A New Soakaway

This week saw the new 'linear' soakaway dug.  It means that rain water from the garage roof no longer flows into the septic tank.  Following detailed instructions, a trench 2 spits deep was dug (avoiding cables) and perforated land drain laid.  Rubble was laid down the sides with gravel on top followed by a sheet of plastic (to ensure soil doesn't block all the perforations).  After topping up with soil, Chris re-laid the turf.  Result: near perfection.  Not exactly creative gardening but, nevertheless a necessity. Now, all we need is rain - as we have done so for months and months!

Spot the soakaway!

Weekend Post Script

Ranunculus Ficaria 'Brazen Hussy'

And - lastly: isn't this a great name for such a little show stopping Celandine?

End of a busy week

It was the first day of spring and the end of another hectic week at PTC so - time to hoist the flag and enjoy a sundowner in March!  For some; it was time to wring out their wet socks after all that power washing!

For more photos; 

check out: https://picasaweb.google.com/100788191989823327785/TheBigCleanUp

Head of the pond

Friday was spent raising the stone retaining wall at the head of the pond and Sunday - replanting all the Dogwoods. Well it was a certain Chris Genever doing all the donkey work with me standing at the other side of the pond saying yes or no to a particular stone and it's position. It will make for much easier mowing as the grass is now level - less risk of the mower ending up in the pond.  Chris built a couple of natural looking stone steps as walking on the loose cobbles so close to the waters' edge was a tad precarious!  The pump has yet to be re-located and the pebbles need moving around in order to disguise the pipes and cables.  All this work hasn't deterred a duck and drake from making themselves at home on the pond.

Too shrine-like?

The Androlia niche has now been treated with a special undercoat and finished off with about 5 coats of sandtex.  it's held in position with string temporarily and I need to find something suitable to stand in it.  I did try a vase but, it looked more like an ash filled urn.  Al came up with this particular alternative!  Well, one tries one's level best to live up to one's reputation!  Sadly, Chris's finials are in deep shadow. In reality they look very Egyptian. 

The BIG Clean-Up

After all the building work that's been going on around this garden, we thought it was about time for a major clean-up.  In the absence of Chris or, more to the point, his cement mixer; piles of left over sand and cobbles were removed, off cuts of timber stacked away and all rubble, cement bags, plastic  etc etc disposed of in order for our Chris to blast on to the scene with a really meaty power washer.  Even the greenhouse shivered in the sunshine!

The results were pretty rewarding and lovely new Creosote Yard was unveiled along with a new terrace.  Of course the cobbles have yet to be transported down to the pond edge but, that can wait for another day!

Barn Building

Have been having a go at more carpentry this week - under the ever watchful eye of Chris.  Whilst he of course has done the lion's share of building; I seem to have acquired a little confidence at using a router and so edged and sanded the shelves for the inside of my.......................wait for it!  Barn!!  Well!  It's the nearest I'm ever going top get to owning a real one and it does look wonderfully rustic!  The fence and gable end have been made out of planked Alder, Willow and Oak from the other Chris's wood.  Note Chris's disguised door - only the sawn edge at its top gives it away.

The through path provides the only step-free and level route from one end of the garden to the other so the far north gable end will probably remain open meaning that it's actually more like a verandah beneath the shingled roof.  However it does mean that Al has more storage space adjacent to the oil tank and the oil tank itself will benefit from more shelter from the elements.

The trellis is made from concrete reinforcing mesh.  Chris cut out the curves and welded the top curve on afterwards.  The shelf helps stabilise the panels and provides a perfect pot spot.  

When the Ivy (Hedera Paddy's Pride) get's going, we should have a wall of green surrounding the Androlia stained glass.  Inside, the sun streams through both the stained glass and the multi coloured ivy leaves as well as the gaps in the planking creating quite a pleasing and colourful dappled/shadow effect.

More spring photos in the garden:

https://picasaweb.google.com/100788191989823327785/PamSBarn1832012 

Wheels within wheels

I think I may just have had an idea to finish off the gate quadrants between the wall and the gate posts.  If we could fix 3 pairs of lovely old cast iron wheels - courtesy of Chris and Maureen in matched pairs, it would be the perfect solution.  Better see what our esteemed builder has to say on the subject!!

Pond Work

New home to the 7 Dogwoods

Spring weather means doing much needed tidying up around and in the pond.  Dead heading, weeding, pump maintenance and margin reshaping and planting.  The remaining 7 Dogwoods (Cornus Sanguinea) from the old greenhouse path - that didn't make the Aspen Grove have moved to the foot of the pond and the steep grassy bank has been reduced - it always was tricky to mow!  All that remains is some re-building of the stone work at the head of the pond and to re-site the pump, tubing and cables and to try to scoop out some of the leaf debris at the bottom.  Hopefully we won't disturb the King Cups which are ready to bloom and looking at their very best.

It's looking a lot like spring!!

It really is!  The snowdrops have all faded and the spring flowers are popping up all over the place.  In the woodland border the Hellebores and Pulmonarias are looking really colourful as are the Primulas and Croci.   Even the Symphytums are budding up and the day glow acid green of the Euphorbia's adds another dimension to spring colour.  Today was a plant acquisition day and we came home with Celandines ( Brazen Hussy) more Pulmonarias and Wood Anemones - both wild and hybrids.  I know Celandines can be a nuisance and that. once planted, I'll never be rid of them but I love 'em! 

Lawn mowing has commenced which has meant miles of edging and mowing until the end of next autumn which seems a very long way away right now.  I wonder how many miles I'll have walked behind a lawn mower by then!

In the greenhouse we've had good germination rate with purple sprouting, leeks, Greyhound cabbages and various herbs. The exception is the Alyssum Saxatile.  Out of an entire pack of Sutton's seeds only about 4 germinated.  For the very first time, I've also lost some chitting Arran Pilots to rot.  Never ever been known before.  Why exactly do rotting potatoes smell quite so AWFUL?

Hardly Thomas Chippendale!

Recycled oak throne 

The odd rainy Saturday in the garden at PTC never means idle hands!  This particular rainy Saturday meant the production of a very rustic chair made from recycled oak fence posts and rails.  Not quite the driftwood effect but, not a millions miles away. Meanwhile; Pugh's Pew has moved down to the Aspen Grove to make room for Thompson's Throne?