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It’s home at last!

31 Friday Oct 2014

Posted by Juliet Grey in Uncategorized

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We moved in finally on 28th Oct. After two days exclusively unpacking I ventured into the garden for a really good look. The ‘woods’ at the end are less chaotic than I thought and could be left for a time although the alder tree could possibly come out at it is too big and dominant.

I think I have a larch and also a cherry. The drooping ( weeping?) beech has to go as I don’t like drooping trees.

Also not sure what to do about the area near the house which is more undulating and rough than I thought. Need to use the undulations and make some sort of shape of it all. I’ll keep thinking on that one.

Rabbit proof fence

06 Monday Oct 2014

Posted by Juliet Grey in Uncategorized

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The garden currently has a chicken wire fence which crosses the entire width of the garden about 1/3 of the way down. It is not beautiful and it bisects the garden in what feels like an artificial way. I can see the point though- to keep the rabbits away from the vegetable patch and perhaps also any flower borders near the house- although I am unsure how close rabbits would come to the house? Anyway, I am considering instead extending the vegetable area and putting a more attractive picket fence around it- a fence that also would act as a support to climbing vegetables. I will need to see where the rabbits and other animals come as I like the idea of wildlife but also want to grow something for my own family to eat!

A visit to the garden

03 Friday Oct 2014

Posted by Juliet Grey in Uncategorized

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Sunny spot in the afternoon on paved area- maybe a good spot for another table?

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Only two apple trees were still in fruit – this one on the right hand side of the orchard area.

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Beautiful berries in hedgerow on right hand side of middle area close to the sunny sitting spot. Guelder rose I think.

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Tree on the right is a Norway Maple.

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Horse chestnut with pink flowers in May. Planted by Stuart in 1989. One day a good tree for a circular bench under. maybe think about raising the canopy by taking of lower branches.

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Cherry tree? If it has good blossom in Spring it stays.

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Sweet Chestnut. Seem to be two trees, one smaller but more vigorous. Do they sucker? The nuts very small and shrivelled – possibly due to the driest Sept on record.

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The orchard area looking towards the end of the garden. The large tree may be an Alder and consequently may be taking too much water from the fruit trees. Need to look at this part of the garden in the winter for pruning and perhaps taking out some of the trees.

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Dead evergreens alongside busway area. Need to think about how to replace the hedge in time. I favour natural hedgerow- is that already planted though as part of the busway development? If so I may only need to add a fence ( rabbit proof?).

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The late apples close up for identification purposes. In retrospect I should have picked one!

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Copper maple? Is there such a thing? Red Maple?

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Orchard area looking towards the wooded end. Need to identify the trees and clear undergrowth What is the boundary like as well? It would be good to try for rabbit and deer proof- but Stuart says there are badgers and I wouldn’t want to deter them.

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Evergreens near the vegetable patch and overshadowing the raised bed on the right hand side. One large tree provides many pinecones and there is nice ivy.

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The overshadowed raised bed. It is separate from the others and would be good for perennial vegetables and/or fruit but I need to work out about the overshadowing. The shady area in the garden is nice but it is also where the productive area is.

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Shady wisteria pergola number one. Lovely but perhaps contributing to the overshadowed raised bed. Perhaps the raised bed needs to go somewhere else?

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The sunny spot from the other direction. With some planting this could be a really beautiful area. Need to think about the rabbit proof fence in the background. Perhaps a more ornamental fence doing the same job or relocate it to more around the vegetable area- or more attention to the whole boundary?

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The shady area looking back towards the house. The golden delicious apple tree has scabby fruit and needs to go and the area near the house needs much work to make a beautiul outlook. The bed in front of the house is presumably sunny from middy onwards? So perhaps a good spot for a herb garden. Could possibly grow my fig tree or a vine up the garage wall? Need to investigate the amount of sunshine this area gets.

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Shady pergola area near to the pond. Could be developed into a nice meditative space- perhaps even extend the pond nearer to the sitting area. The paving makes a nice area which could be more manicured and the path from the house leads here.

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Inside the greenhouse. Could add staging on the right hand side for raising seedlings.

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The pond area. Needs clearing and perhaps extending. Problem with duckweed needs tackling but not sure how….

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The shady bed which needs attention, looking towards the end of the garden.

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The chestnut tree looking back up the garden towards the house.

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The fenced area is a wildflower area. Need to see what comes up next Summer and perhaps extent to make a more general meadow area down here with a cut path through it to the orchard.

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The other late apples on a tree on the left hand side of the orchard area. Very deep crimson red. Need identification.

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The orchard area, plum tree in the foreground.

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The orchard/wooded area. Needs much clearing and rationalisation. There are many nettles her which could be replaced with things like comfrey, ransomes and other perennials.

My secret garden

29 Monday Sep 2014

Posted by Juliet Grey in Uncategorized

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On reading Monty Don yesterday about the use of garden hedges, I was reminded that hedges can be used within a garden to create ‘human sized spaces’ as well as around the boundary. This set me thinking about the different sizes of space I might like to have and the idea of creating a secluded secret garden within the garden. The idea would be to have an area which would be a sheltered sun-trap, perhaps further from the house where it can feel ‘away’ but also screened from the busway. It could be a space for sitting, reading and meditation, being in nature without feeling exposed. So as well as a hedge or perhaps bamboos (or both) it would have a bench and a focal point. The flowers would be white or pink and perhaps a scented arbour around the bench. Maybe also something like chimes which create a feeling of peace and tranquility- maybe even a small pool ( in a barrel with goldfish?). An evergreen hedge would probably be best, although it would need to look OK from the outside as well as the inside.

Things to do first in the garden

28 Sunday Sep 2014

Posted by Juliet Grey in Uncategorized

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Identify plants and make a list
Draw up a plan of existing garden
Take pictures
Identify trees for removal
Clean out greenhouse
Clear veg beds for Spring planting
Beech hedge to the front
Analyse soil for ph and structure
Find out which trees grow locally (esp. fruit cultivars)
Think about bird boxes and bat boxes and investigate places for them
Begin to observe climate, aspect and conditions in different parts of the garden

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