Wildlife area. Work gets started horay!!!!!!!

What a good blog great, you are working hard, just imagine this time next year when it's all planted up and in flower, you will be so proud.

You have done a lot of hard work here, I am sure there will be lots of members who can advise you on planting for wildlife.
Is this where you will put your chosen plant with 'Magic' in it's name? Have you decided on one yet?

There is a plant which changes colour in the flower its called Magic Marlot, its lovely, I have one, it flower s all year round changes colours too. To make you garden look wider towards the top the arch off centre with high trellis one side, comming off the arch, then you could have climbers. Sticks or small wooden branches are not good for the compost, as they will take for ever to rot down. If you take a photo like your tree, before you copy to your ablum right click and rotate clock wise then add to your album it will be the right way up. As for putting two pictures up, lol I do the same at times he he, I say a senial moment. haha. Lovely blog, I can see what you are trying to achieve.

Have chosen quite a few Potty. Dahlia Magic Moments, this is too big really but I will plant it anyway and try my best to keep it a bit smaller - the plant may have other ideas though lol. Verbena aztec plum magic and pink Magic for a hanging basket these I have already planted. Camelia Magic Mum lovely pink colour this is the 'chosen plant' for me anyway ; Christmas Rose as Magic was born on Christmas day; My daughter wanted this one. Paeony Latifloria but again this is one metre in diametre, so maybe not! Delphiniums Mini Magic fountains; These will be planted in the wildlife area. Zantedeschia Black Magic bulbs; These will all be dotted around the garden. As Magic always sat wherever we were working. Phew I won't have any money left in my purse but she is worth every penny.

A nursery chap who owns the nusery said any bright coloured flowers attract wild life, butterfly shrubs attract butterflies, but do grow large, or you can keep them cut back as then they flower better. As you like going in the 1.00 shop they do a box of seed s you just rake and scatter various flowers in it, its called wild life seed.

Thanks sixpence. I did wonder about the tree lol. The Magic marlot is that the last pic you put up today, just seen your photos lovely. Not sure I understand what your saying about the arch and trellis sorry. Maybe its the pain killers Ive taken. Broke my toe last night when I had spent all day digging the area. Got in the shower, came out still thinking about the gaden and smashed my foot into a box, and broke my toe!!!!!. I wouldn't mind (well I would really) but it was the same toe I broke 2 years ago. Only 2 yrs ago I couldn't reset it myself it was completely hanging off. Hope your not eating your tea.!!!

I've seen those seeds Sixpence. We got some from the BBC once

I have bought a box, for later perhaps I m too late in shake and rake lol.

I think your garden is coming on lovely,Great,and can see exactly where you are going with it,as regards the wavy path.So sorry you have broken your toe.I I remember how it feels.Can you believe,we were on a Pedalo in the sea in Benidorm,when it tipped,and I fell off.I hit the only rock in the Med,I think!!! Its ok,you can laugh,everyone else does.:o))

Awww....my deepest condolances on your loss...May Magic Rest In Peace....at least till she comes back to visit you! :o))

Sorry Bloomer I did laugh!! At least YOU were having fun!!!!! I walked into a heavy box. How I managed not to swear I don't know. My toes are a horrible purple colour now and it throbs so much. Wonder if the kids will cook the Sunday dinner for me today, ouch it hurts lol. Could play on the sympathy vote hmmmm. No I won't need to my 3 are wonderful!! the youngest (20) has brought me endless cups of tea and the twins (26) will cook the dinner and tell me not to take any pain killers today so that I can have my usual glass of wine with my Sunday dinner bless. There all good girls I am so lucky

Healerwitch thank you, you believe in that to. I have seen many a departed relative and animal. Magic will come one day, hopefully when I have made 'her bit' of the garden lovely for he and we get her ashes back.

owww hope your toe gets better quickly......after all your hard work in the garden....

Your blog is excellent. We all have to learn. I knew nothing about it when I first joined. In fact I had never heard the word 'blog' and didn't know what on earth it meant lol...

I can understand how you feel about Magic. I have cats whose souls follow me everywhere lol, and I'm sure Magic is still with you in your heart. :o))

I love your trellis. It looks really nice.

Hywel thank you so much!! Magic is everywhere my friend. I still find her hair when I wash the girls socks lol I can sense her watching me in the garden. While I have my memories she will always be allive. We are going to put her ashes under her favourite tree and say a little prayer for her when we get them.

That will be nce. :o)

She will just love it!

o magic is and was so lovely , my little charlie dog allso died oct 09 14 years old and i have made a rememberance garden 4 her too.wth a little statue. bleeding harts weeping willow 4 get me nots primroses, camparnla plox hardy geraniem spelling crap by the way. but buddlia 4 butterflies ox eye disies foxgloves etc wud b nice as well. i love wot u r doing and gud luck i have bin redoing all my garden this year as hubby desided to cut down a lot of rotten trees and make garden bigger , bin hard work but its doing well now . raining here 2 day so may do sum housework lol . happy gardening and soz bt ur toe hope it get better soon . i am allways doing things like that as well .

Oh Christina I'm so sorry 9th Oct is my birthday, So I shall remember Charlie. Christina I have broken so many things it's a shame and a blimming nuisense!! I have broken several toes, several fingers and 2 ribs!!! I wouldn't mind but i am not adventerous break my bones doing very ordinary things. What am I like??? No don't answer that haha. Its interesting you have chosen a lot of flower tht we chose for Magic i.e. bleeding heart, foxgloves,campanula. What statue have you got. One of my daughters wants a buddia!

Great,we have so much in common,re breaking things.My mum wanted me to be checked out for brittle bones ,when I was a kid,as I had broken my arm twice,and a leg,by the time I was 10,not counting numerous sprains etc.They refused,as they said I was just clumsy.:o)) Have got a bit better with age,hopefully.!! Glad you planting ideas are coming along nicely,and sorry,but do you mean your daughter wants a cross between a Buddlia and a Buddha? Wow .thats one i haven't heard of before :o))))) I want one too ........

Bloomer been there done that lol My adult children wanted me checked for that as well Dr. said no mum hasen't got brittle bones and I quote "she's just getting old and clumsy" I'm 50!!! If we lived closer together Bloomer we could chat about our aliments ha ha I'm unlike you in one respect, I seem to be getting worse the older I get. My kids are always asking "what have you done now!" No bloomer my spelling is a bit wak today lol I meant she wants a buddha. I have a very dark corner in this area in the top left hand corner nearest to the house, thought the Buddhia could go there or a tiny sink pond. No idea if it will work.

To everyone who's read my blog when can I start planting it up????. I dug it over last friday. The earth is sinking nicely so whennnnnnnnnnnnnn?? Pottygardener where are you?? I need advise and from everyone else. The area keeps looking at me as if to say i'm here, still here lol No plants why??????????? lol

Lol,Great..I knew you meant a Buddha really,and i'm sure it would look nice,where you would like to put him.I 'm sure it would be good to start your planting,Pauline,if they are frost hardy.The forecast has given it to come colder at night this week,and we had some ground frost here on Saturday,even though it turned into a lovely day.As you are so much further south,you will probably be ok.It is raining here today,so I am glad ,as everything was so dry.It would be ideal if you have had rain too,for planting.You could always protect with garden fleece,if you decide to make a start,I can see you are raring to go :o))....x

Im looking forward to the rain bloomer!! My water butt is nearly out of water. I am in pain with my shoulder, arthritis i'm falling apart, literally. So it hurts when I carry the watering can around. My daughter tried to 'help' last night my putting the hose on the garden; the plants all look battered and bruised today lol Soil everywhere!!!!. The hanging baskets look a bit bare of soil today to. Thank God plants are living and can fight back ha ha. Think I will start planting up tomorrow. Pain killers at the ready.. I wouldn't mind but I have never been ill in my life. I got to 47ish and started falling apart. At least when the garden has had it's make over I can sit back and enjoy it. Just a bit of weeding here and there. Yeah right lol : ) Oh look I've even learnt how to do smilly faces now. Theres no stopping me ha ha ha.Erh well almost lol

My water butts were empty too,so glad of the rain today.You made me smile :o))
when you mentioned the smiley faces.When i first joined, I had no idea what all the sqiggley things were,so as not to seem a thicko,I
will admit now,I sent a PM to the first person who added me as a favourite to ask what they were.!!! The world is your oyster now,Pauline .Lol.

Well young lady, what a 'great' blog, Great, double photo's an all!

The garden will take shape over time and you just need to go with the flow. This patch already looks good with the trellis and if it's wildlife you're after, then Buddlia are great for butterflies. If you have a Poundland near you, last week they were doing a box of mixed seeds for a quid that covered up to 15 square feet I believe. One of the mixes was a wildlife mix so may be worth a look in when you got a minute as a little bit of unkempt wildness in that area might be quite nice as well.

Google flowers loved by wildlife and away you go! You're on you're way now so keep at it:0))~

I had to laugh Oddbillie "young lady" (50!) lol Thats part of my touble I go with the flow and the garden looks mis matched. Cant wait for summer to come and then I will have some height in the garden; with the canterbury bells and th fox gloves. At the moment it all looks flat, nice and green but flat. My garden is full of pot holes. Its hard doing it on my own . Tried levelling it a few years ago; havent got the energy to try again. So maybe I'll just fill in the holes with compost and throw some more grass seed in the holes ha ha

Why don't you fill the holes with compost and plant some bedding with some height in the middle of them? Make it a little random then and maybe plant some more flowers to attract wildlife....

Mis-matched is good anyway. Makes it more interesting I think:0)

you mention a pond later on in the questions . i was wondering if you couldnt have a natural pond joining onto your natural garden.being slim you could even have it right across your garden and have a bridge of some sort across it maybe.water is a great way of getting wildlife into your wild garden.birds love bathing and ofcourse drinking like all animals and insects etc.if you did it the right shape with your wavey path it would break up that corridor look of your garden a bit to.especialy with some well placed trellis or and the odd arch and fence panel comming across from either side with your wavey path going round them.it would give the idea of a never ending garden as you wouldnt actualy see the end from your kitchen.you could have a hidden garden up the end or alturnativley put the less atractive parts of gardening right up the other end ie the shed,pots,composters etc.to take the double picture of of your blog which youve done realy well first time bye the way , just count back the photos on your blog then go to edit and take that one out bye highlighting the writing and dumping it.sorry to hear about your dog its like you say never easy . ive got 5 dogs but i cant be without them.it doesnt help your pain but that is a good age for an alsation actualy. take care bye for now .

Thanks Nosey. The back part of my garden is in full sun so don't really want the compost down there. Haven't got a shed on my wish list lol. Like ur idea of the pond and the bridge, You could always draw it for me to have a look at lol. You've got some good ideas. Im glad u liked my blog.

cant wait to clear my garden,know it will be hard work but you have made a great job,the wavy path is a good idea,i thought maybe pebbles for mine or bricks,sorry about magic but she is prob watching you put everything in as it is and haveing a sleep in the sun,chris

your more than welcome great

Ladybug. To tell the truth, all of us, meaning myself and my 3 girls kept turning around yesterday when we were all in the garen, it was as if we felt Magic's pressence. Even her favourite bush get moving even though there was no breeze.

its also force of habit great .

In the corner of this wildlife area it gets no sun at all. Could I plant some bamboo there? I desperate to find something that will grow up the fence!! and make it look more natural

im not sure about bamboo great.why dont you re ask the question what grows quick and doesnt need much sun as new question on its own.

ok cheers

your welcome

Hi Great~this is a fantastic blog,and you should be very proud of it! Loved your photos too,and you are blessed with a great sense of humour.(No pun intended lol) Your garden will be a real haven when completed, just watch out for all those inanimate objects that are out to get you my friend lol!
My heart aches at the recent loss of a very special pet, Magic looks wonderful, and so much a part of your family, my thoughts are very much with you at this saddest of times, Great.
Like Hywel, I know we never really lose our pets,the love-link cannot be broken,as you know, your precious dog is still with you,only just out of sightxxx

Thank you Floribunda. Magic's ashes are coming home very soon. So I must start planting up this area. I have some ice plants, some Elephants ears and field scabious and some nice grasses to plant in this area. Still trying to find something to grow up the fence as its a bit dark and dingy down this side.

Whatever you plant there will be special in itself, Great, just wanted you to know I was thinking of you............xxx

yes your dogs energy will just move on into something else you love xx

dont know how ive missed your blog pauline but im here now and really enjoyed it, so sorry about magic its awfull to loose our beloved friends and companions xx

Sandra I was wondering the other day if you had seen this blog. Glad you found it. Glad you enjoyed it. It looks really diffeent now doesn't it? now its had its transformation!!!! Wow what a difference a day makes. Mr & Mrs blackbird are frequent visitors already. Its so exciting!!

it sure has made a difference pauline and so glad mr and mrs blackbird are enjoying it to, sounds like your enjoying the changing to, im so pleased for you ;o))

Sandra, I must admit then when it comes to wildlife of any description Im like a big kid!! I get excited and If I can do 'my bit' then Im happy

i can understand that pauline, lover of wildlife myself ;o))

Awww - Magic is a beautiful girl. My eyes are wet now :-(

me to wear would man kind be without wild life ?

Well I can only speak for myself Nosey If there were no wildlife I would be bored stiff!!!
Sid sorry I made you cry!, I'm still tearful at times myself, didn't think Magic passing would be so hard. But I am sure when the garden comes together I will be happy again x

death is a big part of life and theres no shame in crying . its a good release of pain as is the odd swear word if you smack ya finger lol .you would be pretty hartless if you didnt get upset about a loved ones passing .as for wildlife id like to see humans polynate just 1 field of barley,corn you name it . even flies that i have a dislike for . can you imagine how many rotting courpses would be about without them.as for you and me i would be bored stupid without wildlife .ive got a wren making a nest in my pagola right outside my patio doors .its like a free nature program for the whole summer.

Oh, lucky, lucky you.pictures please. I have a wren who visits the pond and sits on the fence. Your right about the barley field. Creatures are amazing.

ive got pictures of the nest and my garden etc but i havnt got a good enough camera to actualy get a picture of him .ill do a may 2010 my garden and the wren blog .

look forward tomit

keep ya eyes open lol

A wren built its nest in one of my hanging baskets one year! The nest was never used tho....I found out after that the male wren builds several nests and then the female chooses which one she wants to use!

as it goes this male was building 2 nests right next to each other . i do need to use this room so sadly though i hope not his fussy female wont probably like it there .typical woman lol .

Oi you! ;-) Maybe the female would like a terrace house? lol

lol sid xx

great just read blog ans on wot statue ,its a stone replica of a king charles and i have plased it in the middle of the bed as a tribute. how is your area and pond coming on , more pics please.

Ok Christina,you may need to wait until after next weekend. Some of my plants are coming into flower. Making little tweeks everyday at the mo