Garden Projects 2009 - Part 3 - Progress Report...

I like the curvy shapes of your borders, and the planting is good with interesting shrub choices.

Re. obelisks ~
once they have plants on them, you sometimes can hardly see them at all, especially if one of the climbers is evergreen.

I get a bit confused when I look at photos of your borders re. the fencing. How many different types of fence do you have around your back garden? Seems to be a variety ?

Fascinating blog, and I'll be watching progress :o)

I am impressed by the way you have drawn a plan, stuck to it and used the plan so that you start with a section of border and plant it before lifting the next bit of grass. Much more organised than my gardening.

Coming on great, you put me to shame, I want to dig my new borders and take out old shrubs but im being lazy at the minute Majeekahead :) either that or im a bit overwhelmed at all that needs done, ill get stuck in soon i keep promising myself..
I have the same thoughts as TT, is the metal fencing your neighbours, or is it to section off a play area for Brooke? Also I can't help but think your Lawn should be 2 Circles with a path joining the 2 together where your Trellis is..

Angie has just put a photo on GoY which shows the more of the fencing and garden shape.

Do you know, Angie, I can't help but agree with Dee - that would look different and interesting - just a couple of paving slabs would do it! :-)

Working hard Angie and it shows,love the way you always include little Brooke......

You shamed me into drawing up my own set of plans for the very back of my garden Angie. That, of course, means I actually have to work on it.!! It's not just talk anymore. LOL
I am enjoying your progress blogs. Very interesting.
I'm interested in your bog garden. I've been thinking of trying one out myself. What are going to use for the bog? Are you going to dig a hole and line it or are you using a tub with holes in the bottom?

Thanks all of you, and yes i do know what you mean DD and Spritz, the only thing is it will be more than just a couple of slabs, there is approx 15ft between the 2 halves of garden, with the washing line area inbetween, i have actually thought about doing something along these lines in the furture, and maybe paving the area where the washing line is, but the fact of the matter is while Brooke is still bike riding age, i am better off with grass here, the way she steems down the garden would be dangerous if this area was paved, - the garden is very uneven, which to be honest is the main reason that i have no path. but it is something to think about for the future once she grows out of this faze lol i had also thought about arch ways as well which would completely divide the garden. but its all about devopement over time, as we grow and our needs for the garden change, so will the garden! i am completely happy now with the shape, although that may change in time lol

and Gilli, i have'nt yet decided weather it will be a bog or a water garden, at the moment i am leaning towards water, i have seen some really nice half barrels with some sort of small solar powered fountain or something, not too sure about this though due to the Brooke factor, again it may be one that will progress over time, starting as a bog garden - in the half barrel and then as she gets to old for falling in i will make it a water feature. who knows.

and as for the fencing yes it is a bit of a mishmash, the fence on the left is ours - the awful chicken wire. to be honest just not had the sort of cash needed to change it. and the gardens are so long and thin, a high fence would completely block light, which i don't want. when we moved in i spoke to the guy that lives this side and we are both in agreement that we would prefer a natural screen or low fence rather than a tall fence so i have been planting a number of shrubs along this fence to hide it ofcourse it will be a few years before it will look like anthing, but i am hoping in the end it will look like a mixed natural hedge, some evergreen some not, well that is the idea, the other side unfortuately i have no control over, upto where the new bit of garden i have just dug over is, belongs to my nextdoor neighbours, then the last bit is backing onto an ally, and is the responisblity of the houses over the back, apprently each house is responsible for one or two pannels! - have you ever herd anything like it!!!! the bit of willow screen in the middle is my doing as my next door neighbour could not get posts in around the base of the trees (or this was his excuse) so left that bit as it is at the back of his shed anyway - which he uses as a dumping ground! mmm...nice view in the middle of my garden! hense the odd bounderies. as you can see i have many trellis up them so i am hoping in time you will not see any of them and lets face it lots of space for growing climbers! and DD you will have to wait for the next blog to see what i do with the back corner! ;-)

Fascinating ~ all your various fencing !

I was interested, Ang, to see the answer you gave for the 'continuous lawn' as I guessed right ! It would be "Brooke on wheels" Lol. Totally understandable that you need that style of lawn for a while, and you can alter it later.

I have the same situation in my back garden in that I like to have a lawn area with no paving, for my dogs to practise tricks, which include those with wheels, such as pushing toy prams, toy wheelbarrows, toy mowers etc. Lol. :o)

Yeah i know just what you mean, ideally i would love to have much less grass, as long as i have a little bit to sit on or have a picnic etc i am happy, i would love to do so much more with it and cutting the grass is not my favorite job either, but it has to be practical does'nt it. and lets face it Brooke will only be this age for a very short while, i have to make the most of it don't i, she loves the garden at the moment it is mainly bike riding/playing digging up worms etc. so i need to have room and safety for all her many activities. i am hoping in time she will get more into the plant side of things and want to be more involved in that with me, which will be great, and when that time comes the gareden will develope with us, which is all part of the fun me thinks....

Your garden is coming on very nice, I dont thing you will notice your obelisk when your climbers grow up it.

Hi Majeekhead, Your garden is Gorgeous and of course you have to think of Brooke when designing, as you say she wont stay this age forever, :) I was thinking of a grass path which is already there, Sorry I didn't make myself Clear haha I have a habit of doing that, sort of think people can read my mind :) And The Back corner, Come on give me a Clue :))) I love new Projects...So hurry up girl hehe..

Thanks clarice, i think you are proberly right (hope so! lol), and DD ohhh! i see, yes grass path is kind of what i am going for for now, ofcourse will proberly become some sort of paved path in future as less grass cutting lol- hurry up? - you cheaky! :-) i don't think i have done too bad so far! lol interested in Willow structures DD? and you wont have to wait long for the next installment thats all i will say!