Garden Project

A year ago this week hubby, SMD and I went on a short holiday to Hayling Island as the restrictions had been lifted and I could finally get out. It was a result of that holiday and the realisation of not only missing my family but the need for outside space, we moved down here.  Our flat in Aylesbury is a lovely one but the lack of a garden really got to me during lockdown.

Our outside space here really was a blank canvas, the previous owner had no interest in gardening. Before we moved in my sister and brother in law (C&G) project managed all the alterations to the flat to make it accessible this included window fitters changing the lounge window for a set of patio doors. Once we had moved in the first job was to lay the decking so that I could access our outdoor space, including a ramp.

 

 

 

 

My nephew and I then sat down and worked out a plan of how the area should look. Both of us were really keen to make it as sustainable as possible. 

Part of our Christmas present from our niece were some Bee-bombs. My nephew prepared part of the outside area in order for hubby and I to scatter the Bee-bombs, which we hope in the next year or so will turn into a wild flower meadow.

 

 

 The Eagle eyed amongst you will see I used my Botcia Ramp to roll Bee-bombs down. 

In the same area we planted a very special plant, back in 2014 when my Mum passed away my Dad was given a Dahlia called Eveline (Eveline was my Mums name) C managed to transplant it when they moved from Barton le Clay down to Hayling Island and she then took a cutting (well I’m no gardener and it’s a bit more complicated with Dahlias as they have tubers – I had to look on the internet). Now I have a piece of Mum in my garden and today she looks like this:

 

Next came the part that really excited me – a rockery. Once again my nephew set to work on building the rockery, we had already been to a craft and garden show and bought some succulents (this happened in June and I was a little naughty as I spent money that I assumed I would get for my birthday).

When we moved into the flat in the garden was an abandoned Butler Sink, which we decided could be a small pond. The hole was dug and the sink put into it.  Gravel was put in the bottom with a slow made up of larger pebbles (which had been liberated from the beach). I wanted to make sure if we are visited by frogs or toads they can jump out.

Gravel was put in the bottom with a slow made up of larger pebbles (which had been liberated from the beach). I wanted to make sure if we are visited by frogs or toads they can jump out.

Back to the planting of the rockery, one of my succulents I had been given by a friend four years ago and it has grown to an incredible size, I decided it would need to take pride of place by the pond.

 The remainder of the plants were arranged and planted.

We had quite a few logs that had been stored under the hedge for burning on our open fire but as hubby and I have no desire to use an open fire we decided they could be used to form part of the rockery. A visit to the Hawk Conservancy Centre saw us buy a Salvia plant for our rockery. It really was taking shape.

I mentioned in one of my previous blogs that SMD gave me the Dean Team Lego Figures for my birthday and my nephew had given me a ceramic beach hut so now we have added a little bit of sand and it looks perfect.

 

Another addition arrived in the form of a Lilly for the pond and then I couldn’t resist buying a small water fountain which is solar powered and lights up. Hubby bought me a couple of Irises for the pond, now the pond was complete.

 

When we moved in we had a boring old grey shed, but I had a vision I wanted our shed to look like a beach hut and for our wedding anniversary C went about transforming it and now it looks like this.

 

 

 

The butterfly barn that my PA gave me is now up and fixed to the fence along with the Bug Hotel that my friends daughter made.
Just in the last few days we have added a lavender by our rockery, and a Scarlet Pimpernel has come up in the garden plus our sunflower is starting to flower.



Needless to say I am one happy bunny with our garden: thank you so much to my wonderful family xx