A COUPLE MORE THINGS DONE.

 So Paul cemented in the new paved area beside the end of the fencing.

So a few more stones were added into the wider gaps and then it was cemented and left to set.

So we started placing the pots in the area.

We dug up some bamboo from the garden and placed it in a tub, to give a bit of height in the area and to help obscure the trellis.

We also added a couple more pots of Hosta's. So another job off the list.

 The next job tackled was making something to stop our large dogs wandering into the folly , that would also be in keeping with the area. We had been using a white baby gate! If we were sitting and looking at it seeing the gate was annoying along with it suddenly appearing in photos.

Seen in right of this photo.

We put these garden plant stakes in while we decided on what to do.

So after a small purchase of some more garden stakes, Paul made this for me. Which looks so much better from a distance.

So three more garden stakes along with the original two plus some wood and a bit of stain. I think it looks much better and more in keeping.

and still able to see inside.

Can easily be lifted out the way to gain entry but will keep any nosy dogs from wandering in.

So the end of the garden is looking so much better than earlier in the year.

RAINY DAYS

 It's been a busy week with none garden things, plus we have had some rainy periods but still plenty of sunshine along with those showers.

We did manage to get down to the garden landscape centre earlier in the week and get the two paving slabs we needed for the end of the gatrden.

So it's again very much a mish mash of pavers to fill the space.

Paul had to lift and relay the big paving stone on the left of photo because it had dropped down foe some reason. Now they just need to be cemented in.

Naturally we could not wait to see how the space could look and tried out a large acer we have in a pot that was up by the gazebo.

from the folly.

The acer has a nice spread across the trellis, only problem is that Acer's can be very fussy and it may not like this position. It is quite sheltered in one way but can get the winds blowing through, which may not please it. We will wait an see how it does. If we have to move it, we can replace it with something else to work in the space.

Now! Much to my dislike we usually leave an old baby gate across the doorway into the folly to stop the dogs from wandering in. We have been discussing what we could put there that would look way better than a white metal gate! Himself, said that if we put these pieces of edging across the entrance they won't go in..... mmm... I'll let you know if that works......

This beautiful Dahlia flowered beside the statue

We left this one in over winter and is one of the few that survived. One's we dug up stored we lost due to the late very cold spell.

DOING SOME PLANTING AND SOME REDESIGNING

 

We have been planting up the raised bed now that the water feature is in place. A couple of shrubs were moved out of the way of the stream and put to the back of the bed. There are also a few original plants still in their place which may have to be moved or thinned out later.

We have planted some ferns amongst the rocks at the back.

We have also placed a large rock in the border to add interest. Here a couple of low growing geraniums have been placed to cover the soil.

The Solomons seal was already here and gives a bit of height to the border.

More rocks and planting at the end corner.

Naturally when you finish something in the garden it will open up another area that may need a new design.

So while sitting on the bench looking out onto the path at this point, it showed up a few problems.

You can see from this much earlier photo, that we had a covered item along with a bust in need of a home, along with a part of the border still needing it's rope edging, which we could not finish unless we removed some we already had in use in another spot. At first I thought yes, I'd change the edging for some different ones we already had, that were going spare but problem was I liked it where it was.

Under the tarp was an old miniature garden shed, complete with garden tools and plants but the wooden base had rotted and it needs repairing. Also the planting just beyond it was two honeysuckles between a climbing rose.

I had cut these all back last year because they were becoming thugs, the rose especially was tangling in the lilac trees and taking over.

So a sit on the bench and a look at the space allowed for a decision to be reached.

We have removed everything, miniature garden shed, bust, and the three plants. We did consider leaving the rose and training it along the trellis but decided the Hydrangea that grows beside the bench rea and you can see on the left could be grown along the trellis.

First Paul had to replace the bottom board that had rotted and moved out of place. Luckily we had a piece of the nice thick boarding we used for the raised bed, which after cutting to size fit perfectly in place.

We used these decking boards many years ago to replace some fence panels, that our then neighbour had asked to remove while his builder put in a concrete base and then never put back. Thinking about it now, we should have said no, since that side was their responsibility and the base should have been far enough away from fence for them to put up a proper fence on their side at some stage. But either way, it didn't get put back so we used the boards then added the trellis to close our garden back in and to stop our two westies at that time running round their garden.

Apart from the lowest board the rest are in excellent condition for fifteen or so years they have been in place. We did consider buying a couple of four foot fence panels to replace them but that would be an unneeded expense and a waste of the boards already there. So we intend to add another couple of boards above these and raise the trellis by around a foot to add a little more protection in this space.

We also decided to shorten the border, which saves on buying/ moving any more rope top edging and use what we already had in the floral design to complete the end. See the photo.

So we will be paving this section, so we can stand pots in this area with some of our Hosta's in. You can see one of the pots to the left.

Now we just need a couple of large pieces of paving.

ALMOST DONE

 Who knew just how hard it would be to find just the right stones to make a waterfall! After several afternoons for chopping and changing, we finally sorted it out!

We had bought, what I'm calling a letterbox style outlet for the waterfall but trying to find the right stones to get the right fall turned out to be a nightmare!

That amount of times Paul had to change or add or remove rocks was almost never ending!

We decided to add soil at the back to help us balance the rocks were they were needed.

Finally the rocks are in place and we now just need the pump and a pipe connecting the bottom water holder to the top fall.

So this is the 'end' where the water drops into a hidden holder and is then pumped back up to the higher fall area.

following the path along side the 'river/stream' bed.

We have added the odd rock along the flower bed, and planted in a few ferns and other plants.

to the wildlife pond and water feature, which still needs the pipe fitting.

Looking back towards the folly.

The folly doorway

Looking from the circle seating area.

We saved money by using the stones from the old rockery and by splitting some of the big ones that we bought into two plus also splitting some of the ones we already had.

So still a few little things to finish the area off but really pleased with how it's working out.

SLOWLY PROGRESSING

 

So we have a nice shallow trench ending with a buried round tub.

at the other end a dip in the soil!

Now a pond liner is added along with some slate chippings.

Rocks start to be laid along the length.

slowly getting things in the right place.

The top end is now a small pond. 

JULY 1st

 

This lovely pink climbing rose is putting on a good show.

The hanging baskets are lovely and colourful

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 On the patio  by the back door

More happening at the end of the garden

New ferns for the raised bed

some new rocks .

Holes are being made!

Channels being dug..

Round tub's getting buried...

meanwhile we had a bit of rain late last night, so the grey of the pavers put into the path are starting to blend in more , now you can see their age.