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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A PEEK IN THE GARDEN

 

The pots that were replanted to go under the masks are looking lovely and full, the grass beautiful. We will need to remove the grass and put in the greenhouse for the winter which is a shame.

We are hoping to split the grass and get another two plants from them, which we can use in the pots at the other end of the pond garden by the bench.

We plan to add a few flowers into this area in the folly garden but not too many. Just a touch of white or pale pink here and there.

The new folly wall looks lovely in the autumn sunshine

The rose is growing well.

The jungle area is also looking healthy now it's cooled down and we have had a tiny bit of rain now and then.

GLIMMER OF SUN IN THESE SAD DAYS

 We have been following the news since the death of her majesty, Queen Elizabeth the second, on the 8th of September.

It is a very sad time for us here in the United Kingdom and also around the world. Today after her being placed in Westminster Hall for her laying in state, I went out for some air in the garden. 

The sun was shining, and I noticed how it was hitting the new folly wall, so went back for my camera and took a few photos.

It's nice to see how the sun hits it in the late afternoon.

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Niamh in the sun

From the other end.

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On another note, we thought we'd lost most of the fish, then some reappeared and a week later we counted 8 of the 9 we started with. Then one died. Then we counted them again earlier this week and counted 8 again! So, it appears we'd not had a visit from a Heron looking for his breakfast.

However, another fish died, so we are back down to 7, hopefully this won't keep happening and the remaining seven will continue.

Since we have made a cover to protect them, we will leave it in place just in case the Heron appears!

The remaining fish are growing, so maybe they will make it.

The pots we planted up for the fishpond garden have filled out beautifully.

The grass is looking particularly good.

All the pots are growing well.

THE FOLLY IS FINISHED.. MAYBE

 Paul's been working on the folly on and off all week since the window arrived. 

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Casper checking if the walls straight!

Rufus getting in one the act!

This was on the 8th august. Then we spent a good week deciding which window we wanted to put in! Finally, after a week I went to order it, from Redwood Stone, and found just what I really wanted for sale in their graveyard page, a broken version!  We had to wait a day to see if we could get the one, we preferred and then got the email to say it was ours, so payment sent and then the wait of four days for it to arrive.

So, Paul started fitting it.

The 'broken' section of window.

Of course, Paul landed up with several other places he needed to be over the week along with us finally getting a decent day of steady rain, which the garden was desperate for.

a few more rows each side.

It's good to have someone else's input when doing these finishing touches.

But gradually, over this week, working a few rows each side every day before going off to his other commitments, the wall's gone up.

 

Each day we discussed how to get the top as we wanted it. The thing with building a folly is you need to remember it's supposed to be a ruin! So, it doesn't need to be perfect! or have perfect bricks, so this time Paul bashed the ends of the bricks to make them look damaged, like they would be on a ruin.

Which also made me notice that we had nice clean stepping bricks on the right-hand side wall, so Paul added a few damaged bricks to that side to remove the tidiness!

So, this is it! Just waiting for the upper bricks to dry.

Rufus in the shoot!

So just a few finishing touches and it's finally done!

Niamh through the new window

another closer view

with the tree framing the righthand side.

And here is the finished folly.

The new wall

from the lychgate end

Looking into the folly

from the border

So, it's finished.