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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6 April 2010

Up the garden path!


Work continued on the stepping stone path on a very cold and windy Easter Monday.  Chris was in charge of laying and I was Chief Cutter Out.  Cutting around the rectangular pieces was easy.  Cutting round the smaller and more random shapes with a half moon edging tool was more difficult.  Laying them was also tricky as they were of very differing thicknesses and we kept hitting tree roots.  As the entire garden is on a slope, our path isn't flat as the camber drops off to the right (or left depending on direction).
We did get the curve of the path right and now need to lay a little more turf in order for the curve of the turf edge to follow the stone.  We were really pleased with our results.  It looks nice and 'cottagey'.  It fits in with the surroundings and is a ZILLION times better than the dreaded Indian stone and...... no more worries about worn patches.  Now I have to get more sharp sand to brush between the granite sets.

Al, in the meantime was thinking of security and found a perfect length of old chain to secure the Pear gate.  Some young riders on their little ponies went up the lane and were heard to say, "Oh look; a fairy gate".  Other people have likened it to a Hobbit gate. Haven't seen too many fairies in Witton Hill but, come to think about it, we haven't seen any Hobbits either!






Left: The gate keeper
Below: The finished path


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