seeingreen
Member since: Feb 11 | Last seen: May 13 | Years gardening: 44
From an early age I’ve liked to grow things – bean in a blotting-paper-lined jar, mustard and cress, radishes, clarkia – encouraged by my dad and grandfather. If money was no object I’d be a chronic plantaholic – best to visit the garden centre without my credit card!
My gardening has been in Wiltshire, Gloucestershire, Somerset, Devon and Oxfordshire over the last 40 odd years, on soil ranging from beautiful black crumbly loam, shallow & shaley and now clay, clay, clay.
My present plot I’ve had for 10 years and it’s looking a bit neglected at present due to not having enough time over the last 3 years to give it the attention it deserves. Digging the clay is very physically demanding and sometimes lands me flat on my back for a day or two, especially when breaking new ground, of which there is still plenty to do – but its worth it and the soil is improving, albeit slowly.
Though I love everything green (mostly), I’ve too much grass (rough) and can’t mow it all in one go – I keep mowing until the mower tank is empty (about 2 hours) and then have to call it a day. So plans are for more raised veg beds and mixed borders, shrubs, roses and fruit trees & bushes, hens and bees not to mention planting a shelter belt on the north boundary – oh dear more clay to dig. That’s what I like about gardening – never time to get bored!
The garden, wherever it is, has also been a great solace over the years. A place to mull over life events, from the everyday to the momentous and sometimes stand in awe of the complex web of life.
Gardens
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Zone 8b This I have created for all the bits which don’t fit into the gardens already listed, such as along the boundary ditch bank, the rough grass,...
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Zone 8b An area of climbing plants on a brick wall of 2 aspects, north and west – the single storey bathroom extension. 2 water butts and soaking tu...
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Zone 8b Is being taken over by the 3 black bamboo which originally was meant for friendly privacy between me and my neighbour, as the separating fence was ...
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Zone 8b I always have sundry pots & containers of this and that around, mostly around the rear of the house for ease of watering and on the paved area ...
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Zone 8b Another space earmarked, this time for chickens. Site needs clearing of bonfire debri, old fencing wire, brambles. Need hard standing for chicken...
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Zone 8b The new site for this is on the neighbouring field margin, which has been let grow wild, no sprays or fertilisers for past 4 years.
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Zone 8b Out of use for a few years as the glass in one light was broken also several side panels and the ali frame buckled. Have managed to patch this up ...
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Conservatory propagating garden
Zone 8b Perhaps its a bit grand to call it a conservatory – its the area between my single storey bathroom extension (original cottage didn’t h...
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Zone 8b Runs north to south along boundary and curves around the front of the house (south facing) up to the front door – not very wide as this is a ...
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Zone 8b Another patch which needs attention as grass has grown between the bushes (the odd nettle too). Here there are black & red currants, gooseberr...
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Zone 8b Quite small, south facing, dry, backed by brick wall of 6 feet. Bird feeders located here.
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Zone 8b Just wanted to add interest to the bit of grass verge beside the front gate. So far there are snowdrops just showing their white and a euphorbia, ...
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Zone 8b On the site originally prepared by my sons before I moved in at the cottage in 2001.
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Zone 8b The clay here is really hard work and that together with my back are my most limiting factors, together with economy needs. In my head the garden ...
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Zone 8b This border came about because I needed somewhere quickly to plunge plants moved from my previous garden – it was the easiest bit of ground t...
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Zone 8b A bit of slightly raised ground around an old apple tree stump which is gradually dissolving back into the soil. Plenty of compost and grit initia...
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Zone 8b At the moment this consists of 3 apple trees – Brambly, Tentation and a crab apple. I have room for more & intend to research some old l...
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Zone 8b Ground broken for this last year (2010) and weeded. Lots more weeds have grown (perennial) so didn’t get all the roots. Might now cover thi...
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Zone 8b The road I live on was a quiet country road until the motorway was built – now its a rat run and can be quite busy, so am always looking for ...
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Zone 8b This may be the fridge, freezer or winter container or cold frame.
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Zone 8b There are always going to be pots of this and that around the greenhouse – things being hardened off, plants outside for the summer etc. Whe...
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Zone 8b A couple of pallet holders stacked on paving with sheets of perspex to cover at night.
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Zone 8b These are mainly located against a west facing house wall, some at west and south side of old shed and chillies stand in a cold frame minus the lid...
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Zone 8b Until this year (2013) I have grown tomatoes, peppers and chillies here. Now it is home to two fruit trees which I hope to fan train against the h...
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