Shedding more light in a shed!

Positioning the lead roof

Chris's (really neat!) lead welding

Heavy showers didn't stop potting shed progress today. Chris arrived with a triangular oriel window frame (which he'd been slyly making on his own!) and some rather neat (dare I even say girlie sized?) welding equipment. We dug around for some lead left overs and found enough to weld together and make a top for the the window. I did have a go at welding but alas, it failed the Genever Test of Excellence miserably  I was allowed however to cut out the scallops. It fitted perfectly allowing Chris to glaze it and it really does look a real delight. With the cleverly designed overhang, water is drained off and away from the window frame. It gives a new view of the garden, adds great character and detail. More importantly; it sheds additional light to a working area. More photos

Cutting the scallops

More Wisteria History

Further to my earlier post see: Wisteria History (28 May 2016) I came across this photo of the Dog at Dunley.
Now!  Given that my wisteria is a direct descendant of the Wisteria growing up this very pub: how fascinating is the following information???

The Dog at Dunley

This photo is from an old Stourport News and it shows the front of The Dog Inn,Dunley the photo was from Sam Baylis who was born in Dunley and planted the Wisteria outside when he was aged 11 in 1926, the Timber carriages in the picture belonged to Powells of Bromyard and the Model T Ford was owned by Sam Powick who stayed at The Dog Inn. (photo from the civic society archives)

Every Gardener Needs a Potting Shed!

Builder & Labourer at work!

Potting bench & temporary window

Who's a lucky girl? Chris and I have nearly finished a potting shed.  It's part conversion and part new build. A sort of hybrid as we've enclosed an area behind the tool shed and cut a hatchway into the back of  tool shed where the potting bench is now sited. It's an amazing transformation - not only because of the extra facility but now a dark tool shed is flooded with light. There's still a few things to complete such as shelving and an oriel window. It's the nearest you could get to a drive-thro potting bench!!

Success despite the rain

The Team!

Lyn and her salad!

Well doesn't it always rain for Open Gardens? Sunday was true to form although it was warm and we did have some sunny periods between the downpours! We opened for a few hours between 2pm & 6pm. Hardy visitors braved to rain and we made the grand total of £182.50. Lots of lovely people came, said lovely things but I think it was the cakes that nailed it! We had Lyn, Dave, Di, Eve and Jo as our team. They washed up, served cakes and even ferried visitors from the car park to the drive to say nothing of all the clearing up afterwards. A very BIG thank you to them all - we just couldn't do it without you! Another thank you to all the friends and neighbours who so kindly baked all the delicious cakes. 

Their generosity is much appreciated! After all the hard work and as it was too cool to dine outside, we moved garden furniture into the conservatory and dined indoors on Eve's delicious Moroccan Chicken and her homemade almond meringues.  What a perfect end to a BUSY BUSY day!!

Rain or shine - let us lead you up our garden path this Sunday!!

Don't let the weather put you off - homemade teas served in the conservatory & summerhouse.
Warm welcome guaranteed!

Lower Broadheath & Rushwick WI Visit PTC

After all yesterday's work on the new potting shed and with a couple of visiting parties expected, it was time for major clean up! Years of cobwebs were brushed away and all the nooks and crannies where dead leaves hide and monster spiders lurk were all swept out and unused materials hidden along ' Reclamation Row' behind the garage waiting for Chris's next escape!! The lawn edges were finished just before the thunder storm started. This morning it was lawn mowing at 7.30am followed by the usual preparations for serving home made teas. At 10.30am the Lower Broadheath & Rushwick WI ladies arrived bringing with them glorious sunshine. The roses are at their very best and everything was looking pretty spic and span for their visit. Anyway, they seemed to enjoy themselves and wrote very flattering comments in the visitors' book. One lady had even been twice before. I think it was definitely the cakes that nailed it!!

Potting Bench Changes

Gutter installation

Having replaced an entire greenhouse due to head injuries caused by low door ways, it was unfortunate to find further injuries being caused by the canopy over the potting bench next to said greenhouse!! Chris to the rescue! The offending canopy was removed and decisions made to enclose the roofed area behind the garden tool shed and transform it into a miniscule potting shed. Yesterday, we replaced the clear corrugated roof panels which should stay free from algae as Chris kindly rushed off and returned with guttering which fitted exactly and will prevent rain water draining down th corrugations. He used fencing panels for the back wall and cut them down to fit. The plan is to cover them in ply and put a window one end and a door the other. Because it's so very VERY narrow, I'm undecided where to place the actual bench but, for now, it's been temporarily placed along the side. The trouble is, there's been talk of a triangular oriel window which is super appealing but impractical with a bench beneath it. Al's come up with an idea of going asymmetrically across the corner. Dare we tell Chris?

Chris replacing the roofing panels

Smyrnium Success

It's taken me about 5 years to get any of these going but look what I found down in the Woodland Border. My very first Smyrniums! There are only 3 and they have the loveliest acid yellow foliage.  Now - here's a thing. These plants are unusual in that they're a triennial and here's what Sarah Raven has to say about them:

In their dominant, acid-green moment the miraculous triennial Smyrnium perfoliatum! I love this airy-flowered Mediterranean native. In its first spring, months after germination, it produces a tiny seedling, with perhaps only three pairs of leaves. At this stage, it has a small tuber, about the size of the top of my little finger.

The leaves die down by midsummer, but the tuber continues to grow.

 

By year two the plants are bigger, with perhaps seven or eight leaves, but are still not large. It’s often at this stage that they’re weeded out, confused with ground elder, but the tubers are now the size of a small new potato. The foliage again dies back, but in the third year they come up to flower and will look magnificent in sun or shade for eight to 10 weeks before fading. Even then, the delicacy and longevity of its skeleton make this one of the classiest dried stems to bring inside for the winter. It will have self-sown, so you’ll have a gap of one year, but then you’re on a smyrnium roll. Now, in June, is the moment to find a friend to let you dig up a small clump, which should contain one and two-year-old seedlings. They can then begin their life cycle in your garden.

Now you can see why it's taken me so long to establish my 3 plants!!

Meadow Magic

Two years ago on the 1st June 2014, this wild Heath Spotted Orchid (Dactylorhiza maculata.........I think!) was planted in our wild meadow. Last June we searched high and low in the long grasses, Buttercups and Moon Daisies for flowers or indeed any signs of life but found nothing at all. Today, 2 years and 3 days later.............BINGO!!  In the fading evening light - there it was!!

Our very own wild orchid!

Secret Steps Project

Now you see them..

...now you don't!

Today saw completion of 'The Secret Steps Project!'  Last year we cut a gap in a Yew hedge with the idea of building steps up through to the terrace on the other side.  It means a discreet short cut from the barbecue to the pond and beyond with no need to make detours. The steps are a continuation of the stone steps by the culvert but they narrow and wind as they disappear through a door in the hedge which has a window mirror attached.  The window mirror was a present from Malc & Sue Wilkes.

It goes without saying that Chris did a fab job despite the usual lack of plans!  If only he could read minds, he'd know all PTC creations would turn out perfectly! We finished off by re-recycling some recycled bricks to build the threshold at the top! Some of which still bore traces of old lime mortar. Talking of mortar:it was dry enough for me to rub the mortar down before (a late) dinner. In time the Yew will grow new shoots and make them even more secretive. In the meantime, we can't wait to christen them!