Janet and Steve's Garden: August 2008

Sunday ... the end of our work-break

I've walked around the garden in an anti-clockwise direction starting at the end of the new path, where the light-coloured slab is in the photo below. To the left of the picture is where the tree fern is, you can just see a couple of fronds, and a Nandina in the fore-ground. Still on the left, at the far end of the wall is a Eonymous that we've moved to replace an invasive bamboo as wind-shelter for the more delicate plants in the borders along the path.

Looking in the opposite direction to the photo above, you can admire Janet's brickwork. The post in the path has a Wisteria growing up it which we hope will cover the framework that the white rose used to adorn. We've removed the rose because it was too rampant and unmanageable, deserving a much grander location than we are able to give it.

In the photo above you'll see a yellow Ceonothus (sp). From the other end of the path it works well with the blue Salvia in front of it.

We've moved the Acer along to allow more planting space and replaced the white rose with a scented rose "Partridge". And this is a chance to admire my brickwork!

Still looking back, Crocosmia, a red rose with Morning Glory winding its way up, the grass ferne Austin with the Salvia / Ceonothus

The lovely, scented Trachelosprumum jasminoides next to the conservatory doors.

Looking out from the conservatory doorway

Return to looking anti-clockwise and the newly named Mediterranean border.

The white clematis we had to prune heavily earlier this year when removing a somewhat disappointing Jasmine. It's growing well and will, hopefully, give a good display next spring

Lobelia Tupa. The photo does not do it justice.

The Berberidopsis on the North West facing fence. It's slow-growing (I think this is its 3rd year) and these are the first buds on it. It's looking good, though.

More Lobelia. You can see the Berberidopsis behind it.

I wish I could remember what this is ... I call it the Pineapple plant. Its third year and the leaves are showing the red colour for the first time. Pretty, isn't it?

The banana Musa Sikkimensis is a delight. It has grown strongly, the leaves have retained their paddle shape and the colour has been excellent.

The Hibiscus is giving a good show.

The decking. Will be repainted soon.

The prairie border .. .worth comparing against previous blog entries to see how it's changing and developing?

The yellow Crocosmia in the prairie border

Wall done

The walls are pretty well completed now. We have to wire-brush the bricks to tidy up the joints and, on the advice of a neighbour, put linseed oil on the bricks to disguise where the mortar is on the bricks.

This is looking South East from the conservatory entrance towards the shed.

Looking South West towards the shed, now on the left.

We bought extra slate to top up the old and to replace any we lost during the work we did. The new slate has slate-dust on it which will take several heavy showers to remove. You can see the the final colour where I've sprayed the slate with water. The slate will take a while to settle into place and look established.

Oh, and just for the record, we riddled all of the old slate and then washed it (by riddling it again in a large bucket of water), removing several buckets of detrius in the process. Who needs the gym when you've got walls to build and a path to re-lay?

A good day. Tiring, but good ...

The last couple of retaining walls completed. The single, edge-on wall on the left was built by Janet (and, I have to say, it was a trickier piece of wall than I had to do). The one on the right is my attempt at wall-building.