A New Patio

The garden has seen a major change over the past 2 months, namely, the patio has been pulled apart and rebuilt. The time had come to finally do away with the old pressed concrete that was poured over 30 years ago. It has served us well but we both had a desire to get rid of the tired looking patio. The new design was not a difficult choice, it had to fit with the style of the rest of the garden, so a rustic "naturalistic" feel was essential. It was also a critical choice as this is the part of the garden, being immediately outside the back door, that is the most well used.

The choice of local Yorkstone paving was made to match the sun terrace and other drystone walling elsewhere in the garden. The source was the exact, same local quarry, so a beautiful coloured stone was guaranteed. It was never really an option to go for Indian sandstone or something else with a lot of transportation involved, the ethos of minimizing our carbon footprint has become more important to us both. The use of clinically precise porcelain tiles might have been the fashionable and contemporary choice but this would have been the anti thesis of the ambiance we have tried to encourage. The riven finish was also selected to complete the look.

Sadly, the living wall has had to be cut back. However, the builders have done an excellent job in minimizing the damage. It helped that one of the team was a keen gardener himself. All the plants have been saved and the vegetation is set to grow back again, hopefully for a complete rejuvenation.

  

The old wall has been dismantled and it is easy to see how much of the garden is simply solid rock, with a very shallow layer of soil.

Solid concrete blocks are laid for integral strength in the new retaining wall.

Newly quarried, riven faced Yorkstone paving is laid with precision.

The builders have finished and now the start of my contribution, the first pass of the rendering.

Rendering finished, perhaps not perfect, but with luck the living wall will grow back and cover the majority of the retaining wall in 18 months time (and disguise my best efforts). At least, that is the plan, as the Mediterranean feel of the freshly rendered wall is not really in keeping with the vibe of the rest the garden. But the rendered finished had the critical advantage of preserving as much of the newly created extra space as is possible. Updates will follow.

Meanwhile it is now time to get back to the rest of the garden, which has had to take a back seat for weeks now. Blogging can also be resumed again!

A Canopy of Blossom

We are very lucky having enough room in the garden for a small selectin of trees. At this time of the year their beauty is pronounced by the lovely blossoms, none better than on the cherry trees which mark the top boundary.

The canopy of the leaves makes for a very different feeling to the top level of the garden and the varying levels of shade present a whole variety of alternative planting opportunities. The border beneath the cherries is currently home to a hedge of predominantly, hawthorn and, beneath this a selection of low ground cover. The latter will be reviewed this year as it becomes invisible behind the beds of grasses in front of them, which is a pity. Consequently, I have already put two clumps of Solomon's Seal (lifted and divided from elsewhere in the garden). This is a taller plant and hopefully its white flowers will stand out in the shade during the early part of the summer.

The Rowen tree presents a similar planting challenge but because the beds beneath it are south facing they do  receive that bit more sunlight. Also being beside the upper bench, lower, ground cover plants are much more readily visible. 

In fact this section of the garden has proven attractive to plenty of self seeders, the forget me nots and honesty being very welcome. Providing that such plants do not become overly dominant they are a perfect example of "right plant right place", as they have chosen the site for themselves.

Top tip: if rogue plants and flowers find their way into your planting scheme do not be too hasty to discard them, many are very attractive and, of course, a bonus for the frugal gardener. You can also consider digging them out and moving them to another spot in the garden.

   

 

Of course, the dappled shade also attracts other life forms into this part of the garden, particularly when the bench seat cushions have been put out for the season. Mili knows how to make herself comfortable!

 

Spring Time Again

 A little bit of spring sunshine brings out the best of the garden, and brings the beast into the garden. 

It is so rewarding to see the bulbs emerge and enjoy them with a little warmth on your back. The colours seem so vivid following the muted tones of the winter garden. Clearly I am not alone in these thoughts as Hecate and Mili have also been venturing out once again. For months they have been self confined to the hygge of the cosy indoors. The pleasure is multiplied by the presence of others, be it a pair of increasingly elderly cats or be it an increasingly wise missus. A shared plate of fruit at the top tier of the garden was a March treat with little compare. Hopefully the first of many this year.

Spring also awakens the rest of the animal kingdom and the birds, bees and amphibians have all been evident and active. There is comforting reassurance that blossoms and blooms are on their way. 

   

Silver Birch for 2022

Tree planting season lasts until early March, at least in the Pennines. This year I have gone for three bare rooted native silver birch. I have followed a tip given by Helen from Crocus, in order to try and create a multi stemmed effect. They are in the area that used to be occupied by the blackberries, but a combination of birds, deer and shade has meant that they have produced very few harvestable fruits in the past 5 years.

        

The saplings have since been given the protection of a fence, yet more chicken wire in the garden, but hopefully it will be worth it in the medium term. The cherry trees at the back are not likely to survive many more years so a new focal point will be needed and silver birch have always been a favourite of mine. However, I will have to wait at least six years until the beautiful silver white bark begins to show noticeably.

The Queen's Green Canopy is an initiative created to mark Her Majesty's Platinum Jubilee in 2022. Everyone across the UK is being invited to plant trees from October 2021, when the tree planting season begins, through to the end of the Jubilee year in 2022. Let us hope it is a major success!

Mid Winter Fire

 There can be little doubt that mid January can be somewhat lacking in pizzazz. The little flashes of colour have to be appreciated where ever they can be found. The dogwood shrub is invaluable for its coloured bark which shines through with the absence of foliage. We have a few dogwoods at the top of the garden behind the grasses and a lovely, small specimen in a pot on the steps leading up to the front door (pictured below). 

Top Tip: In order to get the best from your dogwoods pruning each year is to be recommended, as the best coloured stems are those of the newest growth. 

 

The specimen at the front is "Sibirica" and the dogwoods at the back are "Midwinter Fire". However, the "real" midwinter fire was seen two days ago with this spectacular sunset.

Not to be out done, Hecate posing in front of the Jasmine, another little flash of md winter colour.

Dark Skies, Mists, Snow and Winter Structure.

The winter structure in any garden is such an underestimated element. My own theory is that because we venture outside less in the dark months we have lesser expectations of our outdoor spaces. Of course, it might be less appealing to use our gardens for sitting and relaxing in mid December but the occasional brew on a garden bench or a little gentle tidying up can be just the tonic for a gloomy day. The garden can also be viewed from indoors by many of us, even if it is just from the kitchen window. 

Therefore to add that all important interest and the psychologically important elements of green then structural plants are a bonus, if not essential. Heathers, brooms, ivy and our Scots  pine are just a few of the green items that can be found in our Pennine garden. While non of these might be enough to entice us go outdoors and wonder at their individual beauty, together they can paint a pleasing vista to gladden any heart.

My top tips to help with a winter garden include 

~ take heed of the shadows and light levels that the low winter sun gives. They present an opportunity to give the garden a very different seasonal ambience, particularly if you are lucky enough to have some low level backlighting through some of your plants or even fading stems. For us this is best in the morning when the sun is in the East

~ try to have some structural elements across the garden, it will encourage the eye to link different spaces together, reinforcing the underlying sense of movement and interest.

~ utilize contrasting textures in your planting as well as as your hard landscaping.

~ remember the views, with no leaves on the trees, new vistas are opened up and might be enjoyed even more if seating can be rearranged

Below, recent December conditions and a contemplative Hecate stares through the mists. By contrast a less than happy Mili, who likes to follow me outside come what may, even into the snow.... then I get the blame for wet paws!

 

Make Hay While the Sun Shines?

The garden might have been somewhat neglected over the past few weeks, storms, snow and soggy ground have certainly restricted access. But the critical jobs have been completed, such as digging up the agapanthus (all of them!) and bringing them under cover. 

But at the same time the meteorological conditions have presented us with some beautiful, if sometimes foreboding, winter vistas. Make the most of the weather, when the opportunity presents itself, even if it is just to look and stare.