Gardening news.

[Speedbird-1]

We are lucky enough to have a very old, well stocked garden, with more than 60 varieties of Roses, a few Apple trees and a lovely, productive veg patch.
But, alas, until very recently, no,'water feature', and we wanted to attract more wildlife into the garden.


Last September, after a lot of digging, we filled the modest 1000litre capacity pond, to the brim. Planted it with various oxygenaters, marginals and a couple of lilies, we stood back and waited for the wildlife to arrive. "You create it, and they will come" we were assured.

We were very pleased to see water snails, pond skaters, whirligig beetles, and lots of small diving beetles arrive.......but that was about it.

Then, this morning, a bright beautiutiful sunny July morning, we saw them!
Lurking under the 'lili pads' were a couple of Smooth Newts!.....Fantastic!
We were well chuffed!

So, fellow TRF'ers.
Are there any keen Gardeners out there amongst you?
I'd love to hear about your successes (or failures).

Perhaps we could share horticultural tips etc.


Ps.just read this to the missus.....she wondered why I hadn't mentioned that SHE did all the digging.
.......oops!

[milov]

I build gardens professionally. But from my experience, people who build and tend their own gardens have a far greater appreciation and gain far more enjoyment from their gardens than many of my clients. Congratulations to you both.

[White Collar Boy]

I’m no green thumb but have enjoyed changing our backyard significantly, transplanting many things to make a side garden, and putting some small native trees in the backyard instead to attract some birds. In southern Queensland, we get a lot of Rainbow Lorikeets and Blue-faced Honeyeaters, and the occasional Kookaburra among others. My favourites are the ubiquitous Crows though.

Failure: transplanting a very large fern to a too-sunny spot. A stupid error. I noticed some plants get very stressed from being moved but, if they are put in the right place and treated well, they’ll recover. The poor old fern just slowly died. I should have moved it again somewhere better.

Success: with the first COVID lockdown last year, like many people, I went crazy on buying lots of indoor plants. It has dramatically changed the look and feel of my house. At the same time, I bought a small Alocasia (‘elephant’s ear) for aforementioned side garden, that almost immediately blew up to almost two metres in height. A wonderful looking plant.

Do you have any photos you’d like to share of your garden? It sounds awesome. Kudos to you and your wife.

[77T]

You lost me at Smooth Newts - but as they say about watches, pics or it didn’t happen. I don’t even know what a smooth newt looks like…

But 60+ rose varieties - that we ought to see


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

[BNA/LION]

I enjoy hanging in the yard tending to plants and flowers. The gardener does his thing but more of a blow and go. So, I do the detail things and really enjoy it!

Congratulations on your success! Once the Smooth Newts found the pond they will be followed by other animals I would think. Keep us updated as more critters start showing up.

[TheVTCGuy]

I have a house plant, does that count?

[BNA/LION]

Originally Posted by TheVTCGuy

I have a house plant, does that count?

No! *REPORTED *

[TheVTCGuy]

Originally Posted by BNA/LION

No! *REPORTED *

Damm!!!!!!

[daveathall]

We have a tiny cottage that has really small gardens front and back, my wife is the gardener and does everything, I am allowed to water sometimes while she is out. We did have gravel at the back but, because the area was so small, I suggested fake grass, which tbh looked really well. Would love to see some photos of everyones garden.

This is the front.


Some pics of the back.







I took a "Pano" of the whole thing.




The kitchen has 2 windows and a "barn" style door which frame the back garden nicely, it is raised so is directly in one's eyeline. None of this is any of my doing, my wife loves gardening and loves pottering around there.

[TheVTCGuy]

Beautiful Dave



Is my room ready?

[Jocke]

Originally Posted by TheVTCGuy

I have a house plant, does that count?

Not when it grows in your pants.

[cop414]

Kudos to your wife Dave, that’s gorgeous!

[White Collar Boy]

Wow Dave, what a beautiful garden and home. The astro turf looks good among all the abundant real stuff.

[RichM]

That’s beautiful Dave. Thanks for sharing it with us.

[Boothroyd]

Dave...I am jealous. I will take Paul's room. That is just great. A lot of time and attention went into that. Would love to have a glass of wine in that backyard.

[THC]

Originally Posted by Jocke

Not when it grows in your pants.

[Blansky]

Originally Posted by TheVTCGuy

I have a house plant, does that count?

Yes it does. As long as it's not plastic.

[Blansky]

Originally Posted by TheVTCGuy

Beautiful Dave



Is my room ready?

You were just looking at pictures of it.

[Speedbird-1]

Beautiful, beautiful garden Dave!
My compliments to your Wife, there's a lot of love, and many hours of hardwork gone into that delightful space.

I can just see you there, feet up, a couple of nice beverages......heaven!

[Speedbird-1]

Originally Posted by 77T

You lost me at Smooth Newts - but as they say about watches, pics or it didn’t happen. I don’t even know what a smooth newt looks like…

But 60+ rose varieties - that we ought to see


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

Can't show them (Roses) all in one photo'....my wife has catalogued most of them.
I can let you have the list, if you're really keen.

We've been loitering around the pond quite a lot today, but haven't caught even a glimpse of our elusive little critters. (They're only a few inches long.)
Here's a pic I've nicked off t'internet.

[emersm]

What a beautiful space, Dave. Stunning!

[daveathall]

Originally Posted by TheVTCGuy

Beautiful Dave



Is my room ready?

As always my friend.

Originally Posted by cop414

Kudos to your wife Dave, that’s gorgeous!

Thank you, she loves pottering in her garden.

Originally Posted by White Collar Boy

Wow Dave, what a beautiful garden and home. The astro turf looks good among all the abundant real stuff.

Thank you, I was very surprised at how real the turf looks.

Originally Posted by Rich Mickol

That’s beautiful Dave. Thanks for sharing it with us.

Thank you very much.

Originally Posted by Boothroyd

Dave...I am jealous. I will take Paul's room. That is just great. A lot of time and attention went into that. Would love to have a glass of wine in that backyard.

We can find a room and a nice glass of wine, my friend.

Originally Posted by Speedbird-1

Beautiful, beautiful garden Dave!
My compliments to your Wife, there's a lot of love, and many hours of hardwork gone into that delightful space.

I can just see you there, feet up, a couple of nice beverages......heaven!

Thank you, you are right, she has given a lot of love to her garden my friend.

Originally Posted by emersm

What a beautiful space, Dave. Stunning!

Thank you very much Merle, really appreciate your kind words, my friend.

[mountainjogger]

OP. Need pics! If you notice a guy a fedora parked outside your place, he' taking pics.

[mountainjogger]

Originally Posted by daveathall

We have a tiny cottage that has really small gardens front and back, my wife is the gardener and does everything, I am allowed to water sometimes while she is out. We did have gravel at the back but, because the area was so small, I suggested fake grass, which tbh looked really well. Would love to see some photos of everyones garden.

This is the front.


Some pics of the back.







I took a "Pano" of the whole thing.




The kitchen has 2 windows and a "barn" style door which frame the back garden nicely, it is raised so is directly in one's eyeline. None of this is any of my doing, my wife loves gardening and loves pottering around there.

Awesome Dave! You are a lucky man my friend.

[daveathall]

Originally Posted by mountainjogger

Awesome Dave! You are a lucky man my friend.

Thank you my friend, I am very lucky, my wife is fabulous.

[brandrea]

Originally Posted by daveathall

We have a tiny cottage that has really small gardens front and back, my wife is the gardener and does everything, I am allowed to water sometimes while she is out. We did have gravel at the back but, because the area was so small, I suggested fake grass, which tbh looked really well. Would love to see some photos of everyones garden.

That is absolutely beautiful Dave

You and your wife have a really wonderful place there.

[daveathall]

Originally Posted by brandrea

That is absolutely beautiful Dave

You and your wife have a really wonderful place there.

Thank you Brian, it is a servants cottage. We are next to a big country house (think something like Downton Abbey). What they used to do was build servants cottages for the senior servants (Butler etc) close to the main building (but far enough away, lol) but they are very small, I literally have 2 rooms downstairs kitchen and living room, no room for a table in the kitchen so all meals are taken on our laps. Upstairs is slightly bigger because one of the rooms is over a covered alley to the back. It's hard to describe, but they built them down to a price, all the windows upstairs are on the floor, so the roof can be lower. It sounds grim but isn't, we did it up and absolutely love, love it here. It's small but just perfect for us.

[White Collar Boy]

A cottage with real character by the sounds. Any idea when it was built?

[daveathall]

Originally Posted by White Collar Boy

A cottage with real character by the sounds. Any idea when it was built?

Thank you, it's just under 300 years old, the one next door apparently is older but the way the two are joined makes me wonder. I will try and explain, between the two there is a covered alley to the back, above the alley are two rooms, one at the front, one at the back, the back one belongs to my neighbour, the front one belongs to me. Hence upstairs being bigger than the downstairs.

There is no garage or drive, I park my car about 30 yards away near the village hall, but, we love it so much, it is a small price to pay.

[brandrea]

Originally Posted by daveathall

Thank you Brian, it is a servants cottage. We are next to a big country house (think something like Downton Abbey). What they used to do was build servants cottages for the senior servants (Butler etc) close to the main building (but far enough away, lol) but they are very small, I literally have 2 rooms downstairs kitchen and living room, no room for a table in the kitchen so all meals are taken on our laps. Upstairs is slightly bigger because one of the rooms is over a covered alley to the back. It's hard to describe, but they built them down to a price, all the windows upstairs are on the floor, so the roof can be lower. It sounds grim but isn't, we did it up and absolutely love, love it here. It's small but just perfect for us.

Thanks for this detail Dave, I can picture it and honestly it sounds just perfect.

I think the outdoor gardens in your pictures make for a beautiful living environment, and besides, who needs all that living space, when you tend to do most of your living in one or two rooms anyway

Sent from my SM-G960W using Tapatalk