ONE
Behind our fence covered in ivy is this wonderful backdrop of trees at the bottom of other people’s gardens. We are so lucky that we can borrow this forest of trees to look out on. It does mean we’re overrun by squirrels but we also have wonderful owl hooting at night and a great morning chorus.
Borrowing a backdrop from neighbours
TWO
Having a small pond adds so much to a town garden. It reflects light, has frogs and newts, things swimming about in it and dragonflies skimming the surface. It’s another way to get LIFE into your garden. Just scoop out a shallow hole, line with pond liner and fill with tap water. I’ve used old terracotta pots all around the edge to hide where the black liner meets the soil.
Pond the size of three dustbin lids
THREE
Have a birdbath of some kind if you possibly can. Any container off the ground will do. It’s a joy watching birds have a bath, it really is. Again, the water reflects light, it’s alive and changes with the weather and brings creatures into the garden for drinking and washing.
A stone birdbath reflecting the light
FOUR
Gorgeous acer leaves from a neighbour’s tree thrown onto my beds and borders
I collect attractive leaves from other gardens and chuck them onto my beds and borders. Why give them to the Council? You could use them as a lovely warm blanket for your garden. If this turns out to have been a very bad idea I will let you know.
FIVE
This is a trachelospermum (jasmine) climbing up a trellis at the front door. I’ve stuck in some artificial berries on wire stems. Would you have known they weren’t real if you didn’t know that jasmine doesn’t have berries? I think it looks quite cheerful so they can stay for a few weeks (until someone tells me it looks naff).
Artificial berry stems tucked into the trellis
SIX
Here is our water bill showing the use last June and July. Watering the garden has quadrupled our water use. This needs a rethink as it’s nuts to keep doing this.
The best plan I can think of is to NOT plant new stuff as late as May but to plant in Feb/March/April at the latest. Hopefully new plants will then establish before any drought as it’s only newly planted things that need such heavy watering to keep them alive.
Huge increase of water use in June/July
Those are my Six thoughts today and you can read more ideas from other gardeners on the propagator blog. Thankyou to him for hosting this theme.
