Were the barometer on our garden wall in good working order it would no doubt indicate ‘wet and warm’. Perhaps, at 18 degrees centigrade it had the temperature right. Full sunshine, however, we definitely did not experience.
The leucanthemums in the front garden are some of the plants cut back for the winter by the Head Gardener.
This one was having none of it.
It may come as no surprise that one album is insufficient for the garden record. Late yesterday afternoon I therefore ordered two more from Harrison Cameras in Chesterfield. They were delivered just after noon today. I call that an incredibly good service. I then stuck the Shady Path section of the story into the first album, and prepared the next set, The South End this afternoon.
The essential surface in this area is of concrete, we think laid down for Post Office vans in the 1930s. Stretching from the Oval Path to the Back Drive, a number of raised beds border and cross it.
We reached this project on 6th June 2014. It was somewhat daunting,
especially as the burning pile, seen here on 23rd, restricted access.
By 4th July the pile had been cleared and we had made enough progress for a little table and chairs to take its place. The little brick pillar covers a protruding metal spike that we think was part of a washing line post. I eventually hacksawed it off.
A washing line is coiled around the makeshift fence that was the original barrier to the back drive.
By 16th, the bed just inside the garden had been cleared.
On 22nd March, the barrier down, Aaron assisted in clearing rubble,
and by 1st June Jackie had begun building a row of planters to replace the fence.
The concrete surface, now merging into the drive was shingled by Aaron on 6th September,
at the end of which month the setting was able to burnish the heavily pruned Virginia creeper, the calibrachoa in the hanging baskets, and the fuchsia beneath.
This evening we dined on Mr Pink’s fish, chips, and pea fritters, followed by Jackie’s deep, flavoursome, apple pie and custard. I drank Doom Bar.