excitement, and enthusiasm! :-)))

Excellent work, David :o)))

... response from the owners ???

Welcome back, Tt!! Text message received last night:-"The garden was ab fab when we came home. THANK YOU SO MUCH! Love the STEPS! And the grasses, etc. XX" Will catch up with them tomorrow when I go along. :-))

it looks fantastic! makes me tired just thinking of all the hard work .but well worth it .

Definitely, Dab!! Looking forward to watching, and helping, this area develop. Many Thanks! :-))

Just finding these blogs, one of the most interesting blogs I have read, I am so impressed with all your hard work and ideas, you obviously love the job you are doing, well done.

Many Thanks, again, Dd. :-))