Wednesday 9 January 2008

Green Fingers


Our front garden has been, up until now less than inspiring. Covered in gravel with a sad looking tree in the middle it didn't add much to the house, and looked rather like a giant litter tray. Although thankfully, the neighbourhood cats didn't agree!

On Chistmas Day Mum and Dad came for lunch and Dad stood looking out of the window and suggested that we could probably do something to liven it up at some stage. I don't think he, my Mum or Rob were expecting the gardening books to come out, along with pens and paper whilst we designed a new herb garden...

So here we are, a couple of weeks later and the garden is now beyond recognition. I cannot take once ounce of credit for though, unfortunately, and only have my gardener to thank!






This is the half way stage, and gives you an idea what it was like before...Dad built the wooden frames and bought them up to the house, drilling them together to form the framework. Very clever man...my Mum and I will hire him out for a small charge...


Today we went plant shopping, which is my next favourite type of shopping after clothes, books and food. So we now have a fabulous tree in the middle, and are slowly starting to fill the beds up with lavenders, thyme, rosemary and bulbs. Once the plants become more established and the weather gets warmer I am going to buy some Sage, Bay and and other herbs and fill the beds a little more.


The man himself, hard at work! I would have helped but I have hurt my shoulder. Plus someone had to take the photos, obviously. There are four sections which are filled with bark chippings so I can reach the beds more easily once they start to fill up a bit more.




And here it is, the finished garden! I will take more pictures as it starts to fill up. I think once everything starts to grow it will look less 'new' and start to look as if it has always looked like that. Plus I will be able to cook things without muttering about how Tesco don't sell Sage, and instead trot out of the front door in my apron with a big pair of scissors! How fantastic is that?
Thanks Dad, you are fabulous xxxx

17 comments:

Locket Pocket said...

Wow! That is seriously impressive! I had an allotment in my front garden instead of gravel for a while until I got the real thing! I blogged about it about a month ago. Can I borrow your dad sometime???
Lucy x

Anonymous said...

What a hero! What a great herb garden! I have to manage with a couple of herb plants in a pot and a little bay tree outside the kitchen door.

Unknown said...

Could bloke travel to Canada and perform similar wonders for a small fee? Perhaps he could transform our horrid concrete yard area in June, hmmmmm (only joking bloke if you are reading this!). The garden is looking great - am very jealous as really miss our herb garden Dave vuilt in Bracknell. I have missed your blog for the last few weeks and have had great fun catching up. I am pleased to see that Oscar and George feature although slightly disappointed that no one has admired there beauty (could be to do with only being able to see their under carriages though?!)
xxxx

Mocha Sticks said...

What a great idea - a proper kitchen garden! You'll be growing runner beans in pots and tomatoes in a grow bag in the summer! I have a lovely raised bed outside, next to the kitchen. It needs digging over though, with with my Allotment book in-hand I need to plan what to plant. It's all down to lack of time though - I STILL have to finish my knitted bag - aargh!

dragonfly said...

How satisfying to be able to nip our, scissors in hand and add the finishing touch with some fresh herbs! My herbs are all looking a bit sad at the moment but will hopefully pick up come the spring.
Thanks for your lovely comments too...

Janette said...

that's fab wish someone could do something like that to our back garden. Unfortunately we don't have any land in front of our house we open straight onto the street but the plan is to do some window boxes at the back to stock up on herbs for the summer.
Enjoy!!

Janette

The List Writer said...

Herbs & lavender are the only plants I reliably don't kill. Bay and rosemary are my most used.

Your Dad is a wonder :o)

tess said...

it's really lovely, you'll be the envy of all your neighbours!
we had a herb garden in the middle of our front lawn for a while, but it was a real pain to mow round, so it was back to containers, yours looks really easy to maintain!

Hazel Designs said...

That is LOVELY!!! What a charming, lovely herb garden. I love it.

Ragged Roses said...

What a wonderful garden! Does your dad travel? Is Sussex too far?! Your garden is just going to look better and better too, please keep taking photos for us to see.
Kimx

bloke said...

You will have to talk to my agent--guess who that is?

No one is you ...& that's your power said...

hello there, glad you liked the resoulutions and glad you want to use them too. One condition let me know how it goes! I am sticking to the using of all my smellies etc as I just keep adding to them the whole time. I find it hard to resist the urge to buy clothes but am managing it well. I think it is a woman thing!. Your garden is looking great. One thing i done in my garden is buy evergreen plants that dont lose their leaves in winter so I have green all year!plus I can just leave them and forget about them. Do drop by again ps luv your fridge big time, I want one , I saw they are doing pink smeg dishwashers too!

coolblondemother said...

Hi Garden Girl,

Just stopping by to say that I love your blog. Keep up the good work!


Petra

annie's abode said...

Isn't it lovely!

Lucky you

Ax

Tracy said...

What a wonderful beginning to your new garden! Your dad wouldn't want to come to Norway and help us with some winter gardening, now would he? ;o) It's beautiful! I can't wait to see how your garden will grow in the spring/summer months ahead. Happy weekend to you, my friend...and enjoy that garden view! ((HUGS))

Alchamillamolly said...

Hi - love your garden and your Dad! If you read my blog you will see the latest sorry set of affairs we have had this week in the "move"

dottycookie said...

Wow, he is really good! I love having herbs just outside the door - our favourite is rosemary which absolutely thrives here.