OUR FOLLY MOVES FORWARD...

Well Paul's continued to work on the folly , although not every weekend due to other commitments.

Paul started on the front wall, this photo shows it being protected from the rain while the cement dries out.

Finally Paul got to do some more today. The next piece of the arch door column's been added along with the bottom section of the tracery window plus a Quion with a shield carved on it.

A closer look at the shield stone.

The window has another piece of stone that fits in the centre before the top part gets fitted.

The column left to set before the wall between it and the window can be built.

View from column back towards corner. Hopefully if the weather stays dry, he'll be able to , with a little helpful muscle, get the top part of the Tracery window in place! exciting times !!


There are still some some splashes of colour round the garden and also lots to do to get everything ready for the winter! Which is another reason the folly may once again have to be left while the usual winter preparations are done.

This Lady Emma Hamilton Rose by David Austin is still flowering well in the front garden.

as is this fuchsia.

lots of flowers still.

The flowers on this Mahonia will soon be glowing a vibrant yellow!


I will post again in a week or so , as we start to get the garden ready for the winter, the folly completed and prepare for a new patio to be laid. The next couple of months are going to be a busy time in our garden.


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OUR FOLLY CONTINUES...

TO GROW!

I had totally forgotten to share the photos of our folly build. So will bring you up to date of how it's been slowly growing after the last few weeks.

We started on the 6th of August.

On the 13th the foundations were laid.

On the 20th August building began.

 By the 27th August the walls were beginning to rise.

By the 29th August Paul was into his stride.

But then we stopped for a week away.

Then we had a week at home before returning to work, so Paul was able to do a little more most days.

The 12th September is coming along

So finally we got to the stage where one of the 'windows' could go in! on the 15th

On the 16th we'd got this far, you can see the weather was not the best for building so it's been done when the weathers allowed!

By the 18th this wall was now finished.

So up to date , this is the wall finished apart from our little friend whose decided that maybe they'll be a place for him and his twin brother on the folly!

We've had the two little gargoyle's for about 18 years and they may finally find a proper home!

We left the odd nook for the placing of a plant or fern like this one. we don't want anyone thinking it just been built!!

The side wall is not far off it's finishing height, there is another corner stone to go this side then it can be built between and given the 'broken down' look!

The first column of the arched doorway as been cemented in place which means this wall can now be carried on over to the side of archway and the large stone you can see sitting in front of the bricks can be put into place ready for the Tracery Window to start going in !

The area where this folly now stands was higher before the build, so now we will be redesigning this are and the damp garden area to the left hand side of it. The actual damp garden will stay in place but the lead in will be changed slightly.

Unfortunately although would be the perfect day to continue the build Paul's out to a sports meeting all day. But hopefully if the weather stays nice he'll be able to do a few more rows each evening this week.


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THE WALLED GARDEN AT MONTACUTE HOUSE IN SOMERSET

I just wanted to shares some photos of the wonderful beds in the walled garden attached to Montacute House a National trust property.
Sometime when you go to these houses the flowerbeds can be over by this time of the year but I've been extremely impressed to find that the houses we've visited recently have had some gorgeous beds full of vibrant colour, like this one.

You catch a glimpse of these borders as you approach the gate into the walled garden.

The beds were still full of colour when we visited at the beginning of September.

Unfortunately it was quite overcast when we visited , so you cannot quite see the vibrancy that was there.

The view of the area from the steps into the house.

Just seeing these photos again makes me want to go sit back in there.

lovely full borders

from the outside looking in.

There is also an Orangery.

again full of colour.

the other side.

A climbing Abutalon

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I hope you enjoyed this little visit to Montacute .



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EAST LAMBROOK MANOR GARDENS HOME OF MARGERY FISH.

“In the development of gardening in the second half of the twentieth century no garden has yet had greater effect.” John Sales, National Trust

East Lambrook Manor Gardens is the iconic and quintessentially English cottage garden created by the celebrated 20th-century plantswoman and gardening writer Margery Fish. It was here that she developed her own style of gardening, combining old-fashioned and contemporary plants in a relaxed and informal manner to create a garden of immense beauty and charm.

The English Heritage Grade 1 listed garden is characterised by many winding paths through abundant borders and is renowned as the premier example of the English cottage garden style. It has noted collections of snowdrops, hellebore's and hardy geraniums and there is an excellent specialist hardy plant nursery in the garden.

This is the intro from the site of East Lambrook Manor gardens.

We have been a time or two before and it's a lovely place to visit.

Blow are some of the photos we took.

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So  just a glimpse of East Lambrook  we visited last week, so not so much colour as you would find in the summer months. But they have a plant shop at the back of the gardens where you can indulge yourself. 

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