Developing a Garden in Bo'ness, Scotland

[astragalus]

Graham, everything is coming along so beautifully.  What you have already accomplished is impressive as well as creative and beautiful.

[angie]

Graham just catching up here. Garden is looking good. Do you ever sit down .

Angie 

[Graham Catlow]

Thanks Anne. I'm pleased you like it.

Hi Angie, only when it rains or gets dark. The former all too often and the latter all too soon these days. Is it nearly Spring. 

[angie]

Thanks Anne. I'm pleased you like it.

Hi Angie, only when it rains or gets dark. The former all too often and the latter all too soon these days. Is it nearly Spring. 

Roll on spring 

Angie 

[Graham Catlow]

Hi, Spring  has arrived (although with some of the cold winds we've been having lately I'm not so sure), and the front garden has woken up.
The spring bulbs (Narcissus 'Thalia' and Tulip 'Red Shine' have put on the display I was hoping for. T. 'Red Shine' is a stunning red tulip which I haven't grown or even seen before.

Some views from different angles.

[Graham Catlow]

I've been working on the back garden over the winter, mainly this last couple of months as the weather has warmed a little.

The first photo is a reminder of how it was when we moved in.
The second is how it looks now.
And then some other views.
I now have a seated area for the evening as this area catches the sun from late afternoon until the sun goes down.
I also have a greenhouse (for the first time). It is small and was cheap and but suits me for now.
There is still much planting to do to cover the ground but that will come in time.

Unfortunately we have cats coming into the garden and Hugo finds the scents too difficult to resist so I have had to erect a fence to try to deter him from trampling through the garden. I have recently placed some sonic cat deterrents around and they have stopped the cats messing so Hugo is less inclined to hop over the fences. I do think the cats are still entering but they aren't leaving their calling cards anymore.

The large patch of grass will remain for Hugo so the development is unlikely to change for some time (if ever). Though I don't like cutting grass.

[Graham Catlow]

The Greenhouse!

[angie]

Looking good Graham . Pictures are lovely but I was lucky enough to see it for myself and it's amazing what you have done in such a short time. Looking forward to see the garden develop over the years. There were a few things that really caught my eye.
Enjoy your garden.

Angie 

[Maggi Young]

That greenhouse is as fully stuffed as I've seen - no spare space going begging in there!

[Graham Catlow]

And every pot a pleione Maggi. 

[Graham Catlow]

I rescued these little chaps before they ended up as firewood. They are in reasonable condition - some rot and some deep cracks but they have a few more years in them. I thought they would add some amusement to the garden especially for the younger people that visit.
There are two missing but my daughter thinks I represent them anyway - Dopey and Grumpy.

Hugo had to get into the photo too. He gives a perspective to the size of the little chaps.

[Graham Catlow]

They have now been spruced up and are distributed around the garden. I didn't fully repaint them as I thought they would blend in a little more in their current condition.


Sneezy


Bashful


Sleepy


Happy


Doc

[Maggi Young]

Well saved, Graham! Lucky for them you spotted them and could perform a rescue mission. They're not so little, I see. Great fun in the garden.

[Graham Catlow]

There hasn’t been much development since I last posted but things are maturing nicely.

I have decided to remove the grass from the front garden. I am not a lawn enthusiast and whilst I tried to improve the quality I didn’t really have the passion the put the time and money into what was required. Instead of the grass I am going to use Phlox subulata, mainly ‘McDaniels Cushion’ but some other varieties too.
I expect the effect to be similar to a lawn (evergreen mat) but requiring much less management and of course having the bonus of a mass of flowers in the spring.
I have made some purchases to get things going but also prepared a large number of cuttings in the summer, and will continue to take cuttings to fill in the gaps to cover the ground as quickly as possible.


The lawn just before its removal.


The current image. I suspect it will take a year or two to knit together.

[Maggi Young]

I think that is a clever move, Graham. It already looks good and will very soon look much  better than the lawn. Well done!