The Landscapers are here, it is better than the arrival of Santa

[grannygarden]

Back in late summer, I posted asking for advice about changing my garden into low maintenance. The reason is my deteriorating health and physical ability. Well the advice and support I got was wonderful, particularly from those who recognised the emotional difficulty of destroying a garden I cared for for 40 years and having dispose of lots of plants.

I spent weeks drawing plans, making plant lists. Anyone would have thought I was developing the whole of Kew Gardens rather than by 26feet by 14 feet plot. The landscaper introduced me to a designer who I liked immediately. She produced 2 designs one of which was exactly what I had sketched out, but just improved.

So now they are here and I am so happy, I have let go of the angst and am now happily antipating the new garden. Thank you again for all the hand (spade) holding.

I have had more sleepless nights about this garden, than I had about the kids. Beds too small, beds too wide, what plants to keep what to discard.

On the last day of the build a discovery of a possible drain, meant a slight alteration to the rear area. Which has given me a wider area to plant and, I think, is an improvement. It means I can move some of my smaller Acers out of pots and into the soil.

I guess the garden fairies, hurriedly put that drain in while I was sleeping.

Taaaadaaaah

Oh wow, now doesn't that look just grand! I very much like the offset trees. The patio looks incredibly well laid. I love the way you see all the colours of the stone in the wet. You must be dead chuffed!

That is lovely! - and about the only time you can truly appreciate the wet :)

It is so much better than my wildest dreams. Just ordered loads of prairie planting for the front beds.

I can't wait to see a summer picture, it's going to be marvellous!

I have just been reminded about this thread so here is the February update. I have had a name change in honour of a MN who recommended Astrantia.
I made list after list from the advice on various MN threads and have been fairly good at sticking to it. I needed to plant it 'once' so I have gone for trees and grasses, and have added to my collection of Acers

The big tall trees in the foreground are 2 Amelanchier, and I have 2 Betula Jacqemonti, Sorbus Cashmiriana and robinia Frisia. They form the skeleton of the garden. It is south Facing and very hot so these will give us some dappled shade.

I have planted grasses, Dark Red Achiella , Valerian, Veronica and Acatea, Astrantia Major claret and chocolate cosmos for my second layer. This week we planted the 7 smaller Acers which had over wintered in pots as they are just starting to bud. I have planted some sanquisorba Tanna to poke through the grass.

In the rear of the garden I managed to save my climbing roses, clematis honeysuckles, lilac and pyracantha from the old garden. This is an area we did not use much before because of my overplantimg. It is a shady area in the day and then gets evening sun late afternoon. So I am hoping that while I am sipping wine I can blame my glazed expression on the perfume rather than the alcohol.

We had a big debate about lighting as I was not keen, but I am glad I was persuaded

o I am hoping that while I am sipping wine I can blame my glazed expression on the perfume rather than the alcohol.

It looks gorgeous. And that lighting scheme is stunning. I can't WAIT to see pictures with the trees in leaf.

I'm so glad you went for the lighting , I think it's really excellent. And I like your plant choice, lots of east reliable things that don't need a lot of care.

Hope your health is improving.

Thank you. Yes it is improving, I went to see an Oesteopath before Christmas and he seems to have really helped with the shoulder pain and the pins and needles in my hands and feet. I am seeing a physio as well, and the exercises he gave me have helped enormously.

I wonder if it's the curse of us amateur gardeners. I've also had trouble with by back and shoulder and the chiropractor and exercises have helped.

#oldfogeys

astrantia congratulations on your lovely new garden.

I know this is off topic but just something you said about pins and needles - my mum had this symptoms 6 months ago with increasing joint pain which became completely debilitating . She finally got a doctor who tried her on steroids as that is the diagnosis and the treatment for polymyagia and it's been a miraculous change- literally overnight. I've since found out my MIL and a friends mum went through the same process so apologies if this isn't relevant to you but thought I'd mention it!

Lovely pics Astrantia - love the lighting too.
My DH goes to a man who does postural restoration ( a side step of physiotherapy) and it is amazing how much better he is , in some very odd ways ! ( got rid of decades of sinusitis for one )
had to at the stupid link to doctor who Cath !

pah - mines done the same!

I've just noticed that!

Cathpot, thanks for the recommendation. It is a bit easier with the exercises, but as it is degenerative I guess it can only be staved off. I will speak to my GP though just in case

So here we are in March and most things have survived the distruption, neglect, Doris and enough rain to float an Arc. One of my pyracantha is dropping it leaves probably due to it's mistreatment in December. I cannot make up my mind whether to prune it or leave it.

I dug up one of my Sangisorba as it looked like it was drowning. It is now in a pot in intensive care in the living room. I look at it each day and talk to it. It will want to get better and get back outside just to shut me up.

My bargain hollies, ferns, grasses and mini conifers from Wilkinsons have all survived. Despite my best intentions I have probably over planted. I still have gypsophelia and chocolate cosmos to plant but I am DEFINITELY not buying any more plants.

It is my 48th wedding anniversary today. Both forgot, so OH and I are celebrating with beans on toast breakfast. The high life never ends here.

48th wedding anniversary! Oh my goodness, so many congratulations to you and your DH Astrantia. That's one hell of an achievement! at beans on toast as a celebration - you're definitely due something with champagne later on!!

I love the idea of you gently encouraging your Sanguisorba! They are tough, so hopefully it will bounce back. Mine got decimated - really ground to piece by a ladder when I was having external insulation fitted, but within a few weeks it had regrown. Fingers crossed for yours!

We will both be getting a visit from the NSPCP. You for squishing and me for drowning.

Many congratulations on the wedding anniversary, 48 years is two life sentences amazing 😉

I agree that most sanguisorbas are quite forgiving - I have the tall maroon one and the medium white one and they cope with my soggy garden ( sorry I don't know their names, or even if they are one of the 17 species or a cultivar) .

I've also had reasonable success with tiny cheap bargain plants - in my case 50p ones that I rescued from Aldis about a year ago. Bog standard evergreen ground covers like lonicera and cotoneaster but they are now decent sized plants in 2l pots and shall be going out into the woodland areas in the spring .

Looking forward to photos of your lovely new ( lower maintenance ) garden in the next few months. I have nothing to show really except a few early bulbs .

at talking to the plant Astrantia - Congratulations on 48 years too !
It is/has been raining here - even on the days its supposed to be dry. I am on fairly easy draining chalk, and even we are 'squishing' on the grass.
But things are popping out - my favourite purple hellebore has started to flower, crocuses, aconites and primroses are out, day lillies are sprouting out of the ground like weeds ( hmm and talking of weeds -bluebells too )

As most of my new plants are recommendations from MNetters I am thinking of renaming it after you lot. Last week the last plants from my wish list arrived which were 2 new Acers and some Cirsium. DH has been amazing at doing all the planting for me over the last 3 months. He is relieved that his gardening jobs are now over I think. Just hoping for some warm whether so that we can get out there.

That is just beautiful Astrantia - you must be thrilled at how it has turned out. Many happy hours to be looked forward to :)

Thank you, yes I am really happy with it. I bought lots of trees, Rowans, Amelanchier and Silver Birches, so hoping for lots of bird watching. This an Ariel view.