Garden Centre

Friday, January 22, 2010

Front Garden Findings

We have entirely filled one skip and cleared less than one half of the front garden. I cannot express how shocked I am by this – it’s like a temperate rainforest moved in while my back was turned!

So we’re going to need another skip – at least. And the process of clearing away all the rampant ivy, winter jasmine, summer jasmine, holly seedlings (they are everywhere and extremely painful if you happen to grasp one without realising it’s in the middle of a clump of ivy) and associated detritus, I have found a rather nice skimmia that I thought had died …

Yes, I’m aware how terrible a gardener that makes me appear – but the ivy has crept over a low wall and is, in places, clumped about a foot high – and the little skimmia is lurking under what was a canopy of ivy. Now it’s been cleared around and trimmed back a bit, it gives a nice little focal point.

I wonder what else is hidden from present view in the un-tackled half of the wilderness?

Labels: front gardens, garden clearance, skimmia, winter shrubs

The All Seasons Gardener at 6:09 AM 0 Comments

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Monday, December 14, 2009

December projects

This time last year I was blithering on about this: ‘At this time of year you sometimes have to search pretty hard to find things to admire in the garden. Of course, the canny gardener will have planted for that catch-all phrase ‘year round interest’ but sometimes objects of interest can be far and few between.’

Well well well. You’d definitely have to look far to find something of interest in my front garden this December – unless skips interest you, that is. Because we are having a transformation.

Our 1930s frontage has always been a bit of a problem – part wildlife garden, part burglar deterrent, generally something of a mess. We’re taking out almost everything (keeping the crab-apple tree and the palm tree, which is evidence of the fact that we are neither ruthless enough, nor imbued with the spirit of landscape gardening) and trying to start again with a lower maintenance and more attractive, but still wild-life supporting front garden. Wish us luck!

Labels: front gardens, garden landscaping

The All Seasons Gardener at 9:18 AM 0 Comments

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