We have moved down to Cornwall, and with the house comes an almost blank canvas of garden. There is a large area of grass, a few shrubs dotted around the edges and a small area of what could loosely be called woodland. It's the first time in my life I've moved into a property that's actually mine and where I'm planning to stay for a long time. The nearest I've come to this in the past is having an allotment for about 10 years (which I still have.... in Devon) and owning a property in France for about 5 years, where I started creating a garden but then had to give up and leave all my plants behind.
I decided I'd like to start a blog documenting the development of the garden from scratch, partly as a record for myself, and partly to share my experiences and successes and failures with others. Hopefully, having been a professional gardener and also a keen hobby gardener for over 25 years, there will be more success's than failures!
I am planning to spend as little money as possible on the garden, mostly growing plants from cuttings and seeds and scrounging bits of plants from family and friends. I have some gift vouchers from friends to buy a couple of choice plants that aren't easy to propagate. On my wish list so far are a parrotia persica, a red japanese maple, some hedging plants and a butyl pond liner (I know, that's not a plant).
The garden is about 1/2 acre altogether, with another 1/4 acre taken up with house, shed and parking space. It's quite a windy spot so hedges and windbreaks will be high priority.
Here are some images of the garden as it is at the moment. This is a panorama, which distorts the perspective a little but gives an idea of how the lawn/woodland is laid out
This is a view from the back of the house looking to the right. The greenery on the right is a stone wall and a few shrubs that marks the boundary with the neighbours. The little building is my bookbinding studio where I plan to run workshops. We are planning to rent our house out for holidays in the summer so the area to the right of the studio will be fenced/hedged off to provide a garden for the cottage visitors. The trees behind my studio are along the far boundary.
This is the view looking left. If you look closely you will just see the faint outline of part of a circle over to the right. This is where the circular formal lawn will be. I'm not a big fan of formal (i.e. short) lawns but Vince wants one so this will be his domain. Also as we have a small house and like having party's from time to time this will be the place for a marquee for our party's. I don't currently have a marquee but I'm creatively visualising that someone will give me a scruffy old one that will be good enough for our party's!
The area between the gravel on the left and the large trees in the centre of the photo will be the vegetable garden with fruit and a wildlife pond beyond. The bit of grass jutting toward you will be a herb garden and other areas will be a mix of shrubs and herbaceous plants, with an emphasis on easy care and wildlife friendly.
Along the edge of the gravel will be a hedge. We initially thought of a beech hedge, but as it's windy and possibly a bit salt laden (tho we are 3 miles from the sea) beech might not do very well. Next on our list are escallonia, griselina and eleagnus, or possibly a mix of all three.
We've had the property for 2 1/2 months and I've already planted a dogwood
a monteray pine
and a hydrangea, all in the woodland.
Last but not least, the MOST important thing in the garden..
The compost heap.
Lots more to say, don't want to cram it into one post.
I decided I'd like to start a blog documenting the development of the garden from scratch, partly as a record for myself, and partly to share my experiences and successes and failures with others. Hopefully, having been a professional gardener and also a keen hobby gardener for over 25 years, there will be more success's than failures!
I am planning to spend as little money as possible on the garden, mostly growing plants from cuttings and seeds and scrounging bits of plants from family and friends. I have some gift vouchers from friends to buy a couple of choice plants that aren't easy to propagate. On my wish list so far are a parrotia persica, a red japanese maple, some hedging plants and a butyl pond liner (I know, that's not a plant).
The garden is about 1/2 acre altogether, with another 1/4 acre taken up with house, shed and parking space. It's quite a windy spot so hedges and windbreaks will be high priority.
Here are some images of the garden as it is at the moment. This is a panorama, which distorts the perspective a little but gives an idea of how the lawn/woodland is laid out
The area between the gravel on the left and the large trees in the centre of the photo will be the vegetable garden with fruit and a wildlife pond beyond. The bit of grass jutting toward you will be a herb garden and other areas will be a mix of shrubs and herbaceous plants, with an emphasis on easy care and wildlife friendly.
We've had the property for 2 1/2 months and I've already planted a dogwood
a monteray pine
and a hydrangea, all in the woodland.
Last but not least, the MOST important thing in the garden..
Lots more to say, don't want to cram it into one post.
Can't wait to see what you do. Frog and I disagree over formal lawns too! Best, B
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