"in the midst of winter, I found there was within me, an invincible summer" Potting shed chat continues here

[funnyperson]

So as agreed (by 2 other people!) I have started this thread for spring gardeners follwing on from the previous thread : Welcome one and all. experts and novices alike and draw up your chairs and join in discussion on all things garden related (and even not garden related)

The staples of my gardening attire are an apron with pockets full of twine and secateurs and clogs from Back Door Shoes, as recommended on an earlier thread. The apron has been invaluable in preserving tops that would otherwise be mud-spattered.

I have today planted out the pelargoniums that are going into wall pots and potted up the viola seedlings that funnyperson gave me. I too have come to like begonias, as long as they are trailing and, best of all, the spidery ones. I don't like the red blobby ones that are used in bedding. I went to Pashley Manor yesterday and saw a beautiful specimen of L'escargot.

I am of an age where I find the prospectus for almost any cruise appealing!

How did I miss your water butt suggestion book? It's just what I've been looking for! Thank you so much!

I never plan to go gardening, it just occurs so my attire is whatever I am wearing, including my dressing gown.

I need to start thinking about this hedge protection malarkey and would appreciate some thoughts. The planning condition is this :

Prior to work being undertaken to begin the foundations of the extension and decking area hereby approved, a scheme to protect the hedge on the site's boundary with 8 Suburbia Close shall be submitted to and approved by the Local Planning Authority. Thereafter the protection measures shall be left in place until the external works involved in the development are complete.
Reason: To protect the coniferous hedge that exists on the boundary between the site and 8 Surburbia Close as this provides a screen that reduces the visual impact of the extension upon 8 Suburbia Close.

What we have between us and neighbour's are a row of leylandii which are so tall all the other neighbour's are moaning at me as they think they are mine. Their trunks are behind the neighbour's fence down the end where extension planned then further down forms the boundary but are planted lower down by a foot or two on the neighbour's side.

Where the extension will go there are two laurel trees which I'm waiting fir the tree man to come and prune. They are effectively protecting the leylandii. It doesn't mention the laurel so I assume they are only worried about the leylandii? Google suggests temporary fencing being installed so I guess we could propose that - not solid though as would block light to my shade beds.

Do you think if I explain that the laurel currently provides a protective screen to the conifer hedge for the majority of the length of the extension so we will delay cutting that until the extension is complete and erect temporary fencing 2 foot in front of the boundary to pirogue additional protection then that would be OK? I guess I can provide photos. Any suggestion for cheap, easy temporary fencing ? I'm assuming they aren't referring to protecting the roots during excavation.

Hmm further googling suggests there is fencing and I'm probably better to speak to a tree surgeon. How ironic I'm having to protect ASBO conifers ! I would be horrified if anything happened to them though as do need them for screening but they are getting much too tall now.

sugarplum - I asked DH about this (he's a professor of cities and planning and stuff like that), and he said that they probably just want you to erect some kind of temporary fence in place while the work is being done - and to assure them that there will be adequate screening in place for privacy etc once it's completed. He says to ring the planner and ask for clarification, because it's not worded very clearly!

(We have similar issues with our hedge and our pre-app for planning. On the drawings, there is a terrace area next to the extension that protrudes into the garden and it is drawn right to the boundary. The planners have sensibly questioned how we are going to provide screening with this configuration - we will need to pull the terrace in a little to create space!)

That's very helpful Shove, please thank your DH and thank you. Glad it's not just me as I thought it wasn't very clear so will ring. We will definitely be leaving adequate screening as there's a huge amount of it, far too much really and I've been chasing the tree man for ages to come and sort our laurel. You can get that metal stuff on eBay I see.

This is the view from our first floor window ! How are your extension plans going Shove ?

I have acquired a two-tier metal planter, like 2 hanging baskets only on a post about 3' high. It's not something I would have bought myself but a neighbour was chucking it out and I hate waste so took it off his hands. I am torn between putting more cherry tomatoes and/or strawberries in it or actually planting it up with something pretty. It would look good with something trailing. I'd prefer something that will last rather than a load of high-maintenance bedding plants that will die in October. Any suggestions?

I would feel the same, PurpleRibbons. I'm sure it can be attractively re/upcycled and your idea of tumbling tomatoes or strawberries is great.

Herbs ? Trailing nepeta? Sedums ?

How about ferns ?

Gosh sugarplum - that's going to be quite a bit of work for tree surgeon there! We have similar issues with our (lovely) NDNs - they clearly planted 3 leylandii when their kids were young, and they've got completely out of control to the point they're now taller than the house in a garden no bigger than mine. I feel really sorry for them, because they have all three kids at uni now, and are trying their best to support them - and the bill for sorting it out is going to be enormous. I wonder how many other families find themselves in the same boat? Leylandii should be sold with some kind of warning!

Extension plans are coming on OK. I'm really pleased with the design of the interior, but still working on getting the architects to think more about the transition to the garden - the lack of attention they've given to the way it connects inside and outside has been quite surprising to me. They are really, really good architects, but they just don't have a clue about landscaping.

I've been steadily clearing the top end of the garden of plants, though I still have a fair few things to move. I think we'll probably start September(ish) so we have a while yet.

Thanks for the suggestions. I like the idea of trailing nepeta. Still considering strawberries too!

I am posting this here because, I think you are the only ones who will understand.

For 10 years I have wanted to visit Monet's garden in Giverney. Finally OH agreed and we have just spent £1500 on a coach trip, Friday to Monday.It is the one and only thing I have ever really wanted.

We arrived on Friday, spent a miserable cold day on Saturday visiting various places. On Saturday night myself and two dozen other very excited people were talking about out gardens and how much we were looking forward to the visit to Giverny. Then the tour guide announced that the car park was flooded and for the first time in its history the garden is closed.

I know if I was a better person I would be thinking about the poor French people, instead of weeping into my pillow like a 5 year old.

Oh no, I'm so sorry, that's awful

What a terrible disappointment , I would be weeping too.

That's awful, I'm sorry that happened. I hate thinking about anyone being disappointed, it makes me really sad

Oh, Kwirrell, how frustrating. I would weep too, to be so close and yet so far. Will you get at least a partial refund, to finance the next attempt?

No refund, although we took out insurance, it does not cover weather. We won't be able to go again, I don't think.

I am debating whether to buy a book so that I can see what I missed. But not sure if that is rubbing salt into the wound.

Thank you for your sympathy, which was was I was looking for really. My family probably think 'it is just a garden', so I won't tell them how devasted I feel..

Oh Kwirrell, I am so, so sorry. I completely understand - I would be in tears too. How utterly devastasting to be there, and yet not to be able to see it. And absolutely rotten luck - no-one could have predicted this awful spell of weather in Europe.

for you.

Is there any chance at all you could arrange another trip later in the year? I have my cheap flights and my Airbnb pages open, all ready to replan you an inexpensive weekend break!!

Kwirrell that sounds horrendous. I am so sorry...
Is there any way to extend the trip until the garden reopens or is that going to take a while?

Maybe there are some other gardens nearby which would be worth a visit so that the trip does bring some beauty for your eyes...
this one is 50 minutes away so maybe too far, but I've always wanted to visit lejardinplume.com/

oh thats horrible Kwirrrell - I don"t suppose that you could get a big discount for a future trip? I cant believe the organisers haven't had a lot of complaints at that. But could you also argue the point that it wasn't the weather, but the car park closing that was the problem - any wiggle room there?

Oh Kwirrell how awful - what a disappointment. Grrr at French car parks. And French weather.

Oh Kwirrell , what a nightmare

Shove yes lots for a tree surgeon! However next door won't cut the conifers and we now have to protect them during our building work so goodness knows how much more they will grow! Our laurel is bad enough but we do manage to keep on top of it kind of. Glad things are going ok with the extension.

Our architect is ok but I've found isn't particularly interested in making it anything other than a very standard extension, which is fine I guess. All he had to do is draw up my ideas as I designed the new layout. I have a few issues on the light available but will use glass doors to steal it where I can. We have to decide how we are going to landscape it into the garden as have a big height difference between door level and floor so that is yet to be decided .

Last year I took a chance and bought 3 clematis from the £1 shop. What a bargain.

I have very similar issues sugarplum! I'm in a semi, so the extension is going to make the 'middle' room quite dark. We are hoping to use loads and loads of glass to bring in the light. We also have a steep drop between house and garden - we're dealing with it by having the new room set lower, with 2-3 steps down inside the house, and then a further couple outside. The ceiling height will be the same so it will be really, really tall as a room - I'm planning to use this to put in a 4m x 4m bookcase! HOORAY!

kwirrell - I could look at that picture for hours. So beautiful!