
'UP THE GARDEN PATH' by Pam Thompson
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- THE CAST
- THE GARDEN
- GARDEN WILDLIFE
- 2005 - 2016 GREENHOUSE UPGRADES
- 2008 -THYME SQUARE
- 2012 - THE PEAR HUT
- 2006 - OIL TANK SCULPTURES
- 2005 - RABBITS OUT-FOXED
- 2006 - BOUNDARIES
- 2004 - AN OLD BUOY
- 2009 - CULVERT+SUMMERHOUSE
- 2005 - PUMP RESTORATION
- 2010 - LIVING WITH HENS!
- THE WORLD'S MOST RECYCLED GARDEN!
- 'UP THE GARDEN PATH' by Pam Thompson
The green and rolling countryside of Worcestershire, England, is home to the cider apple orchards which surround the gardens of Pear Tree Cottage. They enjoy a sunny south westerly aspect with sweeping views across to Martley Hillside, Woodbury and Abberley clock tower. The Teme Valley lies just over the hill and, not far away, is the Herefordshire border. Although our climate is temperate, our seasons are often uncertain and always a challenge to a gardener! This began in 2010 & follows the weekly ups and downs of garden work chronicling both successes and failures but, above all, demonstrates the fun enjoyed by three people who regularly garden in all weathers
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20 March 2023
Never Nothing to Do!!

11 March 2023
Major Greenhouse Border Preparation
With snow still lying on the ground following 3 days of totally unexpected snowfall - in March meant it was perfect weather to retreat into the greenhouse and sort out the border. Funny thing was: Chris ended up having to discard layers of clothing as he was expecting outdoor jobs!!
Now: from day 1, this border has never been a great success. We been disappointed with tomatoes, disappointed with carnations and disappointed with chrysanthemums. Time for action!
Having cleared all the pots aside, we removed all the soil and compost and then dug out another spade's depth of solid clay and marl. This meant carefully detaching Ed's passion flower from it.'s support, moving it aside and very, VERY carefully repotting it (in a classy vintage clay pot) while keeping it attached to its cane!!! The idea is for it to extend it roots out from the pot and into the border.
Having barred out deep holes and filled them with grit to aid drainage, we refilled the border with lovely rich loamy soil. It was then time for a major clean up. That meant washing all the paintwork and floor tiles before mving all the pots and plants back!
Chris barrowed out and then back in about 12 barrows of soil and clay! Hear's hoping for a little more success with some tomatoes this year.
10 March 2023
Serious Snow in March!
Having woken to 2" (seen being accurately measured with my depth gauges) of snow with more falling, it was
ime to read the seed catalogues and clean out the tool shed!
26 February 2023
THORNY ISSUES!!
18 February 2023
Bad Day at Black Rock!
Have you ever had one of those gardening days when NOTHING goes right??? Well I certainly had one today! Apart from toppling over in a border - to be fair: it slopes and I just lost my balance. Having rolled ober backwards down the slop, Chris tried to pull me up from the side - a complete loss of dignity but no injuries.
Having recovered, I walked all the way from the bonfire to the tool shed (longest distance in the garden) to fetch the muck fork and couldn't find it - at all. Thinking that we must have left it out somewhere, I eventually returned empty handed. Needless to say it was standing in its proper place (according to Chris) as he appeared carrying it! Sigh!Then I was wrong about the make of my treasured hand fork and, as if all of that was enough, I accidentally tipped out the contents of a very full wheelbarrow before it got to the bonfire!
Apart from that, we moved a Hydrangea and an Abelia - both big shrubs so, fingers crossed, trimmed a Berberis and removed a lot of ivy from beneath it oh, and I modelled a rather large hat while Chris had a nap under the Berberis!