When I first set eyes on Bramblewood I quite liked the house but the garden sold it to me. I looked through the kitchen window and couldn't believe the view - woodland as far as the eye could see and no fence to spoil the vista. Birds happily flew between the trees and the previous owner spoke about the other visitors: badgers, foxes, hedgehogs etc etc. After London it seemed perfect. Yes I know I wasn't thinking the amount of work required through but there you go, heart over head!
In literally the few weeks it took to move in the garden had started to run riot. After another 4 weeks of doing nothing to it (and plenty of rain!) a jungle had appeared. And I do mean a jungle! I kept going outside and picking a weed or 2 then dashing back inside overwhelmed by the huge task. The fact I didn't know a flower from a weed wasn't helping either!
Only one thing for it - call in the experts. So I put out a call for gardeners. One was overwhelmed themselves and didn't want to take on the task, a few were ok to do the job but I was looking for someone that would really sympathise with the environment and love the garden as I did.... and along came Scott.
Scott turned up with his young son. I took them to the front garden which is small and quite manageable. Then I took them via the house to the side garden, again quite average, the patio and the garden both needed some work. I then walked them round the side to the back garden and had my 'ta da' moment when I reveal what's hiding there. Their faces were a picture - it really was a 'wow' moment for them. He said he'd never seen anything like it and his son loved it.
I like to see the reaction of people when I reveal the vastness of the rear garden. In the case of gardeners I wanted to see that they'd like the garden and wouldn't run from the challenge. Scott didn't, infact he was very excited by the prospect of it all. At this stage I thought the best plan would be to cut pretty much everything back and get rid of anything that was a weed or taking over the place. A couple of saplings had planted themselves right next to the house which in a couple of years could be a real problem with roots under the house. Scott suggested taking them up and replanting them back in the woods - now that idea I liked - recycling!
I had a think about it and decided Scott was the man for the job.
So Scott and Tommy arrived and it took 2 days to sort out all the broken flagstones and just cut everything back. I took a photo of Tommy at the bottom of the garden with a big petrol mower and when I looked at the photo it looked like a tiny doll was mowing - at that point I finally realised the garden was indeed huge!
I have great plans for the garden but what I want to grow there and what will actually grow there are 2 different things! The trees suck the moisture out of the soil and they also make parts of it very shady - nice to sit in but not so great for growing things. I have a feeling this is all going to be a steep learning curve.
I have also finally realised the amount of work the garden will be, I daren't take my eyes off it for a day even without checking for weeds or watering the grass and plants as otherwise things either die or go mad and take over! I think I'll be yelling for Scott and his mower on a regular basis!
We are currently planting things randomly to see what will or won't grow. I had cultivated a few herbs and some tomatoes on the kitchen windowsill so they were replanted in the garden along with a few flowers such as lavender and I am awaiting the results with interest!
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