Sunday, June 01, 2014

Paint, Scrub, and Polish

The more observant may have noticed that Mark has been writing the majority of the blog posts recently. I was thinking earlier about why I had not written as much as I had previously, and I think it just comes down to time, we have had so much on lately, both at home, in the garden and at work. As such the spare time I have had has been spent in the garden rather than writing about it. 

I promised myself that I'd put that right today!

We have had quite a productive weekend in the garden, (although Mark has been far more productive due to me feeling under the weather).

Most of the time has been spent on getting the new Jungle Hut prepared for the summer ahead - more on that later.

But whilst Mark was busy painting I decided that the Koi pond deck was in need of a spruce up.


It has been about a year since we completed this and a years weather, debris from the fire and not to mention two firetrucks worth of firemen scrambling across it had taken the shine from the Ipe decking. I omitted to take a before photo, so you will just have to take my word for it. But a good scrub and then a fresh coat of decking oil has brought the colour back up.



The white chairs were also showing the signs of a wet spring and were taking on a very green hue. An hour with the jet washer brought them up almost as good as new.

I must do something about those speakers - despite being sold as suitable for yachts the grill has rusted very quickly, a job for next weekend as we have some white anti rust paint to bring those back up to brilliant white.


 Whilst in that area it was also worth having a look at how the mixed yucca planting in the raised bed was doing. And despite having the firemen dragging a hose across it last year it looks great.

The bottom section of the garden - the Jungle has responded well to the extra light it has gained following the fire, and so many things have just exploded into growth this year.


The plants best not get too used to the extra light as it wont last for ever, planting of the damaged section is completed and will no doubt soon cast more shadow and shade onto the rest of the jungle.

One plant that has done fantastically this year is the Gunnera tinctoria by the original koi pond. This lost its main growing point last year, and the result is a much fuller better proportioned plant. I'ts planted into a raised bed lined with plastic for water retention. It doesn't actually connect to the pond, but does receive splashes of water from the small water fall. 

 The middle patio is now making something of a comeback, the newly restored pergola is adding a zing of colour - can you believe we almost decided not to rebuild this. I'm so glad that we did!

 Looking the other way, the effect of the fire is more obvious, with fences visible for the first time in years. Hopefully the bamboo screening will regrow fast - we are helping it as best we can with plenty of food and water. Some shoots have at least got to the top of the 6 foot fence, even if they do look a little sparse behind the tulip tree (another new addition).

 So what of the Jungle hut, well its been painted, and looking much more at home in the garden. And the inside... well here's a little taster, some bright orange gives a nod towards Loree of Danger Garden - If we claim it was orange in your honor perhaps you will have to come visit us again!


That's all we are going to share for now, there's still a few finishing touches to make, so keep an eye out for the reveal!

Gaz
Gaz

25 comments :

  1. What a difference the deck oil makes, think I might have a go at ours. After your last post I have decided to get a wooden pergola, I just love the way the colour of it 'zings'. Just have to decide a colour first. What sort of paint did you use? So I am busily selling plants and things, that clutter up the house, doing quite well too :)

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    1. Great that you are having a pergola too. The paint is B&Q gloss "postbox red".

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  2. The gardens are looking good headed into the summer this year. Your yucca planting is amazing and reminds me of the landscaping at our botanical garden. I like that taste of color you have added and that orange is just right against the blue.

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    1. Thanks Shirley! I'm glad that the yuccas are recovering well after most of them flowered a couple of years ago which made them look scruffy for awhile.

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  3. That deck must be a great place to sit. We had a small pond at a previous house, nothing as sophisticated or as exotic as koi, but it was one of my favourite places to be. Watching the fish gently gliding through the water and coming up to take food from my hand, so relaxing!

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    1. It's so relaxing watching fish swim by isn't it Jessica? Could sit by the pond all day watching them given the chance.

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  4. Your garden looks so lush and cool. I'm surprised you guys get any work done. I'd want to sit down all the time and enjoy the scenery :-).

    I can't believe how tall your yuccas already are.

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    1. Been doing lots of sitting down and watching at the latter part of yesterday Gerhard :) it's great to make time to just look and take in the garden every so often

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  5. Chairs to watch the fish and music - I wouldn't get anything done. I could sit and watch fish for hours.

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  6. I love the red pergola! Great work.

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  7. Looking forward to the Jungle Hut reveal! It's so good to see the progress your garden has made since the fire. I did something similar with my Gunnera, lined its planting hole with plastic, but it doesn't seem to have helped, it has declined every year since I first planted it. I think it just needs boggy conditions for real.

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    1. Thanks Alison! Perhaps replace the Gunnera with a new one of the same kind? It could just be the plant itself. Well worth persevering with

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  8. The garden looks gorgeous! I love the bamboo with the black canes and the glowing red pergola amongst the foliage.

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  9. I am honored by the orange and would love to come back for a visit and have the time to see more of the gardens of your country!

    Both the deck and the jungle hut look so good with their new coatings, you have me rethinking our plan to just let the fence age naturally. I also have great sympathy and understanding for your desire to have things grow and obscure the fence/view. Difference being of course I chose to make the change and you had the change made for you in such a violent way. Lastly you've helped me decide. I need to plant another Gunnera in our tank. One died last year and the lop-sidedness is kind of driving me crazy, yours is so full and beautiful, like everything else in these photos...

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    1. Thanks Loree :) It'll be great if you can come back again, soon be better! There's so much to see and so many gardens that we know you'll love.

      Glad to hear about the Gunnera, well worth the patience and persevering it especially once it starts putting our really huge leaves. The new fence panels that was put in in the jungle section of the garden will remain unpainted, we'll just let it age and go silver naturally (saves us another paint job too!).

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  10. Considering the devastation of last year, your garden is looking lovely Boys. The gunnera especially is stunning.

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    1. Thanks David! Hope the Gunnera you planted at the Priory bank is doing well.

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  11. Hello Mark and Gaz,

    Well, a fire is definitely to be avoided but it has certainly meant that areas of your garden have been given an accidental new lease of life. How fabulous it is all looking. We are particularly amazed at the Gunnera given that it is not planted directly in water.

    What a tease you both are with your garden house. Of course, we are sure to love it when you finally give us an opportunity to see it in all its glory. We cannot wait!

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    1. Thank you Jane and Lance! One of the positive outcomes of the fire was the subsequent replanting and re doing of the area (for the better hopefully). We just need a nice pot for one of the plants in the Jungle veranda and then it's makeover would be finished :)

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  12. Your garden looks wonderful. I love that red pergola - I don't think I'd have the courage to use such an intense color in my garden, although your example makes me think I should try it. I'm also quite impressed that you managed to refinish your deck while being under the weather! It looks great and I hope you're feeling better.

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    1. Thanks Kris :) love red and quite like having the odd splash of bright colour here and there in the garden

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  13. Ohhh, everything is great. I love that ipe deck and the jungle hut is looking really good. But I die for that gunnera. It´s beautiful.

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    1. Thanks Lisa! I wonder how much heat Gunnera can take, perhaps it'll be fine in your area if it's getting more water

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