IT SNOWED !

 

 A rare occasion in the south of England.

So some snowy photos from the garden.

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These are the trees along our road just opposite the house.

snow on bamboo

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A winter wonderland 

CUTTING BACK, MOVING SHRUBS

 It's that time of year when you can cut back most shrubs and also move them if the weather is not too cold. It will allow them to have time to settle and be ready to start growing come the spring.

In this section, Paul's cut a branch off the small acer that was starting to cover the tree fern, under it's winter cover  in the photo above, which will give the tree fern more room next year.

He's also cut back a rambling rose, called the rambling rector, that's been taking over at the back of this border, so much so, that once it was cut right back, we found the lovely yellow holly bush hidden under most of it! A couple of other big shrubs to the right in this area were also cut back, to allow more light to reach the smaller shrubs.

The banana's been wrapped for the winter.

He also split and moved some black bamboo and planted one piece back into the raised garden. The other two piece's we'll probably sell.

This is the edge of the raised bed by the path, which we will be trying to replace the side of over the next week or so. The black bamboo was in the corner of this area near where the dog's standing, so by removing and splitting it, it will be easier to put in the new boarding to support the earth, in that area.

We've also cut back roses etc, it's a busy time in the garden for getting it ready for bed!

A BUG HOTEL

 Due to the fact we have been having quite a few deliveries of garden items. We landed up with several wooden pallets. Our next-door neighbour wanted a couple, but we were left with one nice stolid one.

Since it had been sitting on the front drive for a few months, we decided it was time to bring it around to the back garden and use it to make a bug hotel.

First, we cleared a space near to the back gate and started screwing it to the fence and adding some old tiles we had for a roof.

But then we decided that it wasn't in the right place, so cleared a space up near to the compost bins and beside the gate that leads to the compost bins and side of the folly.

Here it's sheltered by some bamboo on one side and the trellis behind. Paul added shelves and partitions ready for filling with things that bugs like. We will be also filling the space below the pallet with old bricks and wood which bugs etc also like to live in.

These roof tiles have been sitting around the garden since we moved in nearly 18 years ago, it's nice to finally have a use for some of them.

Paul used some of the cut ends from when he put the new fence posts in and also a couple of the ends from the sleepers used for the pond. Holes drilled into them, then stacked in place.

We have now added some bricks at the bottom and also in beside some cardboard tubing filled with cut bamboo canes. A section filled with straw and another of broken pots. at the bottom below the pallet is also a pile of old wood that is already home to a couple of spiders!

We just need to fill that last gap above the crocks, add some stuff between the gaps and it's complete.

The pile of apple tree branches in the folly fireplace will also be another place for bugs etc to live.

TIDYING UP

 There are always places that over time, a plant or two out grows the space they are in. Sometimes it's just a case of trimming or cutting back etc but sometimes, it's time to take them out. 

Such is the case with a lovely white climbing rose we put in along the side fence at the end of the garden, we have cut it back a couple of times but now it's just too big and hanging more over next doors garden than our own.

This is just half of the rose stem, really thick, we already cut back the other half but now it needs to come out.

You can see the rose stem going through the winter honeysuckle bush (also coming out) and through the middle of the Lilac tree, that it's made spread and then filling the skyline.

Now it's gone it's opened up the space for the lilac tree which is nice. We still need to dig up the roots but at least the lilacs have a chance to get some warmth and light before winter sets in.

Looking back to the now open space. We are going to keep this section open and plant only low growing plants in the space or maybe just add a large pot or two. Still to be decided.

There is still some nice colour in the garden.

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