Hedge Replacement

As if there wasn't enough going on with interior painting and decorating running alongside fairly major garden projects; a decision was made to replace the front hedge - which as you can see was mainly ivy and brambles with little left in the way of actual hedging.  We decided to go for Laurel as it's evergreen and grows a little quicker than Yew.  It meant moving the rabbit wire and erecting posts and rails first but over the weekend, a good start was made.

There were some miscalculations and, as a result, we ran out of both rails and Laurels!  This weekend should see the job finished and afterwards the - now much bigger border needs a major overhaul!  We have shrub roses heeled in the veg plot and some sale bargains in the form of 3 Hydrangeas plus a Pink Hawthorn and a Skimmia all in need of homes!

Herb Garden Beginnings

Despite the inconvenience of Bank holidays, Christmas & New Year; much progress has been achieved all very largely thanks to Chris who has been starting and finishing his working day in the dark and resorting to artificial lighting at both ends of the day!  The new creosote yard is not only finished (and beautifully dated) but being used!  The new log store access path is also finished.

Staffordshire blue pavers and cobbles

'Raking out the joints'

Working in gale force winds, Chris built the first brick pier (and I was allowed to rake out the joints!) This really highlights each individual brick. The idea is to enclose a new Herb Garden and, although we both came up with a design; Chris's was by far the best!  I didn't dare suggest anything so ambitious.  The idea is to use and incorporate all the materials we have on the premises - which includes an oak water butt (overlooked by me) a cast iron Victorian manger with hay rack and reclaimed sets/bricks/path edgers and still retain a rustic appearance.  He and Al have already filled one large skip and another smaller one was delivered today. 

Chris capping the pier

Joints finished!

Whilst doing some quite major repairs to internal plastering, not only has Chris found more hidden oak beams but, also the remains of an original bread oven.  This means that outdoor work has come to a temporary halt!


Hopefully a herb garden will  prove more practical and useful than a rain garden - to which thought was given.  It will mean moving around much topsoil and hopefully providing good drainage as well as shelter.  

The beginnings of Al's new store with verandah

WHODUNNIT?

Sabotage or experimental Bonsai treatment?

Chris is wondering: is this sabotage or a pioneering new Bonsai experiment by Chris G??  He was very quick to spot that a nail has been driven into his personally sculpted and much treasured Bay tree.  To make things worse; the Field Maple was seen to have suffered severe damage to it's bark which explains why it has never thrived.  Further investigations revealed that the heartwood had suffered a fungal infection so, alas, it's been felled and the roots dug out.  Well! When I say felled, I mean, literally pushed over - by Chris.  Chris G has knocked down the wall and dug footings for the new wall.  The oil tank is now totally exposed.  The rest of the site has been cleared of the Roses, Dogwoods and Aliums and looks more like the Somme.

Meanwhile investigations into possible sabotage continue...........................

After!

Before

COBBLERS!

Cobbling in the dark

As work progresses, the ideas just keep coming!  Who needs plans?  After the idea of having a stone seat around the base of the flag pole; the idea of Eve's Gate in the arch was hatched - or did it happen the other way round?  Anyway, after that, the idea of using the cobbles with clay tiles (both of which, we already had) as stepping stones just came.  Well!  Chris Pugh did think it a shame to re-use modern clay pavers where they could be seen, even if it is a working area of the garden.  When the weather is too bad to work outside, Chris busies himself exposing brickwork in the hall, oak beams upstairs - to say nothing of plaster boarding and skimming walls, tiling thresholds, replacing skirting boards...............he has a dozen jobs on the go!  Real multi-tasking and by night too!  For a path that's being cobbled together, how good does this look?  The trouble is; Al liked it so much, he fancies having them all round the raspberries. (Better not tell Chris Genever!)

Partially cobbled area in front of the greenhouse

Before & After the Aspen Project

Before

Due to an oversight last Thursday (!) Chris was able to come and help with the Aspens.  Having already cleared the border of the ill spaced old relics, we reshaped and enlarged it.  Instead of the boring straight line parallel with the hedge; we introduced sweeping curves, removed the turf and dug it over.  We then spaced out the Aspens and underplanted them with the red Dogwoods (Cornus Sanguinea) salvaged from the top orchard border.  In order to keep the weeds down, we rang Tom and order another load of wood chip.  50 wheelbarrows later, it was all in place and raked level.  The chickens had a top up too.  What's needed now are some woodland plants!  Now, let me see - what do we fancy?  How about some wild garlic, wood anemones, bluebells and celandines???

After

Tom's wood chip

Hic! Slurp!

• Question: How many bottles of apple juice were made from our 2 wheelbarrows full of apples?

• Answer: 88!  

How amazing is that? In case you're at all doubtful, here's (part of) the proof:

All bottled sealed and pasteurised and can be kept for 2 years - not much chance of that!  It's absolutely delicious. Many thanks to Colin and Val who collected them for us and lugged them all into the garage (and then forgot to take any samples home to Essex!)

Bottoms up! 

Another Day of Graft

The helmet is being worn to keep off the rain

Another day of work means that the stone steps are now finished and the grass which has inevitably taken a bit of a beating has now been raked and aerated.  The new terrace has now been concreted and the flag pole moved and although I think that certain persons dictated it be placed too near to the path edge, at least the flag won't get snagged on any trees!  Perhaps I should just mention that a large delivery (courtesy of the legendary Gary) of 4 bulk bags of differing types of sand, cement

Concrete being laid prior to stone paving

and rails all had to be barrowed into place at an early stage!  Much of the working areas are looking pretty messy - hence all the photos!  It should be noted that work has continued until after work most days and even by artificial lighting. 

 

How messy does this look?