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I thought I would post some pics here of the development of my garden over 8 years.Our house was a new build so had to start from scratch.The soil is heavy clay which is soggy and wet in the winter or like concrete in the summer.Over 8 years I have dug in compost and grit etc but even now I am still digging up builders rubble and lumps of clay the size of a football! I gave up digging at the top end and put down gravel.
2007 was my best year so far,the last 2 have been a bit disappointing as the weather has been very wet and windy.
March 2002-This is how it was before we moved in!
May 2002-This was how the builders left it,but the soil hides a multitude of sins!
Spring 2003-1 year in and it is beginning to take shape.
Summer 2004-Only 2 years old and looking like a proper garden at last!
2007-Garden is now 5 years old.This panorama picture shows the garden at its best.The weather was actually quite wet and windy this year and my lovely Robinia (the golden-green tree) gave up the ghost and died.The last 2 years have not been so good and I have also planted some more things to replace plants I have lost or have not done well.
I hope these pictures go to show that it does not take too long to get a garden going and attract wildlife.We have frogs,toads,newts,and hedgehogs as well as an ever increasing amount of birds,bluetits have nested here for the last 4 years.
This is just my back garden I have a front one of about the same size and am still working on that.If you would like to see pics of that I could put some on but I don't want to bore anyone!
Rachel
It's not always easy to hug a hedgehog.
But that doesn't mean you shouldn't.
What a lot of hard work Rachael but very well done Your garden is beautiful. You could give Charlie Dimmock a run for her money
Of all creatures, man is the most detestable, he is the only creature that inflicts pain for sport, knowing it to be pain. ~ Mark Twain
Really lovely. I would love to see the front too. You have planned it well and your hard work has paid off.
Sarah
I've learned that I still have a lot to learn...
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bramble67/
Hi Rachel,
Your soil sounds just like ours, so I fully understand how much hard work you have put into it, and wow!!! what a difference you have made. You have created a gorgeous garden with lots of little creatures living there. When you sit on your bench with a drink you must feel very satisfied. Than you for sharing this, it is lovely and I would love to see your front garden please.
Cheers, Linda.
See my photos on Flickr
Hi All
Thanks for your nice comments!
Here are some pics of my front garden.As I had spent so much time on the back it is only in the last couple of years that I have done much to it.The garden was "landscaped" before we moved in which meant a lawn was laid over builders rubble and a few shrubs planted!
March 2002-Before it was "landscaped" by the builders.
July 2007-Quite boring really! The lawn to the right was always awful.
Nov 2008-Had the old path removed and a new path laid.
May 2010-Tried digging up the lawn myself but gave up and got 2 men in to do it for me! Have planted it up the new garden with shrubs which are already growing well and should provide some cover for sparrows and other birds.I am planning on putting up a sparrow terrace on the front of the house for next year. In the summer I have hanging baskets etc by the front door.
Feb 2002-Side garden before we moved in.
April 2006-Still quite plain,just keeping it tidy.
July 2009-My sons cherry tree (grown from a pip) is growing well,I have snowdrops and crocus round it in the spring.Shrubs also doing well. It took me a whole summer to dig out that border! On the wall behind the tree I have a Virginia creeper growing so in a few years I hope that will clothe the wall.
Last year the front garden came 5th in a local competition ((the winner lives just over the road!).This year I will try to do better!
Thank you Rachel for showing these pics. What a lot of work, but well worth the effort. The garden looks beautiful and I can just imagine how lovely it will be when the hanging baskets go up. Good luck in the next competition, you deserve to win after all that work.
I daren't show any pictures of mine at the moment. This winter has created havoc, back and front, and it is too cold still to do much with it.
Hello, your garden looks gorgeous now, you should be very proud. I also have clay soil........I appreciate how hard you have worked.
What a shame about the Robinia, I think they are lovely little trees, so delicate looking and a beautiful colour.
I really enjoyed seeing your pictures and would second Sparrow in saying good luck in any future competitions.
Kind regards Jane.
Wow!! That's mighty impressive! What a great idea to keep a photo record of the development too!
"All weeds are flowers, once you get to know them" (Eeyore)
My photos on Flickr
Hi Rachel
Looking round this forum for first time, and found your garden, wow you have done a great job, it's coming on a treat. Now the trees are getting height it gives the garden a mature look and I like the arch over seat. My neighbour died last year and her son ask me if I would like some of her tubs and 3 chimney pots similer to yours, I have planted 3 Million Bells in them and they look nice in the front. We moved into our bungalow (1930s) 9 years ago and the garden was crazy crazy paved, with every weed in the book growing between.
I think your picture diary is such a great idea and certainly not boring, I think I would like to do one too, I also have some before pics and work in progress. I just love looking at peoples gardens especially before and after, and for wild life to survive we need gardens not concrete. Will look foreward to more of your pictures, weather is good so lets hope it continues.
Pam
What a great job you have done with this.
I'm sure all builders have lots of clay which they go around dumping in the gardens of all the houses they build.
Robert
Hi. Thanks for your advice on the 'clay' soil pond I am trying to make.
Your garden is about the same size as mine, but it is beautiful. Mine looks plain and boring against yours. I have only lived here a few months, but have managed to dig a flower bed around the outside of the lawn, and I am trying to make a bird friendly patch at the bottom. I have taken lots of cuttings, mainly Buddlea, and I have lots of colour, When I get this pond finished I shall be putting more features in the garden. As much as I love gardening, this horrible soil is putting me off doing to much. Not only that when the weather has been dry, the lawn had started to seperate and I had big gaps, which I have now filled in and seeded. My son has built me a nice deck at the house end, so that takes away some of the garden that I don't have to dig. I hope in a couple of years time, I will have the garden of my dreams, and wonder what all the fuss was about!!!
I
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