SuburbanGaze

This is the ideal time to plant a hedge  The purpose of this hedge within our garden design is to: create a secure boundary between the pond and the rest of the garden (to safeguard little people) create a wind barrier  grow a natural bird nesting site  provide a source of pollen and food for wildlife   We have decided to plant a bare-root native wildlife hedge across the 8.5 meter width of the garden.   We are leaving a gap in the middle so that we can erect  a cast-iron full-length gate when the hedge eventually  establishes. We have researched this and will be following advice from the London Wildlife Trust  by planting a combination of native plants. We have prepared the planting area, removing all trace of couch grass and weeds, we have also uncovered yet more concrete :(  String has been placed across the area.  The hedge will be planted in a criss-cross diagonal pattern about 50cm wide with a bare-root plant positioned every 25cm along the length. 

Despite the change in seasons and the drop in temperature there is still plenty of beautiful colours to be seen outside. Our sculptures obtained from the RHS Malvern Autumn Show have been collected and placed around the pond, there are 3 of them in the set in different sizes - this is the largest. 

A Grey Heron was sitting on the fence today minding its own business.  Usually we see them along the canal but out of context in our garden it looked like a Pterodactyl.  Unfortunately we missed an excellent photo opportunity but caught it flying away with its enormous wing-span.  

As the days get shorter we are trying some new solar lighting ideas to create small pockets of light around the garden.  We will also be topping up the leaf mould containers.

A tiny insect taking refuge from the elements on the obelisk and protected by the Mina lobata. 

Earlier in the year we bought some Dutch Honeysuckle which is now in bloom.  Instead of growing it directly up the fence we have grown it away from the fence so that it gets rain water.  We have achieved this by using two narrow fence posts placed in the ground parallel to the fence using fence spikes and attaching a trellis panel across the two posts.  This has created a two meter planting screen for climbers.   Hopefully in a few years the climbers will fill the void in between the trellis and the fence and sustain nesting wildlife, honeysuckle also attracts moths.  

We have the dreaded duckweed in the pond.  Unfortunately there is not much we can do about it apart from ensuring the pond doesn't get like this again and at least 1/3 of the pond is not covered in it.  We need to begin to maintain the area more effectively by taking dead growth from the pond and using a net to carefully lift out any leaves that have dropped in.

Think we can call that a success... We love it so much we have bought a second younger plant.

We have beans courtesy of small plants from Dad and yet more plums (but not as large a harvest as last year).   We have made a Plum Chutney for Christmas

The Mina Lobata that we have germinated from seed is growing fast over the obelisk and blends nicely with the cosmos and dahlias growing beneath it.

Some pictures from around the garden. Buddleja Day lily Dahlia Dahlia Achillea  Ligularia rocket Hosta Echinacea  Agapanthus Hydrangea Sunflower

We have had success with our Rocket potatoes - a nice easy start to growing vegetables!

We have achieved all of our garden design goals this year and can now enjoy a more practical space.  We will continue looking for inspiration for the remaining part of the garden to join the current design to the remaining part of the garden and the wildlife pond area.  

The shady border beneath the Goat Willow is doing well, the colour of the plant foliage and the various purple shades from the Heuchera Blackberry Jam, the Salvia and the Delphiniums look striking with the grey of the fences as a backdrop, this was a great colour choice. 

The Wildlife Pond looks spectacular with the Hostas in flower and the Gunnera also doing extremely well.  

This weekend we have been having fun with a Karcher pressure washer which we have been using to clean the concrete slabs on the patio before we decide what we would like long-term.  Using the pressure washer has proved to be a very effective way of brightening up the space, we have also applied it to the front driveway of the house too.

Our third and possibly final (for the time being) trip to Gardeners' World Live  has happened today, after 3 trips we feel we have seen everything it has to offer. Next year we are planning to attend an RHS event!  Our trusty gardening trug Another Iguana 

We are now concentrating on the third circle having spent some time laying the stone circle.  We have invested in an obelisk for more climbers and have fenced the other side of the garden - these will be painted slate grey to create a uniform space.

Using the  Colour Wheel  as a guide we have picked two long flowering plants whose colours are opposite each other on the wheel.  We have planted them together in the same bed. We have chosen  Euphorbia x martini Ascot Rainbow & Allium cristophii. They are stunning together with the bright greens of the foliage and the analogous red centres of the Euphorbia flowers clashing nicely.  The purple of the Allium and the bright greens of the Euphorbia being directly opposite each other on the Colour Wheel add an instant sense of harmony. 

The two circles of grass have been provided with some TLC , they are plants themselves after all.  We have bought some clip-on shoe spikes which, when walked all over the grass will improve aeration, aid drainage, reduce dampness and therefore reduce the ideal growing conditions for  moss .   The powder product contains a few active ingredients, nitrogen added to the soil is needed for healthy green plant production, phosphorus is a fertiliser that in a field grass would normally get from grazing cattle (digestion) and strengthens the root system and finally potassium helps against infection.   The liquid product does all of the above but also greens the grass and can be applied during wet weather.