Lavender Lady

Some pics of my before and after garden

Thank you Pam - I love your garden too  xx

What is your kind of garden?

I am another plantaholic, just cannot resist a bargain plant.  We have had lots of plant sales recently where I live in Suffolk.  My local village has one every year to raise money for cancer research and it has just grown and grown in popularity and this year raised £1200.  I always donate plants to them every year as do all the other local gardeners and a couple of local nurseries donated quite a few young trees and plants. 

I love cottage gardens, I find them so peaceful and natural looking.  My garden is very small and I have the cottage garden theme and I just love to sit out there (when it is not raining) and enjoy the insects getting as much pleasure as I am from the garden.  I plant for bees and insects.  My colour scheme is pink, blues, mauves and at the moment the Shasta daisies are doing very well and bring that much needed light into the garden (although they have got very, very tall).  I feel sad that it is now August and that we haven't been able to enjoy the garden this year as much as we would normally but as all gardeners I am already looking at seeds to plant in the greenhouse to grow for next year.  I have a beautiful pink rose called Festive Jewel which I bought three years ago as a bare root rose from Peter Beales.  I has been an absolute star this summer.  I have been deadheading all the poor rain soaked flowers and it has just kept producing more and more buds.  Most of the other roses have been cut back as they are finished ( I am hoping they will have another flush later on).  Enjoy your gardens everyone and lets hope the sun shines for us all

Some pics of my before and after garden

Thank you Higgy for your kind comments about the garden.  I have had a look at your link and read your blogspot.  I just love the flower meadow, cannot think of anything more relaxing than sitting at the bench watching and listening to all the insects enjoying the meadow flowers.  Well done.  I will follow your updates.

Some pics of my before and after garden

I think it is easier when you have a blank canvas rather than inheriting someone elses garden.  I have worked with both and I have to say a garden with nothing in it really is much easier.  Good luck with your garden Dan

Some pics of my before and after garden

Thank you everyone for your kind comments. 

We all  work so hard in our gardens that sometimes it is good to look back and see just what we have done over the years.  I must admit I cannot sit in the garden for very long without seeing something that needs deadheading, or pruning, or watering...  the list is endless

Some pics of my before and after garden

 Getting there, the beds are marked out and gravel laid

 This was taken this year late spring which shows how much the garden has filled in.  Privacy was a big issue as with most new estates and we overcame this by putting trellis to our existing wall and fence and planted honeysuckle, pyracantha, roses, ivy, jasmine.  We also added two pergolas over which we have grown wisteria, roses and clematis.

 We also added a small water feature the birds love this. 

 Here is my cat enjoying the last of the evening sunshine sitting underneath the Acer. 

The garden is very scented which the bees love and we have had blackbirds nesting in the Ivy two years running.  The garden is crammed full with plants, no weeds can get a look in.  We have a visiting hedgehog who helps with the snail and slug population.  This year we removed our shed and have installed a greenhouse so I will be growing more for next year.

Hope you enjoyed my pics

Some pics of my before and after garden

Here are some pictures of our garden.  We moved in 12 years ago on a completely new estate and our garden was wet claggy clay which you could not walk on without sinking in.  We started work in March and began by laying patio areas and marking out flower beds and gravel area.  It is a small garden only 9.5 metres X 9 metres.

garden before we started our garden design 3 years ago..

Well done chellie, can see how  much hard work you have put in.  The garden now looks great.  It is so rewarding when you can see it beginning to take shape.  We moved to a brand new house 12 years ago and had just a back garden of mud (it was in Nov).  We now have a garden full of mature trees, shrubs etc and lots of wildlife and insects.  Even birds nesting in Ivy and trees.  If I can work out how to post pics I will.  It has been hard work over the years doing it on a limited budget and I can say I love my garden.

where shall I buy my viola plug plants

Oh thanks, I do normally buy from T & M but they are not doing the lilac ones just the yellow mixed variety.  I shall have a look at jersey plants and see what they have,

Thanks

where shall I buy my viola plug plants

I want to purchase some viola plug plants to grow on for spring.  Can anyone recommend the best value and quality online supplier.  My favourite are the lilac colours. 

Any help appreciated

My dahlia tubers are not doing anything

Morrisons Tulips

Frost damaged Ivy

Is it still ok to feed dried fruit to birds bearing in mind the young

Wistera - a good dark coloured one - any ideas ?

Are Morrisons bulbs any good ??

Snow has gone and a lovely sunny winters day

is it ok to feed birds ordinary suet rather the prepared bird suet you can buy

mistletoe

Has anyone got any snow yet?

what do you think is the best make of bird food you have bought?

Greedy starlings

Where are all the birds ?

Buying spring bulbs online

What exactly does a 'sterile' plant mean ?