Front Garden Facelift

Excellent TT verŷ effective.

Hi Kath... thank you :o)

Hi Tt, I have too much grass as well, I won't call it a lawn, but unfortunately the garden is on quite a steep slope, so if I were to make more flower beds,{ which I don't have the time to do,} they would have to be terraced, which turns it into a much bigger job, so I'll just have to put up with the grass, Derek.

Hi Steve ..
thanks ... Monty Don did offer to help out, but had to stop when his Golden Retriever, Nigel, kept retrieving all the cobbles xxx

Hi Derek ..
I understand your dilemma .. I hummed and haaaed about taking away my grass, and I'm sure if the areas had been steep slopes, it would have been a more difficult decision.

Congratulation, Terra. It looks like a very practical intervention into the garden. Now you can pick flowers, herbs without stepping on them. Hwever - how is your back now? I am afraid, this waits for me, too. Either next week or next spring. I am curious, if you put something under those broken pavings - either layer of sand or layer from the small stones? I was said it is important for stability of each stone in the path.

Hello Kat ... thanks ..
My physio exercises have helped a lot with my back and shoulder pains. I would very much recommend exercises to anyone with similar problems.

The broken pavings have only loose soil under them, but it is fine soil, without lumps or stones, so the pavings don't wobble too much, and I can move a paving or some rocks if necessary.

What a transformation Terra.and a vast improvement on rubbish weedy grass :o)I love your curved design and how the stones change colour with the weather..So glad at last,you are feeling so much better with the Physio..it's been a long slow haul,but you made it :o) and all the help from Conker and Truffle has been very well received too ! I hope your better health continues ..well done :o) xx

Hpw clever TT I did not realise you had such an enormous front garden, it looks smashing in more ways than one lol love the bee and Kew challenge, where theres a will!!
Hope your back continues to improve, look forward to seeing more of your garden makeovers, heres power to your elbow xx

That is brilliant and so interesting. I am impressed- landscape designer Terratoonie.
All the best.

A super result TT what a transformation, so pleased you were able to tackle such a big job after physio Joanne's expert help, I bet Conker and Truffle love helping you at Bee and Kew - such fun on your trips xxxx

I am ever so impressed with your determination as much as with the results Terra. When you said you used a trowel and a fork to lift the turf I as full of dread at the thought of it. As you know, I am also a practised turf lifter, but I have a half moon edging tool and a husband with a spade to help a bit! :)) well done indeed! :)) the thought of splitting those bags of rocks up......:/

I have to admit that I wasn't sure about the lawns going completely because I have always loved the spring time photos of your front garden Terra but I really like it. The planting will look lovely next year. Also those back lawn patches will take by next spring, I often cut and turn turf to repair my lawn edges then add a little bit of seed to blend it in :o)xxxxx

????? Gold Stars for Team Terra ?????

Such brilliant work and eye for colour and shape, especially the ever changing stone three cheers ?

Its good to hear the physio has helped such a lot. I wonder what she would think about what you've achieved in your garden? How you moved those neat turfs with a trowel and fork is beyond me to imagine - its an amazing achievement, even with the robin helping. The boys didn't seem to have made much of a contribution this time except with the transport but after all breaking and carting pavers and stones in your mouth is a bit too much to ask...perhaps they were part of the design team?

Thanks Sandra, Dotty, Klahanie and Neena ...
I seem to have been working non-stop during 2014, so I'm glad my aches and pains have improved and now are mainly staying away. xxx

Thank you Karen ...
There's only me to do all the tasks, so I find ways of doing these things ... even if sometimes rather unorthodox !

Annie, I had the same thoughts as you about how my garden would look in springtime, but, amongst the rocks, I've put in quite a lot of split plants from around my gardens, and bought a few little new ones, so I hope it will look okay. Thanks for the encouragement about the turf. I think my back lawns might need a bit more improvement next year. xxxxx

Hi Pam ... I'm really glad you like the black rocks ... and thanks for so many stars ! xxx

Hello Stera ...
Conker and Truffle worked hard on the eating challenge to ensure they weren't underweight when it came to acting as ballast in the car to balance out those sacks of stones.

I told Joanne the physio lady all about my work on the dog run fencing and gates, and she knew I was planning to tackle another garden project ...
....she did warn me not to try to do too much too soon, but once I get stuck into a project I sort of forget advice about taking it easy ... however, I'm very good at stopping every so often to do my exercises !

Your hard work and imagination are incredible, Terra, and the results are stunning! I love stones too, and just love the different sizes and colours that you've used to make a coherent design . . . well done you, and so much prettier and more satisfying to look at than lawns which need weeding :))

Snoopdog I have never seen Monty Don make anything that approaches that good ,well done Terra

Thanks Sheila ...
Stones and rocks are lovely to look at, aren't they ... very interesting shapes and colours. When I started digging up the turfs with my little trowel, I thought 'What am I doing? No going back now !' ... Lol... but I'm pleased.

Hi Brian, thank you !
I'm already having fun, checking the growing progress of the plants.. Your fern is in there, with lots of baby ferns growing along the stem.. It spent its first couple of years in a pot in my kitchen !

Oh Terra, I love the idea of stopping hard work to do exercises...

Lol. Stera ...
.. and, amazingly, quite simple exercises take away the pain ... must be good !

Hello TT :) That's a job well done !

It looks more interesting now :o)

Hello Hywel ...
thanks ... and I no longer need to march the mower around to the front garden :o)

Terra, you are the perfect example of ' Where there's a will there's a way!'

It was fascinating to share the progress of what you were up to and how lovely it all looks now.

No more worries about when to do the mowing next either!

Terra I'm delighted to see you back in action again, I also chuckled at you doing your exercises between all the hard graft, as has already been said "where there's a will etc...."
Isn't it good to have willing helpers, all three of yours look happy and well fed, bet robin was the only one helping with the digging though, lol.. it looks great Terra, you've certainly had a busy summer........

Well done TT! I bet you had a great time at Bee & Kew... It's simply amazing what you can do with a few empty paint pots! I have had lots of fun in my Baby Rover car with Banana Boxes picked up from our local big yellow M store - They are worth their weight in gold...! :D

Hi Chris ...
I agree about the mower ... Now I mow just the back lawns ... near to where the mower lives ! Much easier.

Thanks Sue ...
It's been a non-stop year, and I can't see things slowing down till about mid-November !

Hello Avis ...
Thanks for looking in on my blog. x

Thank you, Homebird ...
The White Water side gets more shade in the winter, so I thought that should be the bright side. Over time, the weather will dull the brightness of the white somewhat. I have plans to do more to the whole area next year.

Thanks Tracey ...
Yes, I have banana boxes in my car as well ... great for transporting a wide variety of items !

Well TT they say a change is as good as a rest and your blog has made me smile because you have worked hard replacing your lawn with paving and cobbles while I have worked hard replacing the crazy paving and slate in my front garden with turf.
I love how you have complimented the sunny side and the shade side with different colour cobles and look forward to seeing how the new planting looks come the spring.

I just love it, well done you and friends

Hi Stroller ...
It is nice to change things around isn't it ...
... yes I wonder how our front gardens will look in the springtime ...

Thanks Aquilegia ...
Today I added just a few more little plants.

Looks fantastic Terra. It is fun to be so creative in the garden.

Magnificent blog & work! You do yourself proud! I really like the look of those stones changing colour! You'll have some "entertainment" now when it rains! LOL!

Congratulations on your front garden make-over Terra ... and also to your ingenuity for transporting the stones back in the car! As for lifting the turf with a fork and trowel ... must have been such hard work for you. Thank goodness for Joanne and the physiotherapy! I don't miss my little two squares of lawn in the front at all ... no more dragging the mower round ... hooray! Take care and don't overdo things. :o)

Hi Linda ..
I'm pleased you like this... it is still a work in progress !

Thanks Balcony ... the black rocks are indeed fascinating ... when it rains they change colour very quickly !

Hi Shirley ..
thank you ... in my little car, I'm finding ways of transporting all kinds of odd-shaped or heavy items ... and my dogs are always delighted to come along and help. :o)

WOW! i really appreciate the new design of your garden Terra, it is very modern and spectacular, love all the details you have done in your garden.Combination of Rocks and Stones is perfect ! Love it !
Really impress of Truffles being obedient, xxx
I think you have a large garden, Terra ...

Hello Junna
Many thanks for such lovely comments ...
Truffle was fidgety ... Lol ...
he didn't really want to sit still for the photo. xxx

So pleased your physio lady has helped sort you out, TT but also that you are taking breaks between your jobs. You've certainly made a good job of your front garden. Getting rid of grass is not an easy task and I speak from experience - mine has all gone from the back garden now!
I had to laugh at the image of your postie leaping over your tools, etc :)

Thanks Gee ...
yes, the grass removal was a challenge .. last year I couldn't even use the trowel at all without pain, so Joanne gave me very good advice indeed, and such simple, easy exercises to sort things out ..

My Postie has applied to enter the next Wellie Olympics in the Garden Tool Vaulting event ;o)

I had to come back to this, TT, as I couldn't remember exactly what you had replaced the grass with! Must be my age!! I still have all the turf sitting in old dustbins waiting to rot down - it seems to be taking a time.

Hi Gee..
more pics of the front garden on 29th Oct blog JEWELS.

I had nowhere to store my old turfs, and also I knew they were full of weed seeds so they went for recycling !

I don't know how I missed this and I am even more impressed with your front garden now. Did your Postie win any medals at the Wellie Olympics. I think if you could transport this to Chelsea you would definitely get a Gold. Straight to favourites so I can enjoy seeing Team Terra again.

Thanks Scotsgran ..
we really need to get in training for the next Wellie Olympics don't we !
In recent weeks my gardens have had little rain and I've just been outside watering again ... waterbutts are empty and it is only mid April !