A PROGRESS REPORT...

Wow what a change - it's looking fabulous. Just love the back bed and your pots. I too know all about looking after an elderly parent and it's not always easy - as you say it's the garden that acts like a sanctuary as it does for so many. I do hope your mum gets better soon and that you can get more time in your garden.

Looking good Llew! Yup, I've "been there, done that" with the elderly parent thing. Just hang on to your good memories and take time for yourself when you can - it's important.

Dont' be concerned about the lupins. I dug up a few in the early Spring and replanted them to give them all a bit more space and the show at the moment is spectacular. Strange how I managed to re-position all the pink ones instead of having a multi-coloured show?

Wow 1st class improvement, Very well done, you have worked wonders,

what a improvement, it looks great keep up the good work,
and i do hope your mum gets better

Wow! What a transformation...it looks great Llew :)

Youv'e done a brilliant job of your garden Llew, What a difference.. Its Blloming Lovely..

I agree with everyone. You have done amazingly with that garden. Well done!

Its a great garden Llew.

OMG its wonderful Llew :) uv made it look so Gorgeous well done :D

dont you just love it when a scheme/plan comes together?
what a lovely garden well done llew.

Wow what a difference!! Looks fantastic Llew, hope you mum gets better soon, enjoy your break although going up and down to the hospital is very tiring i know!

Sorry about your Mom. It can be harder on the caregiver sometimes.

What a wonderful transformation, nice job!

Thanks, guys. I'm glad you like it. :o) I must admit, I am quite chuffed how it's come along.
It's surprising how much you can pack into such a small space isn't it? I really thought I had no more space and yet, there are actually a couple of gaps I could fill but I think I'll use some annuals this year and look into more perennials next spring when I move some of these around.

Thanks for good wishes for mum too. She will be in a few more days they tell me today. I'll not bore you with details, but it's nothing too serious. Blood sugar is her main problem and she's had some nasty falls too. It's also surprising just how many of us there are that has done the 'elderly parent caring' thing too. All power to us, I say. I just wish the government would be a bit more caring.

Anyway, back to the subject. Veg next. I really have to get some veg seedlings planted and I thought, as I've not long put manure down on the shrub bed, that might be a good place to put them. I fancy some lettuce and sprouts in amongst the pyrocantha's and buddlieas, lol. Mind you, it might be too late to plant them now. I don't know, never having grown veg.

You,,ve really turned it around Llew it looks great,sorry about your mum but as you say its giving you a little breathing space so enjoy it...........

Not too late for sprouts Llew - go for it!

Oh, thanks, Nariz. :o) I'll try and get them in asap then. Got some purple broccoli too, so I'll give them a go aswell.

I love these before and after photos. It looks great

You must have worked so hard! I haven't done anywhere nearly as much as you and know how much effort (and money!) it takes. Sorry to hear about your mum - I can sympathise with you - it is so difficult when parents become 'elderly'. Lose yourself in your garden - it will help

Well done what a change you really been working hard, i have 3 lady boothly had them about 3-4yrs now in summer they are brill, infact each year they just get better.

Just to be boring, I have to repeat what everyone else is saying, but it's no less heart felt: Well Done You!!! I'm glad you have this garden to escape to, we all need our space, so don't feel guilty for it!

Well done you! What a difference, it's lovely! Sorry to hear about your mum - it can be difficult, I know. I hope you manage to get a "garden fix" every so often.

This is just a fantastic transformation! You deserve all the lovely comments and add mine to them. I know how hard it can be caring for a miserable elderly parent (!in one way or another they are aren't they?!) but this is a wonderful place to give you a lift.
I try never to weed when in a desperate mood after dealing with my mother - otherwise I can be a bit too brutal until I calm down. The good thing is that the nettles don't sting as much when you are angry!

Thanks, everybody. :o)

Gardenmaid, I'm sorry if you've got a miserable mum too. Grrrrrrrrrrrrr to them. Still, we have our gardens and that's a blessing. I did get the weedkiller out this morning but was in no mood for hand pulling, lol. I might have been a bit brutal too, lol.

Oh Llew your garden is a credit, what a transformation. And as for your caring for your Mum don't feel too upset about enjoying your small break while she is hospitalised, I cared for my Father-in-law for almost a year before we lost him, and when he was in hospital it was a small relief. But now my Mother-in-law is developing althzeimers. Unfortunately if your willing to look after someone who is infirm the government don't give a monkey's and will gladly let you do it. It always makes me wonder when your parents stop being parents and become your children, I know it's hard but chin up because it's a great job your doing.

great job, wow, but wasn't it fun. I love pulling places like that together. Good luck with Mom.

Fantastic transformation! Hope that you get to spend some time out there, just sitting and enjoying the fruits of your labours.

Thanks, guys. :o) I know it's only small and concrete, but I'm so glad you like it. When I look at some of the pics of your beautiful gardens mine pales by comparison, but it's all I have and I do love it. :o)

Bobg, thanks for that, hun. :o)

Llew, I've only just caught up with your blog - thanks for showing us the great difference in your garden! You have worked so hard and it all looks wonderful - congrats on that. :-) OF COURSE you love it - it's yours and you created it!

I do so agree with you about the carer bit - I turned into a parent for my Mum last year so I had my own 'children' (haha) as well... a very strange feeling, and very, very stressful. I feel for you. Hugs. XX

Thanks, Spritz. :o) I'm glad you like it, especially with the garden you have!!!!, lol. And, well done you too on being a 'psuedo parent'. :o)

:-)

Looks great - just like a fairy has waved a magic wand.

What a transformation - well done it looks super!!

well done you...it looks so much better

All power to your elbow....what an amazing difference you have made, gardening is very good for the soul so they say. Sorry about your Mum troubles I too have been down this road, not easy!!

Thanks again. :o)

Dotty, 'good for the soul' is a super way of putting it, hun.

There seems to be quite a few 'mum problems' around at the mo. Mine didn't come home, she's still in hospital and although I would now have more time to potter outside, the weather is Brrrrrrrrrrrrr!!!!! and I'm a wimp, lol.

It was here too, yesterday...we even put the heating on! It has been thundering and some rain this afternoon, but not a lot. I am about to be brave and put a jacket on to do some dead-heading!!! :-(

I'm sorry about your mum...been there, done that, as they say. :-(

Thanks, Spritz and Avis. :o)

Lots more flowers out in the last couple of days. Makes it all worthwhile, doesn't it? :o)

Congrats llew, its all looking great, very professional......I love 'before' and 'after' pics....:>)

one word, WOW

Thanks, peeps. :o)
I posted quite a few before pics in 'my garden' when I first joined, Motinot so just used these as a reminder, lol.

I really, really will have to have a reshuffle though. The lupins are going crazy. All the rain yesterday and they seem to have grown overnight. The poor Geum is almost buried under them now, lol.

The Euphorbia is invisible so the Aucuba will have to be moved out of the bed completely methinks and the Johnson's Blue will need splitting.

I love seeing turn arounds like this. Big difference. It's projects like this that keep us sane and doing what we have to do.