A cold, sunny weekend was forecast so Ed and I eventually tackled the garden and now it is all ready for it's winter rest.....and us too!!! We are surrounded by trees so there was LOTS of raking to do, then the borders on either side of our garden had to be dug over. Ed dug up a few old shrubs which had either come to the end of their life of were not thriving in our shady area.
We get virtually no sun in the winter and it is limited to a few areas only during the summer so it has been a bit hit and miss with the planting in the 8 years since we have been here.
This year we decided to take it in hand and sort it out once and for all...
Yesterday we stocked up on huge bags of rich, soil conditioner and this morning set to work...a good job done...
...the clematis montana and the jasmine have thrived this year winding their way through the trellis...
...it does look bare now...the grass still needs its final cut as it too long to leave over winter but it is too wet at the moment...it is a lovely day today but we've had lots of rain...we need a few dry days before I can get the lawn mower out...
...all my pots empty of their summer colour ...
...at the end of the garden are some Hazel trees which we coppice and once the leaves have fallen Ed takes the tops off them to keep them to a height of about 20ft...he'll do that later this month...this is where the bird feeders hang and it's a bit of a wild area - lots of ivy as it's left to do its own thing most of the time but it gets a good clear out at this time of year...
...the bird bath needed a good clean...
...Lily cat wondered where her jungle had disappeared to....
...yes...lots of leaves fall into the garden...
...but there is still some colour...this variegated pelargonium had tall spikes of orange flowers all summer...
...and the Pyracantha has OODLES of bright berries - the blackbirds love to eat these...
...and one bright pink geranium is refusing to go to sleep...
...and the camellia already has big fat flower buds for February...
So now my plan is to do some research to look for new shrubs to plant in the borders in the spring. I'd like medium sized evergreen shrubs that thrive in shade and flower at some time during the year.....any suggestions???
I think we'll both be a bit achy tomorrow.....
Thank you for stopping by.
Happy Sunday.
Lesley x
9 comments:
This was a nice post Lesley - enjoyed looking at your garden...I like your pots! x
yes, autumn has arrived, hasn't it...i do love the chill and crisp air it brings....makes one want to "nessle in" and create.....
thank you so much for stopping by my blog....i much enjoyed visiting yours....and i do love the turq. and orange painting..... ;-)
Lovely photos, nice to see your garden xx
Wow, Lesley! You have worked hard. Skimmia Japonica is a nice shade loving low shrub - likes to be quite dry and has a fabulous scent. Some viburnums also like shade - more white flowers and gorgeous scent. We have both in our front garden and the scent in spring is always a wonderful welcome home
Gorgeous photos, you and Ed have worked very hard - hope you had a long soak in the bath after and aren't too sore today!
A good days work. It always feel rewarding when you can achieve that.Thank you so much for your kind words on my blog. They mean a lot.
How lovely to have a nosey round your garden, Lesley. That brick wall is gorgeous.
I still have lots of summer flowers out, white cosmos, calendulas and the dahlias but I have potted up tubs with violas and bulbs ready to replace them when the frosts hit.
What about a Viburnum for your shrub, there are lots of varieties, those that flower in the winter and those that flower in the spring. They are scented too, an added bonus. I have several and love them.
Hugs Lisax
This is just beautiful Lesley, and I am so green with envy at your gorgeous yard! I adore gardening, but always let it get ahead of me. Thank you for sharing these amazing photos!
Your garden is beautiful, and the photographs are stunning... Nice little peek into your world :)
I envy your green thumb... xo
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