Wednesday, April 03, 2013

Whatever the Weather

Whilst the weather is still on the cold side, with plenty of snow across much of the UK we are having to take a pause from some of our projects and plan ahead instead. We had started the repair and replacement to our red pergola a couple of weeks ago, but haven't been able to push forward with that as yet. The last weekend was also fairly cold so we may have to delay this project for a while longer yet. Things are looking a bit better for next weekend, so fingers crossed the warmer weather will arrive.

It can be frustrating waiting for spring, especially when you want to get stuck in to the garden. But there's no point letting the delay annoy or irritate, you just have to find other ways to enjoy the garden. Sometimes that can be achieved by undertaking a different task or by thinking ahead to possible projects for the future.

Hence last weekend trimming back the Sycamore tree as Mark mentioned, we hadn't planned on doing that but it worked well allowing us to keep wrapped up and even work up a bit of a sweat - so much so that cold drinks were needed whilst cutting back the tree.

We often think and talk about future projects, some we have shared on this blog, others don't get beyond a simple idea. Some will happen, some won't. But whilst they may or may not get off the sketch pad into the garden, the journey through initial idea to a design is something we enjoy.

When talking to my parents about our pond build, my mother often referred to it as a giant Lego set for adults. A reference to my childhood fascination with Lego, although I wish the concrete blocks had been as lightweight as a Lego block. This side of gardening, the creative construction of hard landscaping is something we both enjoy and with such a large project as the pond under our belt we both now feel that there won't be much we wouldn't feel confident in tackling.


Concrete blocks, if only they were as light as Lego blocks.
But back to the cold weather, it does give you time to think about new ideas, so we already have a list of things we want to achieve this year, top of the list being the pergola and then the greenhouses for the working area beyond the koi filter house.

As regular readers will know we are also thinking about changing the front garden. Currently this area is block paved, and we want to lift some of this paving to allow planting into the ground. However on the left hand side of the house we are aware that a number of utility connections are under the paving such as water, gas and electricity As we are not sure as to their exact location, I really don't want to risk cutting though a pipe or cable when preparing the ground. So instead of digging down in that area I am thinking about building a raised sleeper based bed over the block paving, leaving the paving in place and not risking disturbing any of the utilities. 

Although we wouldn't be planting dwarf conifers, this wooden planter from The Internet Gardener gives the impression of what I am thinking. If we add plenty of gravel at the bottom for drainage and sit this over the paving then I don't think that there would be any problems, plus if we really needed to get access to the utility pipes etc then it could be dismantled and plants moved more easily than if the plants were in the ground.

As well as thinking about the hard landscaping at the front we are also still debating planting combinations. Do we have a total break from exotics at the front or go for something traditional? Or embrace the south facing aspect and go totally tropical? Perhaps a compromise in between would be the answer.

I suspect we will go for something that feels fairly traditional, the garden has to work with the 1930's era of the house, but rather than being planted with more traditional plants we may go for a traditional style but using exotic plants, after all the gardeners of the 1930s would have used many of the same plants we love today. This project is still being planned in my mind, and no doubt will morph and change as we reach a final design before starting work.

But despite my mind rushing ahead with the cold weather, I need to reign myself back in and hope we get some decent weather to allow us to finish off the various small tasks remaining on the pond project. So fingers crossed we will get some warm and dry spring weather soon! 

Gaz

21 comments :

  1. I wish you warm spring weather! It will be amazing to see fish in your new pond!

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    1. Hopefully we will get some warmer weather soon!

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  2. Fingers crossed indeed! I'm finding waiting for spring to be very long winded this year! Sounds like you've got a lot of interesting projects on the way. Adam's building a new shed this year so hopefully we can get our materials and start that soon too. He has problems finishing what he starts!!

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    1. Thanks Anna.

      We also need to look at replacing one of the older sheds in the garden this year. Adam would be very welcome to show off his new skills here!!

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  3. I'm sure you will have great fun deciding what to grow in your front garden. It's been wierdly dry for these past six weeks here in Wilmslow. As you know, i'm into raised beds and xeriscaping at the moment, so I appreciate the sleeper bed idea. And yes, dwarf conifers are BAD!

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    1. We have been fairly dry the last few days, but its wet and damp again now.

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  4. Sounds to me like the cold weather is very dangerous, with your minds spinning out of control with new projects. I, too will wish for warmth...for your own protection.

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    1. haha, yes maybe its dangerous, we do get thinking and planning what we could do next :)

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  5. What do you mean no dwarf conifers? that could be a beautiful new direction for you ;)

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    1. It could be.... but then on second thoughts :)

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  6. Hi Guys,

    I love reading your blog about your wonderful garden, you have such a great infectious enthusiasm. I was planning to spend some time in my garden today, but woke to find it snowing... again.!

    Best wishes, J. x

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    1. Thanks, glad you enjoy the blog, I'm in central London today and its snowing here too!

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  7. I like the idea of the planter for the area mentioned. In fact I like that planter but know you guys can easily create your own and it be much better even.
    Cher Sunray Gardens

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    1. Thanks Cher, Im looking forward to building our own. That was a useful reference point for what we are thinking. Of course the design may change before we et started!

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  8. My mind too, has been ticking over with garden plans while waiting for the warmer weather to arrive. I love the idea of your raised planter for the front garden. I have pots in mine as, like you, we have utilities directly beneath which makes it unplantable. I look forward to seeing what you create.

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    1. Thanks Paula, it can be dangerous all this cold weather. we are all planning lots of projects for when it warms up!

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  9. I have to admit I was a bit startled when I saw the contents of that planter box before reading the text. So not your style! Wouldn't it be fabulous if you started a bit of a gardening revolution on your street? Stranger things have happened...

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    1. hehe, yes the dwarf conifers are not really us :) But a planter similar to that should work well. Id rather get everything into the ground at the front as we tend to neglect plants there a little bit. But in order to get more in we cant risk damaging the power/water/gas supplies.

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  10. Hi Mark and Gaz, keep us updated on your plans and progress for the front garden, it'll be interesting to "see" your thought processes. One big advantage of planters is that you can tailor the soil to match what you want to grow in it. I understand that the main body of plants you have are exotics, but will you use the front to indulge in natives or other non-exotic plants that you are especially fond of?

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    1. We are still toying with exactly what will go in the front. I want to keep a traditional feel but not using traditional plants. However we have a couple of things to do first so only time will tell where we end up!

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  11. I do love the way that you are always buzzing with ideas! TNG gets rather disconcerted by my tendency to always have a few new projects in my mind's eye long before I have finished whatever I am currently working on, but I do enjoy the variety, and having different types of things to work on means I can usually fit something to the time, weather and energy available. Your raised beds sound like an excellent plan for the front, practical but will add some much needed colour and texture, so many of our streets are altars to the car nowadays with nothing but tarmac and brick paving. I will look forward to seeing your front garden evolve into something wonderful!

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