How the Garden has Evolved
By oliveoil
21 comments
I have been looking back at old garden pictures and comparing how the garden looked in 2010 and how it has changed and grown in the last 5 years of work.
This led me to thinking how someone might like to know how long and how much pleasure gardening can give someone. So I thought I would write a blog to give (hopefully) inspiration and encouragement. :-
I started gardening an area which was just grass and old tree stumps after the youngest went off to school about 24/25 yrs. ago and made borders small to start with which gradually grew larger each year until what you see now.
I made trellis and fence panels and put in crazy paving. I was given some old paving slabs, some I broke up to make the crazy paving, others which were not damaged were utilised for stepping stones. Someone gave me some large rocks which were used to build a rockery. I suppose you could say I garden the recycling way.
Plants have been donated by people who no longer needed them. Cuttings have been taken and seeds have been sown. Not all attempts at growing were successful but the majority of efforts were rewarded with colourful flowers. The children bought plants for birthday presents and special occasions, always the best sort of gifts for me. Garden centres were visited at various times of the year. I wanted flowers in the garden for as much of the year as was possible. That is not easy to achieve but I think there is only about two months when there isn’t a flower of some kind in the garden. Of course the weather does affect how well the garden or for how long it stays in bloom and of course in which area you live can make a huge difference to what you can grow. In our part of the country the soil is clay and has had to be improved with leaf mould and old compost bags and of course planters which have no further use have had their compost thrown onto the borders, all helping to feed and help the plants grow on. We are very fortunate as we have an 80 acre wood and can help ourselves to leaf mould whenever we need to. But that is not as good as it sounds as the large trees and hedges which surround the garden make plants compete for the available sunlight, just another problem to overcome. I just grow very tall plants. (or small plants which grow taller than they should) I have had to learn to live with the problem as have the plants. lol.
Each winter I would plan in my head what project I was going to work on in the following spring and summer. It always caused hilarity when friends came up to visit and wanted to know if planning permission had been granted for each part of the development that I was working on.
I am able now to sit and look around knowing that I have achieved what I set out to make, a beautiful cottage garden full of colour and a place to be able to sit with my OH, who has now retired. We have coffee each morning and sit and relax and look out on our special environment. At this time of year butterflies and bees, moths and dragonflies visit the garden. Frogs, newts and toads are often found in and around the garden and after rain the frogs and toads go walkabout around the paths. Yesterday whilst watering in my new greenhouse something moved out of the compost and made me jump out of my skin. It was the smallest green frog I have ever seen. He/she was carried carefully back to the pond area and left to hop around the wildlife area. In winter we can watch the birds feeding and enjoy watching their antics fighting for the rights over who eats which food and who is highest in the pecking order on the bird table.
It has been a long journey over about 25 years but well worth the effort so if you are starting your journey do not be afraid, eventually you will achieve if you keep at the work. It will help you keep fit, keep your mind active and stop you worrying about things which you mostly cannot alter in your life. Enjoy your gardens, even in the bad weather and make the most of your surroundings.
Happy Gardening!
7 Aug, 2015
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Comments
What an inspiration to us all.
You have created a truly beautiful cottage garden over the years and it now gives you the daily joy that you so deserve.
The snowy picture is lovely too - hot chocolate in the garden that day!!!
8 Aug, 2015
Therapeutic creativity....nothing better!
8 Aug, 2015
Your garden and its contents has been done in the same way as mine Olive, lots of trees, shrubs, plants as well as the ornaments and furnishings tell a tale of how, where from and why they arrived, it is wonderful to relax and enjoy what we now have, long may that continue, summer has returned here and outside is the best place....
8 Aug, 2015
Like you Olive my garden has changed over the years. We have lived here for thirty eight years now and at the beginning I made few changes to this old walled garden. The boys were little and time was short so that tidying was all I did. Over the last fifteen years the plants have needed refreshing and I have made my mark on the garden. It is a great joy to me and it was lovely to show Karen round on Friday. She gets around doesn't she? :0)
8 Aug, 2015
Another lovely relaxing garden, and how nice to hear
some of its history too. The snow picture really shows of the design- it looks so different doesn't it, and the snowy trees behind look just like fairyland! That's a brilliant shot with sunbeam slanting down onto the flowers.
.
8 Aug, 2015
thank you all for your lovely comments and for enjoying all my hard work. Now where did I put my trowel. lol :O)
9 Aug, 2015
I can also join with you as regards lost tools, lol.......
9 Aug, 2015
lol haven't found it yet, think its hiding under a bush somewhere, it will turn up eventually, unless of course the OH has moved it somewhere I do not know about. lol.
9 Aug, 2015
You've done very well and , so nice, to recycle materials and plants!
14 Aug, 2015
thanks Paul yes it is good to recycle, but then we had to because we didn't have the money spare to spend on the garden.
14 Aug, 2015
Lovely space to sit and relax in and plenty of places for the wildlife to hide in. Like the design of path.
13 Sep, 2015
thank you Lindak, its a lovely place even when covered in snow it has disadvantages as do most gardens but I love being out in it and working or just sitting and enjoying the colour. Thank you for visiting :O)
13 Sep, 2015
It's your own personal space to potter in and relax isn't it.
All the gardens we've had have evolved through the years we were there. The one we have now keeps on losing a bit of lawn to accommodate a few more plants.
13 Sep, 2015
just my way of thinking - who needs to cut grass anyway!!
13 Sep, 2015
You have made a truly beautiful garden, Barbara. It is so satisfying to look back and see how it has developed. I bet you and OH love sitting out there. I love the cottage garden style. Trees certainly are a mixed blessing, aren't they, but I think they add so much.
22 Sep, 2015
yes indeed they are Melchi not looking forward to all the leaves but once they have all fallen I shall spend a day clearing them up and then will leave it all until after the cold winter months. I will not go out and clean them up daily as it is such a waste of time. The garden gets a real covering once they start to fall. I would not be without the trees as they are spectacular after frost and snow has fallen. Pretty amazing sight to see. :O)
22 Sep, 2015
I don't clear the leaves all through the season, either Barbara. I do keep the small lawns clear, but not the beds. Just a step too far for me! I think they are important for the wildlife, anyway, and the blackbirds love rooting around in them!
25 Sep, 2015
:O)
25 Sep, 2015
A bit late and I don't know how I managed to miss this lovely blog but as always I find so much inspiration in your garden. Good to see all the recycling you do, each bit has a history that way, plants, structures or objects. I think it adds an extra layer to your space.
8 Aug, 2016
thank you Resinone, it's a while since I did this blog lol it has changed again since then. Put up a new greenhouse at the top of the left hand border and taken lots more grass out. lol doesn't take me long now to cut the pathways. I can just get round them with my little petrol mower but it is a squeeze in places. lol.
8 Aug, 2016
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Lots of interest around every corner. Thats how a garden should be. Thanks Olive Oil, I particularly liked the winter scene, very picturesque.
8 Aug, 2015