Unless it’s pouring down (and sometimes even then), I go for a wander around my garden most mornings, usually still in my pyjamas and with a cup of coffee in tow. It’s become part of my morning routine to have a walk round and a quick check on how everything is doing. Anyone else do this?
Sometimes, though, it’s good to stop and take a more considered look at the garden. And amidst the weeds and deadheading, pause to acknowledge all the progress you’ve made so far. It takes time to grow a garden, of course, but there will be progress nevertheless. And that progress is not just in how the garden looks, but the progress in yourself too, what you’ve learned that you didn’t know a year ago and the deeper connection you have formed with your garden.
Take our front garden, for example…
Our front garden is really quite different from what we inherited when we moved in. What used to be an uninspiring and swampy patch of lawn with a dense conifer hedge is slowing transforming into quite a pretty space. Over the years I’ve added a combination of pollinator friendly perennials and shrubs and tried to ensure there is something of interest all year round.
In early spring, the aquilegias come into bloom, adding a welcome pop of soft pink and white to one corner of the garden.
Aquilegias in bloom back in May
Then the geraniums arrive and bloom for months, to be hopefully followed by hydrangeas, achillea and Japanese anemones which should provide colour through summer and into early autumn.
Geranium ‘cantabrigiense Biokovo’ flowering at the moment
Removing the hedge a few years ago was easily one of the best things we’ve done in the garden. Yes, we’ve lost a little bit of privacy but it is more than compensated for by all the extra light that floods into the garden, allowing plants to flourish. On the left picture below, you can see the stumps from the old conifer hedge when it was removed. And on the right, the same part of the garden now filled with lavender, geraniums and roses.
The front garden – before and after
A quick word on roses
I had always shied away from roses, thinking they were too much work. The thought of having to deal with aphids, mildew and black spot just put me off. In my mind they were for people who knew a lot about gardening. But last year I succumbed to planting one rose in the front garden and earlier this year I felt ‘compelled’ to plant more.
The rose I chose is Harlow Carr, a David Austin rose producing flowers of a mid pink colour with a pure Old Rose fragrance and which can tolerate some shade. Honestly, the smell is divine. I hope, in the long term, my patience will be rewarded with a glorious rose hedge along one side of the garden. It will take time for it all to get established, but for now, I’m happy that the roses seem happy. They are flowering profusely and the garden has taken another step forward.
The first Harlow Carr I planted in the garden last year
First flowers from the roses this year
If you are unsure about roses like I was, the David Austin website is full of really useful advice and information. You’ll find everything you need to know on how to plant, feed, mulch, deadhead and prune roses. I’ve shared the link at the end of this post.
A wander round to the back garden…
Previously this had been a lawn overshadowed by more of those dreary dark conifers from the neighbouring garden. Thankfully a new neighbour came along and removed them and suddenly the garden had possibilities ! We added an arbour and painted it blue. We replaced the lawn with gravel and then later built two raised beds , one dedicated to herbs, the other to cut flowers.
Right now, the herb bed is doing pretty well. Over the past few years, the thyme has slowly spread and now cascades over one corner of the bed. Meanwhile the lavender is in full bloom at the other end. In the middle of the herb bed I planted Erysimum Bowle’s Mauve this year to add an extra pop of colour. It’s one of my favourite perennials as it flowers all summer long and the bees love it. If you can buy one perennial, buy this one !
Erysimum Bowle’s Mauve in the herb bed
Lemon thyme and garden thyme in the herb bed – I love the contrasting colours
The herb bed in the evenings – lavender, erysimum and thyme – creating a purple haze.
I hoped you’ve enjoyed this wander round my garden. It has taken time and effort to get it to this stage. It’s been a learning curve of trial and error, tested by the trials and tribulations of our Irish weather. It is a perfectly imperfect garden, constantly evolving but a constant nonetheless.
I think this quote sums it up nicely:-
‘Gardening is the slowest of performing arts’ – Anonymous
Take care,
Paula
Useful Links
David Austin rose care – https://www.davidaustinroses.co.uk/blogs/news/tagged/rose-care
If you visit my Instagram page, you can see more pictures of the changes in my Garden Makeover highlights.
Lovely photos Paula. I’m always a bit conflicted about roses but have started to enjoy them more in recent years. David Austin are visiting our local garden centre for a rose event next weekend and I suspect my wife may be tempted…
Oh lucky you. They are hard to resist, I think, especially when they pick such good names for them too. There’s a lovely one called Tottering by Gently…I’d buy it just for the name !!
It all looks beautiful…still wish they made phones with smell-o-vision though!
Oh, thank you. Yes the smell of David Austin roses is really quite something. I’m sure Meta will come up with something soon so we can smell the flowers on Instagram or something !
Your garden is looking lovely, so many colours. Ours is a bit of a work in progress but love seeing all our ideas take shape. X
Thank you. It all takes time doesn’t it but patience is hopefully rewarded !
A beautiful garden with lots of gorgeous colours. A garden is surely a little piece of heaven on our doorstep. Thank you for sharing your photos, too! 🌹🙋‍♂️
Oh yes absolutely, I’m not sure what I would do without my garden. Definitely a little piece of heaven for sure 🙂