A garden in waiting . . .

Hi Sheila! This brings back some great memories for me! Its just over four years since we moved here with van loads of plants! But not only that....you also reminded me of the waiting thing. You are waiting for your new garden to be built and I am waiting for my new Decking to be built. I venture a guess that we are both waiting for tradesmen to get in touch when they can fit us in! I keep putting it to the back of my mind, but it will make a huge difference to my back garden when it's done. You have lots to look forward to as well! :)

I guess quite a few of us have been there Sheila! Plenty of time to gather your strength and make your plans!
Love your copper beech!

I have a blue Rosemary which I found at the GC winter sale last year, looking bedraggled with that 'Please take me home look about it.' Its sort of Bonsai shape so I kept it in a pot on the bench outside, trimmed any spare shoots off it. Kept it in the same pot.
Its flowering now. Seems an easy way to have a Bonsai
will keep it the same shape next year.

It is great to take plants with you. Some old friends to start your new garden.

Thanks Karen - well, my situation is slightly different from yours. When I first met 'my' garden designer, he said that the reliable 'builder-he-always-uses' wouldn't be free until January. Luckily we'll be in New Zealand for 4 weeks in between, so the time will soon go!

Sue (Stera) Thanks - you're quite right.

Diane - you're right too . . . bonsai are much easier than people think.

Linda - absolutely; I'm so glad I brought them, if only because I have something to look at :)

they will soon repay you when they get planted out in the garden.

I hope I don't have to move again I wouldn't know where to begin saving favs.

True Seaburn, I just need to be patient.

Ah..well I suspect I will also be waiting till Jan. its just I can’t be sure! And no holidayeither...but thats ok..I’ve decided they aren’t worth the effort!

Sheila, what a lovely selection of plants and shrubs you have brought with you! Looks as though the patio gets sunshine too.

I thought of you the other day when a Freecycler was offering many Bonsai pots ... :o)

Thank you Shirley! I don't imagine you bought any bonsai pots?? One can never have too many y'know!

I guess it's as well were going into winter, imagine if it was May and unable to plant your selection. 2018 is going to be very exciting. Are you having quite alot of structural work done by the builder or do we have to wait and see ;-)

Sheila, they were all free to collector but I wasn't tempted!

Good thinking Dawn. The builder will put in a snaking path; paving for new greenhouse and pergola area; create borders, including one with pebbles and cobbles, and erect some trellis. There will be six small trees planted, chosen in discussion with the designer - all very exciting :))

Shirley, how could you resist?!

Wow Sheila, it sounds perfect!

Thanks Dawn - I hope so! It's just very strange to me to be making decisions "all at once" instead of ideas occurring gradually over the years, as the garden evolves.

Btw Dawn, there's a plan of the design in my photos (four photos back) but it's not very easy to read . . .

Yes but with your gardening experience, you'll have ideas on what you would like initially. Thanks I will look back

Maybe Dawn, but I think I'll at least take the planting decisions slowly . . .

Sheila, how could I resist, you asked. I am trying my best to not clog up space with unwanted stuff and have just spent 2 hours, with OH, emptying kitchen cupboards of items not used in a couple of years. Found it very satisfying too ... :o))

I expect you did similar prior to your house move.

We certainly did a lot of that, Shirley, and yet we've STILL got stuff in boxes that we rarely use . . . so I do understand! Hopefully I'm learning to be a bit more ruthless, and yet again we are filling up a box-for-the-hospice in the hall :))

Ha ha Sheila, where does all this 'stuff' come from I ask myself!! Three toast racks in various cupboards, kept just the one.
We took two large boxes and a bag full of items to a charity shop this morning. Judging by the amount of donated goods needing to be sorted, we weren't the only ones having a sort out over the weekend!

Its a good job you are going to New Zealand Sheila, otherwise you'd be there looking out getting very impatient, I know I certainly would, the time is going so fast isn't it, all exciting for you, I like the sound of your design, looking forward to next springtime, by then I think the structural parts will be done and it will be you out there planting all your favs from the other house, I would dread being in your shoes as regards the moving part but would so love putting my stamp on the garden as you will be doing...

Thanks Sue. Yes, it’s fun, and yesterday I had a good meeting with Andrew, “my” designer, and to my surprise he brought along his planting plan, incorporating many of the plants that I’ve brought with me. He’d added a few that I was less enthusiastic about (e.g. Bergenia) but he’s happy to be accommodating about my likes and dislikes. It’s so good that we get on well!

Hi Sheila: Sorry about my late response - I've been consumed with work lately, especially as we approach tax season. I work in Corporate Finance - deadlines galore for me. Anyway, I'm happy to see your progress and impressed with your planning and preparation. Your copper beech is awesome. I just love the color and it should get a prime location - the cornus as well.
I thought of you last week when I rescued a prunus sand cherry from a garden center that was trashing its leftover stock. I wanted to replace an old azalea I was unhappy with. It will have red & purple leaves & of course the cherry blossoms in the spring. Our conversation may have had something to do with it. lol! I hope you are happy in your new home.

Hi Paul, no worries! Thanks for your comments - I love the copper beech too, but it will stay in its tub as I’m keeping it “dwarfed”. It’s always great to find a ‘rescue ‘ tree, and wonderful to have gorgeous autumn colouring. My latest plan is to have a Cornus canadensis Forest Pansy (red bud to you!). Yes, we are happy in our new home :))

Oh yes the redbud. I had one but lost it in a storm - giant heart-shaped leaves. Glad you are happy in your new home.

Enjoy this wonderful autumn everyone - see you next from sunny Wanaka in the south island of New Zealand! x

Sounds Fab Sheila, I spent a month in Auckland, went scuba diving! - I believe they are just coming into Springtime. Is that right? Enjoy!

Have a wonderful time with your son and his family ...

Enjoy your visit Sheila, I think you'll be dancing on air when greeting your family, catch up next year, have a wonderful christmas all of you...

Many thanks Paul, Shirley and Sue. We’ve just arrived - quite tired after the long journey. But we have a few days to recover before meeting the little ones. It is pleasantly warm, yes, late Spring.

Frosty one morning last week ... bitterly cold this evening ... bet you're glad to be away from the U.K. !!!

Shirley, November is the best choice for an escape from the UK! We have been exceptionally lucky as temps here are between 23 and 28 degrees.

Paul (Bathgate) Thought of you this morning when the siren went off for the volunteer firemen!

LOL Thanks Sheila, your very sweet. The sirens went off here too... Hope you're enjoying the visit. Which Island are you on? I was in Auckland which is North Island. Have you seen any sights yet?

We’re on the South Island for two weeks, Paul, in a beautiful small town called Wanaka. No famous sights, but we have wandered around a stunning private garden (sign in front saying visitors welcome); done magic painting with Chiara, 6, and Francesca, 3; taken them paddle boarding and to a climbing wall! When they fly home to Melbourne, OH and I will head to the North Island and relax on the Coromandel peninsula for a few days, then fly to UK from Auckland.

Sounds like fun Sheila..magic painting? I'll have to look that one up, I'm intrigued! Did you climb the wall? Sounds like a blast! Have a safe trip back.

Is there really a place called Coromandel? I only heard of it in Edward Lear's sad nonsense poem about the Yongy Bongy Bo, and thought he'd made it up!
Ignorance is a terrible thing...

Sounds ideal Sheila ... thinking of you as I take off my boots/scarf/gloves after a walk around Arundel.

Yes Sue, Coromandel is real, and next week I’ll be there and will take some pics.

Lol Shirley, glad to hear you were wrapped up warm, and braving the cold for a walk.

Paul, I did not climb the wall! I prefer to keep my limbs as they are, and take life at a gentle pace.

Sheila, milder today so I have been out in the garden for an hour. Cut a Buddleja down by half, same with the 'Lady Boothby' Fuchsia and cleared some more leaves. Good to be out there! Hope you're having a wonderful time! :o)

We are, Shirley, thanks. It’s such a treat to be on a beach playing with Chiara and Frankie! Just one more day before our goodbyes . . . See them again in 2019 :))

Sheila, I guess you are back home now, ready to face the windy weather forecast for tonight! :o(

Actually Shirley, we have now gone our separate ways. OH and I have come to the coast on the North island while our “Cornish” son, Steve, went off exploring. To our amazement his car came up and parked next to ours just as we arrived - a wonderful surprise that he’d kept secret!

Still a few more warm days before we have to fly home. X

Sorry to “ignore” you Lincs, and thank you. Yes, it’s been great to get to know the grandchildren better - who are of course adorable!

That must have been lovely for you! Well done to Steve .....

:))

Just wondering if you have a start date for your new garden :-)

Oh Dawn - if only! I haven't seen our designer since early November, and he has emailed to say that his 'landscaper', Marcus, is away first week of January and wants to come back and "look at a few things". Marcus had said he'd have a quote for us by 14th December, but obvs that hasn't happened. It's frustrating, but I'm doing my best to be patient, and meanwhile compiling a long 'wish list' of plants. I really miss having a garden and greenhouse to keep me sane!

Hi Sheila, I would be getting anxious too but yes, try and be patient, we certainly have two full months of winter yet to come don't we so not a lot going on out there. Marcus probably needs to come and see what he has to get ordered for the job.

You’re right of course, Dawn. I’m looking forward to meeting this Marcus - hope we get on!

Major storm here Sheila.

I hope he's on your wavelength Sheila, I'm sure you'll get what you want, with experience in gardening, we know how we want things don't we.
Bath, it's stormy here too :-(

stay warm...I can't get my door open!

Oh dear Bath, that is severe weather, do you have wind and rain or even snow and ice?

Very high winds (hurricane force) snow blowing horizontally bone chilling cold very dark an eerie howling in the wind. :O

Oh dear, that sounds severe Paul. Hope you can stay indoors in the warm, and wait out the storm . . .

Thanks i just cleared the walk. Time for tea

Your storm has made the news over here . . . poor East Coast. Windy and cool here (6 degrees), but the sun has come out and the days are getting longer (just being positive!).

LOL I appreciate that. Wow! that was one of the worst storms I've ever been through. It's like the sun never rose. This morning I felt like I was on the moon, but at least its over

Phew :))

A smashing selection of shrubs and perennials for your new garden Sheila...how is it coming on? Have you met with your designer Marcus yet?
The amelanchier is one of my favourite spring flowering shrubs. Mum has the one I gave her when we moved to live in Catalonia.. It's gorgeous. The russet coloured leaves and blossoms like confetti...I'd love another even if it had to stay in a tub. And the hakonechloa, an all time favourite! X

Thanks Janey. Long story but Marcus has now been replaced! I’ll PM you when on my computer - can’t really “chat” properly with one finger. Yes, I loved the Amelanchier in our old garden, and also hope to include Canadensis Forest Pansy(?) and a couple of Acers. x

Wow....stunning colours all year round...it'll be fab!