In a small garden (11m long, 6m wide) I have to make compromises.
An obstacle wherever I put it
Wherever I hang the bird feeder, I can bang my head on it when standing up from doing something in the border. If I put the pole IN the border, the squirrels and pigeons trample the plants beneath eating the dropped seeds. If I put it on the paving, I bang my head.
Black slippery paving always in the shade
Our brick paving is often green and slippery because of shade. The “mow, blow and go” maintenance firms using industrial petrol machines often ruin everyone’s peace and now I am thinking twice about even using my domestic one as it makes such a dreadful noise. Still unsure what to do about that. Maybe I need to like it as it is and give it a good scrub now and then, quietly.
Duckweed on the pond
Years ago I put a small pond under the magnolia tree. I’m forever scooping out the petals in spring, the leaves in autumn and a thick layer of duckweed daily all summer. Books say not to put a pond under a tree. Too late now.
Rat hole in the shed floor
In our shed squirrels have made a hole in the roof so they can come in and out when they please and rats have made a few holes in the floor so they can come in for a poo when they need one. Believe me I have tried all sorts of snake oil solutions. I particularly laughed at the plug- in frequency thing that I couldn’t hear but apparently rats could and they would stay away. yeah. right. Emperors clothes methinks. So my compromise is to knock on the door before I go in so they can scamper away and we don’t have to meet.
My back fences are east and west facing. On the east facing one a common ivy from my neighbour has begun to colonise the fence on my side, searching for the morning sun. It’s looking lovely. I am hoping it will create a green fence rather than the grey of the fencing. Lucky me.
However, on the west facing fence, whatever I plant on my side quickly pops through the trellis to flower on my neighbour’s side to get the morning sun. I am left with stalk on my side while over on his there’s a curtain of Virginia creeper and a profusion of clematis flowers. Some stems have just shot through under the fence not even bothering to climb it first. Hmmmmm
For years I’ve had a bistro table and chair under the apple tree for my morning coffee. Since the tree is a bird toilet, I’m often wiping bird poo off the chair and table and am in constant danger of being pooed on. Last week I just moved them out from under the tree a few feet away. Birds seem less fond of pooing in mid air. Why did I not think of that before? Funny how we just don’t see an obvious solution when it’s staring us in the face.
We have brick paths in our garden that get slippery with algae. I watched Monty Don do his on Gardeners world…he brushes sharp sand over his and then hoses it off-we tried it and it really works! Give it a go 😁
That sounds a good idea I haven’t heard of before. I will give it a go, thanks very much Angella.
But it is still a lovely place.
Thankyou Beverley, yes it is lovely and I don’t mind sharing it with the squirrels. Thankyou for your comment.
Your pond is maybe under a tree but the rendering is beautiful … I also liked the fence, cut to give a path to the branch of this tree … original and Nature comes first. It’s nice
thankyou for that lovely comment Fred, and would you believe that the magnolia tree flowers like crazy on my neighbour’s side and hardly any flowers on our side!!
Oh … it’s a shame … at least you don’t have petals fallen on your terrace
You are so funny and everything you mention here is true and real things we face as well. 😆 Still your garden looks delightful!
Thanks for your comment – so glad you laughed. I certainly do!
Despite all the challenges you list, you have a serene, welcoming retreat there! The pops of red are cheerful and just right. I got a chuckle from imagining you knocking on the door of that shed… 🙂
Thankyou so much for your lovely comment. Yes I am very lucky, this is a lovely garden and I love every inch of it.
On your West facing fence have you tried a climbing hydrangea? they like shade though won’t flower profusely…
That sounds a great idea . I’ve seen them and they are lovely with or without the white flowers and that would fill in the gaps in the trellis which would be nice. Will it self-cling?? Thanks for the suggestion.
Its a lovely space! My last garden was very similar but not so beautiful as we had a new house so loads of builders rubble in the garden and children who wanted a trampoline! Love your bistro set btw.
Thankyou Sophie , what have you got now? Have they grown out of the trampoline?
Oh I see you are the old house in the shires so I always read all about your garden too.
Lovely bistro set – complete with colour coordinated pots! How clever!
Ali, couldn’t be easier. Tesco bistro set online, a red one in the back and a purple one in the front. Was thrilled when I found those big red pots – hadn’t seen that colour before so snapped them up. Thanks for your lovely comment.
Loved your garden and your sense of humour. I’m in New Zealand and have a 11mx9m garden I started 5 years ago. I’m trying hard to get your look in a dry sunny sandy soil. I watch all the English garden shows. Well done.
Tracey from the land down under.
Hello Tracey thanks for writing. I’m not sure what plants would love a sandy soil but lucky you having lots of sun. Must say our gardening TV shows are lovely aren’t they – and well done aiming for the lovely cottage garden look. It’s not a lot of work I can assure you – loads of jobs don’t need doing. Eg I don’t have a lawn and I don’t grow anything that slugs eat so no problem there. Do keep in touch, best wishes, Julie