For the kind GoYers who asked to be updated . . .

Thanks Julia . . . we face NE (as before), so shady on the RH side, but some sun on the left. Yes, it will be fun, I hope, starting over!

You don't hang about do you!

Lol Siris . . . the garden means so much to me that I was determined to get going as soon as possible . . :)

Wow, what a great difference. You may have lost some privacy, but boy, you've gained some light!

That's right, Karen. We actually like the variegated Leylandii at the back, and would have bought two more to fill the gap but apparently they're not available any more.

Hmm..I have chamaecyparis ‘Silver Threads’ and ‘Summer Snow’. They grow more slowly of course, but would give a similar effect.

It's going to be great Sheila. We lived for years with our conifer hedge for privacy but took the plunge to remove and the difference is amazing, get your strategically placed trees in place and you'll be sound.

What are the two trees bottom right Sheila?

Thanks Dawn.

They are cooking apple trees, Karen.

Great! ?

I look forward to seeing how you transform this "blank canvas' to make it your own. It has good bones though.

Thank you Paul - glad you can see the potential! Btw, grab a magnifying glass and have a look at the plan (about three photos back) - drawn up by an imaginative professional garden designer. I love the design, but will change a few details . . .

Sorry Karen - I forgot to thank you for your suggestions. I like the look of C. silver threads, though apparently it prefers sun??!!

Well, all my garden is sunny, so I cant really help there, but I find most plants will take more shade than the labels suggest.

Almost a blank canvas,Sheila,so you have plenty of scope to do what you want..how good is that? It looks so much better and lighter without them..and how did we all know you would be out there as soon as possible ?? Lol.x

That's right, Sandra, thank you. I'm certainly having fun looking through gardening books and making choices . . . plenty of scope, as you say :) x

I think with experience, it’s more a case of knowing what plants we don’t want rather than what we know what we would like :)

You're so wise, Dawn, I'm sure you are right :)

Yes, agreed. I keep trying stuff I don't really like now. And it never works. I don't know why I tried with Chrysanths...I think I'll stick to buying them from the florist! And I keep removing large herbaceous perennials. Never been one for big HPs...much prefer trees shrubs and underplanting with spring bulbs, hostas, Hellebores, geraniums, penstemons, campanulas etc.

I think we get sucked in to having plants we are lead to believe we should have sometimes, I do it alot, like having plants even I can't fit in lol. Now I love big perennials Karen. Gardening is so complex.

You have plenty of space for big perennials Dawn! :) Enjoy! Today I hav3 been debating whether to remove the Asters. I like them, but they get really tall, and need support. I might try giving them a Chelsea chop next year.

I've had the tall asters in the past but no, too floppy, my unnamed ones are neat, size and shape of a basketball lol