Sunday 17 May 2009

Chelsea Flower Show

I'm tempted to start off by saying I can't believe it is Chelsea Flower Show time again, but of course another year has flown by. Tony's a very long suffering husband as I like to tune in each evening to enjoy the delights of the gardens with Alan and the team. When I was at college I went to the show each year and it was amazing, very busy even though it was members day. Now I enjoy watching the show on TV, but I do miss the experience of being there. I love looking for ideas for our little garden which has evolved over the years. We moved in 2000 and inherited a garden paved from wall to wall with crazy paving. I attacked the edges and softened it with plants, but we weren't really happy with it. So in 2003 I designed the garden and we employed a local landscaper to do the hard landscaping. I then laid the lawn and planted up the flowerbeds. Finally six years later the garden looks lovely.
We have learnt lessons along the way about what will and won't grow in our little garden. It has sandy soil which is lovely to work with, but you must remember to pour in lots of mulch/ peat free compost. My parents garden always had thick London clay that was too wet for working in the winter and too dry and hard in the summer. Our garden catches the early morning sun, but by lunchtime/early afternoon in the summer the sun has disappeared behind the house on the right so it is quite shady. During the winter, sun hardly touches the garden at all. So it is more like a woodland garden without the trees. Happy gardening Jane x


11 comments:

Gina said...

You have a beautiful garden Jane.

Islandsparrow said...

It's very lovely! I can imagine sitting out there in the morning sun.

Thanks for dropping by my blog!

Anonymous said...

Jane,
Your garden is lovely
the desing is gorgeous, I love you lawn and fountain pond and your plantings, you have done so much with it, a truly remarkable transformation.
Many thanks for all your lovely comments on my blog x
xx
Sumea

The Blonde Duck said...

I wish we could have gardens like that. But it's too hot and we have about two inches of soil before you hit clay and rock.

The Blonde Duck said...

Glad you liked the Gift! Have you checked out the Coconut Queen yet?

Little House By The Sea said...

Your garden is truly beautiful,

Sarah x

Louise said...

I sit glued to coverage of Chelsea on the TV, it is a highlight of my year. I expect you have been enjoying your lovely garden in this beautiful weather we have ben having. x

LauraRN said...

I LOVE your garden!!!! What a lovely place. I'd love to have my coffee there in the morning.

The Blonde Duck said...

Thanks!

The Vintage Kitten said...

Your garden is lovely. I used to like watching Geoff Hamilton and he would inspire me to want to do wonderful things, but my garden is atrocious. I inherited a wilderness when I bought my home! Maybe one day mine will look as pretty as yours X

The Blonde Duck said...

Come check out the Puppy Ball at the Pond!