Allotments 4 All
Photo Gallery => The Gallery => Topic started by: Steve. on September 30, 2010, 15:04:48
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The folowing was wrote on another forum as it happened, I've copied it all and added a timeline so you get a sense of when things where done.
Steve...:)
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Cumbrian Garden Project
Timeline: 8th May 2008
Anne and I moved here at the end of May 2007, to this blank canvas. We brought a few plants from our previous garden and quickly planted them in the one flowerbed there was, and quickly dug another along the back fence for a couple of roses and lillies. Here are a few photos from before we moved in. The garden has a southerly aspect and is right now undergoing some major landscaping as the first "real" work starts. There will be more photos in the next few days so that hopefully you can follow along. We are up here in Cumbria and we can see the fells from our front door.
(http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c71/photocumbria/CRW_5709copy.jpg)
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Yes we live right next door to a Church!
Steve...:)
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Timeline: 9th May 2008
The start of the hard landscaping, here is the building site we like to call "The Garden" ..at least a few Tulips are adding some colour...
(http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c71/photocumbria/IMG_0983copy_1.jpg)
Steve...:)
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Timeline: 17th May 2008
Work has continued this week on and off and the patio is complete now, I hope to replace the large paving slabs at a later stage to be more in keeping with the crazy paving and wall behind it.
The crazy paving has a story and a lot of history behind it...its 200+ years old Cumbrian sandstone paving from John Peel Farm here in Cumbria. John Peel is perhaps the most famous Cumbrian and he died over 150 years ago, he was a major figure in the hunting scene and by all accounts was also a bit of a rogue towards both his family and farm, not caring much for either of them..his mind and thoughts where for the next hunt. He even has songs and poems written about him, some of you may recall the lyric "D'Ye Ken John Peel" from one such song.
Anyway, I had advertised on a recycling site for paving slabs and stone and received an email from a lady who said she had some broken paving, I had no idea at this stage what it was but went along to the address given where the whole story was given to me. Now when all is done in the garden (is it ever all done?) and I'm sat out there with a drink in hand I can now half shut my eyes and visualize all the foxhounds and riding boots walking over the patio that I now sit on.
Its the wall I'm currently busy with which should be finished this weekend time and weather allowing of course and the stone was also obtained the same way..from a recycling site. The way this site works is that people advertise things that they no longer want or need and the aim is to potentially stop things going to landfill needlessly.The wall is old too but I have no history attached to it that I know of, but I do know its old from the wear that is evident and the hand tool marks that are visible on some of them.
Behind the wall to the fence will be all planting area save for a stepping stone walkway between fence and wall, over this I plan to erect a gazebo for climbers such as Clematis and Roses to inhabit..the gazebo is a project for later on though.
(http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c71/photocumbria/IMG_1003.jpg)
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(http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c71/photocumbria/IMG_1005.jpg)
This is the bit I'll be working on this weekend which is a raised bed idea, you can see where the wall will go by the shallow trench.
(http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c71/photocumbria/IMG_1006.jpg)
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There we are, all up to date. One more coffee and I'm back out there..
Steve...:)
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Timeline: 24th May 2008
I've finished the retaining wall now and actually filled one part with broken down soil (not fine tilth yet) although I use the word soil "loosley" as its 90% clay. More soil to go in behind the long wall tomorrow and be broken down, then I ca add the compost and well rotted horse muck to give it some oomph..and next week...planting. Here's a shot from today.
(http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c71/photocumbria/HL1.jpg)
Steve...:)
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I didn't do anything in the garden yesterday. The day before however I laid this zig-zag path at the back, over the top of which a Gazebo will eventualy be erected to make a secret floral walkway.
(http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c71/photocumbria/a-1.jpg)
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Steve...:)
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Timeline: 8th June 2008
I took these a few days ago after a day's planting. The plants that some friends brought up for us, a few we have bought or already had and a few annuals that I have grown from seed all went in along with some summer flowering bulbs. We are hoping for a riot of colour! Oh...and our new table and chairs arrived the other day too.
(http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c71/photocumbria/IMG_1102copy.jpg)
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(http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c71/photocumbria/IMG_1108copy.jpg)
This last photo shows the bed next to the church wall, last year I just dug it over and planted a few shrubs here when we moved in, just to get them in the ground. Whilst I have been busy with the landscaping the mares tail and buttercup have been running wild in this bed so out it all comes, just a little bit to do on the left here.
I'm presently building a thingummy whatchamacallit which should be finished later today, I'll hopefully post a few more photo's tonight or tomorrow.
Steve...:)
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Timeline: 9th June 2008
Here we go then. 1 "thingummy whatchamacallit" finished and planted up with Sweet Peas, a Jasmin and a Bougonville. Hopefully a Honeysuckle too in the next day or two. BTW, apart from a few screws and some wood preservative, its 100% recycled, I have another ten of those large trellis panels to use in the garden that where destined to go to landfill.
(http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c71/photocumbria/IMG_1116copy.jpg)
Apologies for my shadow in the above photo, very unprofessional of me.
Steve...:)
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Timeline: 10th June 2008
The whole thing of the patio has been one of access for my partner Anne who is wheelchair bound, the raised beds where to give Anne access to join in the gardening fun with planting etc.
Here is a sneaky shot I took of her yesterday as she was doing a little planting.....mission accomplished !!
(http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c71/photocumbria/_MG_1132copy.jpg)
Steve...:)
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Timeline: 16th June 2008
Our local Garden centre recently threw out some old plant stands and replaced with new ones, I got permission as they where put out to be skipped away...so I've dismantled them and bit by bit fetched it all home (this is where I got all the trellis from too!)
Here is the timber all tidied up ready for use (tenons cut off, denailed etc) it includes 16x7.5 foot and 18x6.5 foot, 3 in posts!! All stacked up it looks like a giant pergola kit...
(http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c71/photocumbria/timber1.jpg)
(http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c71/photocumbria/timber2.jpg)
Work on my Pergola starts some time tomorrow and will be covering in an "L" shape over the raised stone beds.
Well...you didn't think I'd finished did you? :D
Steve...:)
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Timeline: 6th July 2008
I've made a start on the Pergola this last few days, dodging the rain showers !!
I painted the timber before assembly, two coats and done first to avoid trampling or also painting the plants. Here its up but still braced and the feet are not yet concreted in as I still have some trellis to paint and add at the far end to act as a screen from the houses behind, once the trellis is added I'll concrete the footings and remove the braces, then add the cross pieces along the top.
(http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c71/photocumbria/_MG_1250.jpg)
Steve...:)
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Timeline: 12th August 2008
The pretty bit, still a very young garden, but coming along nicely.
(http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c71/photocumbria/IMG_1347copy.jpg)
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The pergola still needs some timbers accross the top, that can wait till I have found some...the basic structure is there now.
Steve...:)
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Timeline: 12th August 2008
More pretty stuff, pots this time :D
(http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c71/photocumbria/IMG_1346copy.jpg)
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Steve...:)
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Timeline: 12th August 2008
I have had to buy a greenhouse brand new, this is after trying for the last 6 months to recycle one via such places as freecycle or to buy one second hand (and so recycle) via ebay (always outbid at the last minute!). All I have to do now is erect it and start using it, if only things where that simple! There is a shed in the way of where I want to put it, and when thats removed there are two old shrub roots to dig up and remove.
Here is the "other" half of the garden you have not seen much of upto now.
(http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c71/photocumbria/IMG_1310copy.jpg)
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The shed is to be repaired, painted, emptied, moved, refilled and its final location is right up next to the car/fence, facing the same way. The fence also needs removing and a new one building complete with gate for access. Up by that fence there is a mound of soil left over from when I dug out the patio area, that needs flattening before the shed move.
You can see my incredibly fantastic composting system here, two big wooden crates, one is full and composting, one is empty (now) but was full of well rotted manure and the bins are full of "done" compost thats now maturing, all this will be replaced and rebuilt into a more efficient use of space and will stretch along the wall between the shed and greenhouse, containing three, maybe four bays to it. One for storage, one for "doing" one for maure and a spare..maybe for leaves/extra storage.
And the grrenhouse will eventually be going where the shed is now, so that the door of the g/house actuallu faces the house, set slightly back from the current shed frontage so that I can get a full length coldframe next toand along the side of the g/house, but not interfering with that ghastly grid cover.
Steve...:)
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Timeline: 21st January 2009
I intend to start work on this area/side of the house this week, weather allowing. This tatty old shed is to be moved and replaced with a greenhouse. To the right side of the shed are two very large old shrub roots to be dug up first. Branches cut of these got to 3 inches thick, roots should be fun!!
(http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c71/photocumbria/IMG_2433.jpg)
Rear view of the shed also shows my sophisticated composting system !!
(http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c71/photocumbria/IMG_2434.jpg)
Bags are full of last autumns leaves ;)
(http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c71/photocumbria/IMG_2437.jpg)
From the side of the shed looking taowrds the front of the house.
(http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c71/photocumbria/IMG_2439.jpg)
The shed (8x6) will be moved right up against the fence here and given a lick of paint, I'll be building a new stronger and bigger (12x7) shed next year or year after. And between the shed and new greenhouse, along the wall I'll be building a composting area with two or three bays in it. And the fence at the front needs doing and a decent gate too.
This is the first of three or four projects for this year.
Steve...:)
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Timeline: 2nd February 2009
Shed has been emptied, broken down, moved, reassembled and refilled. 2 x tree/shrub roots removed from next to block wall and ground leveled again. That was yesterday, today snow has stopped me...:(
(http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c71/photocumbria/shed.jpg)
Steve...:)
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Timeline: 12th March 2009
Well finally with a few days of reasonable weather, I've managed to move on with this part of the garden even though its been raining at night turning it into a mudbath.
Shed has been moved and a new gate made and mounted.
Due to the sites nature of flooding when it rains, I've opted for a flagged base to the greenhouse, so toms and the like will have to be grown in growbags or pots. As you can see I'm nearly at the point of glazing the GH now which will hopefully get done over the next day or two...then I can start filling some seed trays..:D
(http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c71/photocumbria/frame.jpg)
Then there is some tidying up to do..
Steve...:)
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Timeline: 18th March 2009
I did say "warts an' all" at the start.
I got on with the Glazing on Monday, paying particular attention to safety I made sure I handled the glass with a decent pair of gloves, made sure that when doing the roof I had a stable platform to stand on and that I had all clips ready to be used..before getting the next piece of glass.
I started to glaze one side and had the lower pieces in all the way along, when walking away to get the next piece of glass, my hand "brushed" against one of the lower panes and cut my finger quite badly.
(http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c71/photocumbria/IMG_2879copy.jpg)
Off to the GP's and as it was the outside of my finger they could deal with it using paper sutures, had it been the inside it would probably have damaged tendons. Here's the embarrassing bit, I fainted whilst at the docs..
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Tuesday, and I carried on with the glazing and when I finally got to the fourth of four glass boxes I was dissapointed to find 3 pieces broken, so it was off to Focus DIY to see if I could sort out some replacements. They could not have been more helpfull about it and once they had ascertained which of the four boxes had the peices in that I needed....I was given the whole box!
Back home the greenhouse was soon finished and I have enough glass spare to redo the whole roof if I wanted to, I've now added a cold frame to the end of the list of my jobs...well you would...wouldn't you?
(http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c71/photocumbria/IMG_2884copy.jpg)
Today I'll be tidying up the mortar on the brick base and hopefully getting some staging into the GH, the rest of the week I'll be sorting out an exterior and interior ramp for Anne as she has decreased mobility and then hopefully getting getting some seeds into trays.
Steve...:)
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Timeline: 22nd March 2009
I built some staging for the greenhouse and painted it yesterday, all recycled timber. A bit of effort collecting and then cleaning it up (de-nailing etc). Can be easily dismantled when needs change..
(http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c71/photocumbria/IMG_2888copy.jpg)
(http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c71/photocumbria/IMG_2889copy.jpg)
Steve...:)
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Timeline: 29th March 2009
I've had one of those 4 shelf, zip-up greenhouses for a few years now, its served well but now I have transferred its contents to the real McCoy and I have officially "moved in" and started some seed off to.
(http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c71/photocumbria/IMG_2896copy.jpg)
Whilst working in the greenhouse, here is the view out..:)
(http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c71/photocumbria/IMG_2897copy.jpg)
I aquired some old scaffold boards last week and have made a raised bed (7ft x 3.5ft) for our strawberies, other things will be planeted in between them too. The timber atop the bed is to support netting to stop the birdies nicking our berries...and to stop our three cats "using" the bed...if you know what I mean.;)
(http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c71/photocumbria/IMG_2898copy.jpg)
(http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c71/photocumbria/IMG_2900copy.jpg)
The space left between this new bed, greenhouse, shed and wall will have a new 3 bay compost area added in the coming days, but first I have to "make good" the wall as a very old ivy has nearly destroyed the wall, I've now removed the ivy and stump and as you can see, the wall is in a sad state.
(http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c71/photocumbria/IMG_2892copy.jpg)
New compost area here
(http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c71/photocumbria/IMG_2902copy.jpg)
Thats all for now, compost bins next.
Steve...:)
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Timeline: 4th April 2009
I've now built a composting system in a shady spot behind the wall (all recycled materials), 3 bays each one a little over 2 foot wide, 2 foot deep and 3 foot high. Removable slats at the front for ease of access and top lid opening too for watering and final filling. This should get hot enough at these sizes ( I recently saw a similar slightly smaller version of this on a recent alottment visit, and theirs was steaming)
Posts buried 12 inches into soil. Not connected to wall at all..its esentially freestanding.
(http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c71/photocumbria/IMG_2906copy.jpg)
Boarding out the bays, each is around 28" wide, 38" high and 30" deep
(http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c71/photocumbria/IMG_2912copy.jpg)
Now with a lid, front guides and slats installed.
(http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c71/photocumbria/IMG_2945copy.jpg)
Painted inside and out, I ran out of paint so had to go and buy another pot for its final coat. (I'll get to that when/if it stops raining and dries out.
(http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c71/photocumbria/IMG_2949copy.jpg)
My plan is to start from the left, and to succesively "turn" from one bay to another. How long do you think I should leave it in each bay before moving the compost into the next, bearing in mind that I suspect it will be a hot heap?
Steve...:)
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Thats all for now...I'll add the rest later tonight or in the morning.
Steve...:)
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Steve, I have loved looking at your photos and reading about the tranformation of your blank canvas. You've worked so hard, and it looks wonderful!
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very well done steve it was a pleasure to look at and also to read i envy you're skills i hope it brings you many years of pleasure. kindest regards mal
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I really love those composting bins :)
Well Done:)
Duke
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What a transfomation, congratulations, all your hard work was worth it ;D
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Well done, you have done a grand job there.
;D
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What a transformation - and how handy you are with a bit of wood. You have done a great job.
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Timeline: 16th June 2009
I thought I had better update this topic a little bit, its a work in progress still and I apologise for the mess....you can wipe your feet as you leave. :)
The new raised bed at the side of the house is planted with strawberries and is now a small fruit cage to defeat Mr & Mrs Blackbird.
(http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c71/photocumbria/IMG_3323copy.jpg)
Greenhouse is now producing as it should do and I have raised from seed quite a few flowers this year, so many in fact I'm giving them away now. I've dismantled some of the staging seen in earlier shots...and placed tomatoes in their place.
(http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c71/photocumbria/IMG_3325copy.jpg)
(http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c71/photocumbria/IMG_3324copy.jpg)
I'm growing edibles for the first time this year, mostly the usual suspects but here's a list.
Potatoes (3 different)
Carrots
Beetroot
Shallots
Radish
Lettuce (3 different)
Tomatoes (3 different cordon and tumbling cherry)
Strawberries (3 different and a tumbler)
Beans (2 different)
Squash
Sorrel
Courgette (Yellow and Green)
Pak Choi (sowing tomorrow)
Peas (sowing tomorrow)
Heres a pci of a relatively untouched area of the garden.
(http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c71/photocumbria/IMG_1310copy.jpg)
I've now added another veg bed to this area, temporary for this summer. After the growing season this whole area will be raised around 18 inches and some more paving to the left of the new bed here. Beans, courgettes, squash and sorrel. Pak choi to be adden in next day or so.
(http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c71/photocumbria/IMG_3318copy.jpg)
On the other side of the garden I have a little "edibles" area. Potatoes, carrots, Strawberries, Tomatoes, lettuce.
(http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c71/photocumbria/IMG_3315copy.jpg)
(http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c71/photocumbria/IMG_3327copy.jpg)
And another new bed the other side of the patio. Beans, Radish, shallots, Beetroot.
(http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c71/photocumbria/IMG_3320copy.jpg)
(http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c71/photocumbria/IMG_3334copy.jpg)
Here's a different view showing the two new veggie beds.
(http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c71/photocumbria/IMG_3321copy.jpg)
And a pretty shot from a part of the garden planted last year.
(http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c71/photocumbria/IMG_3328copy.jpg)
I'll post more when everywhere is a little tidier and grown on.
Steve...:)
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Timeline: 18th September 2009
A mini tour around the veg in our garden, here in Cumbria. Its my first time growing edibles apart from herbs so most of the planting/digging has been last minute and some of it is temporary.
Area 1: Potatoes, tumbling cherry toms, carrots, rocket, lettuce, Aliccante toms.
(http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c71/photocumbria/IMG_4354copy.jpg)
Potatoes chitted and grown in old compost bags (8 of them) a mix of varieties including Vale emarald, Rocket and Pink fur apples. I harvested these last night and we had some PFA for dinner...as good as Jerseys if not better.
The tumbin' cherry toms, yet to ripen..
(http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c71/photocumbria/IMG_4355copy.jpg)
Carrots in the old bin and in the wooden trough behind it are all the salad leaves, some sweet peas and alicante toms, also yet to ripen.
(http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c71/photocumbria/IMG_4357copy.jpg)
New for this summer is a herb trough including mint (in its own fort knox style area) and oregano, basil, chives. parsley and coriander. We have sage, bay, rosemary and dill elsewhere in the garden.
(http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c71/photocumbria/IMG_4360copy.jpg)
Another new bed for this year with frame supports holding runner beans and sweet peas, you can just make out some beetroot at the base of the frame.
(http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c71/photocumbria/IMG_4361copy.jpg)
The same bed from the other side.
(http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c71/photocumbria/IMG_4362copy.jpg)
On this side of the bed there are shallots at the front ( we have grown and harvested radishes in the centre of the a frame when everything was first planted)
(http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c71/photocumbria/IMG_4363copy.jpg)
The strawberry bed down the side of the house in front of the compost bin and behind the greenhouse.Half of this has already given us fruit, the other half has yet to and are repeat fruiting (apparently) although right now they are just going crazy sending out runners. (Note to self: Get those runners planted!)
(http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c71/photocumbria/IMG_4364copy.jpg)
Another temporary bed for this summer inspired after a conversation I had with a another gardener in the village about the american "three sisters" gardening technique, where you compost and grow at the same time. Basically I emptied my compost heap (no where near ready to use) into this bed and put a couple of inches of soil on top and planted into that...everything is doing incredibly well and I'll have a healthy bed full of compost to use again at the end of the season. (three sisters technique for those interested - http://faq.gardenweb.com/faq/lists/teach/2003045238014436.html (http://faq.gardenweb.com/faq/lists/teach/2003045238014436.html)) We have more sweet peas and runner beans in here, a couple of courgettes (green and yellow) three squash plants, radish, peas and a variegated sorrel.
(http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c71/photocumbria/IMG_4365copy.jpg)
Three rows of radish, next to the sorrel.
(http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c71/photocumbria/IMG_4366copy.jpg)
And the squashes now heading out over what remains of the lawn.The lawns days are numbered and wont be there next year (http://images/smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0" alt="" title="Big Grin" class="inlineimg" />
[IMG]http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c71/photocumbria/IMG_4368copy.jpg)
Yellow and green courgettes
(http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c71/photocumbria/IMG_4369copy.jpg)
(http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c71/photocumbria/IMG_4370copy.jpg)
Late planted peas just coming through, for an autumn crop...I hope!
(http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c71/photocumbria/IMG_4371copy.jpg)
At the end of may we bought a couple of huge strwaberry plants from a may flower market in cockermouth, these are now re-potted and producing fruits for us.
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(http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c71/photocumbria/IMG_4374copy.jpg)
In the greenhouse we have Moneymaker and Gourmet tomatoes (just starting to crop) and a couple of cucumbers tht got scorched earlier in the year but are recovering now that I have painted on some greenhouse shading...and they are now starting to grow some decent sized cucs.
Thanks to kristen with his advice on "layering" my toms we have saved some space on the height and allowed more trusses to grow on the toms.
Moneymakers
(http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c71/photocumbria/IMG_4376copy.jpg)
Gourmet
(http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c71/photocumbria/IMG_4380copy.jpg)
Whole greenhouse.
I used a wide angle lens to get as much of the inside space as possible, the tom plant at the end shows how high all my plants would be if I had not layered them as per kristen's advice. Thank kristen!
(http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c71/photocumbria/IMG_4379copy.jpg)
This is the end of the gardens veggie tour, I'd just like to thank everyone who has offered advice to my daft questions, and also to those who asked questions and got advice that then saved me asking the question in the first place...this probably includes YOU..if your reading this.
Steve...:)
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Timeline: 26th January 2010
I've just made a new veg bed from Larch slabs, from our local timber mill. Larch slabs are the sides of the log from where they have squared it up for further processing, they vary in thickness from 5-6 inches to almost nothing and cost 10p per foot. I sorted through a pile of these slabs to try and find ones that where as even as possible.
To construct this bed I overlapped them from the bottom up on 24 inch lengths of 3 x 3 post offcuts for each side, then dug a small hole at either end with a shallow trench in between them then set both sides into the ground. Then I just cut some slabs up and screwed them to the ends to join up the sides. I've stapled some old plastic inside to aid water/soil retention and I'll continue filling it up today. Its 8 foot by 3.5 foot and cost was less than £10
(http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c71/photocumbria/slabbed2.jpg)
(http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c71/photocumbria/slabbed1.jpg)
Please excuse the muddy mess of a garden and wipe your feet when you leave..:lollol:
Steve...:)
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Timeline: 18 February 2010
So far most of the work on our garden has revolved around straight out of our french doors into the garden, in that part I made access to the garden so that Anne can get about in her wheelchair as she has decreased mobility, I also raised the garden so she may plant, weed, dead head, harvest, pick etc, as she sees fit or is able. Along the side of the house is the shed, compost area and greenhouse..this latest project was to tie these two areas together and provide access to the greenhouse for Anne and make better use of this side of the garden. Here is how it looked last June.
(http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c71/photocumbria/june09.jpg)
Here is the latest project and all hard landscaping is done mostly...just some tidying and finish work to do, for example soil prep and eventually planting. All materials, as usual are recycled and sourced locally.
Here I have dug out the topsoil ready for some hardcore to go down, note just in front of the greenhouse the awkward sewer inspection cover, this made things particularly difficult but I manage to get round this as you'll see.
(http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c71/photocumbria/dug1.jpg)
I had to lay the 12 paving slabs just slightly higher than the inspection cover which is about 5-6 inches higher than the main level of the garden, so the brick pathway leading towards you in the picture is ramped to allow easy wheelchair access, the brick pavers to the left heading down to the side of the greenhouse are also sloping down to the left, leading off the already sloping ramp. I've also concreted in two posts next to the greenhouse for a handrail.
(http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c71/photocumbria/laid.jpg)
Now I have added a handrail to the posts..made it ergonomic and also added a planter to help seperate the different levels and define the area.
(http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c71/photocumbria/plantrail.jpg)
And made a platform/cover to hide the drain inspection cover and facilitate greenhouse access for Anne.
(http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c71/photocumbria/deck.jpg)
(http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c71/photocumbria/deck2.jpg)
To help tie it in with the rest of the garden, I've also continued to build the wall from the main patio area upto and around this new area, the stone I used for this was from an old fireplace (Thanks Jill).
(http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c71/photocumbria/wall.jpg)
(http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c71/photocumbria/wall2.jpg)
(http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c71/photocumbria/wall3.jpg)
Also with the fireplace that I recycled came a Hearthstone, which has made a splendid seat to finish off the area.
(http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c71/photocumbria/done-1.jpg)
This was completed just today so the two bits of timber you can see underneath it are temporary whilst the mortar sets. Its taken two weeks in all as some days where just too wet to work..or too cold and the earth was frozen. But I'm really pleased I've got it ready well in advance of planting time.
Tomorrow the clean up and tidying starts, I have a lot of digging and soil turning to do the get the area just right of this new area ready for planting (where the soil heap is now).
Steve...:)
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Many thanks for this. It is so inspirational. Lovely so see your OH is able to get stuck in as well.
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Timeline: 17-03-2010
I've just added another bed for veg this year on the other side of the patio to where the last work was completed...here's how it looked last June.
(http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c71/photocumbria/lastjune.jpg)
I've dismantled part of the pergola to allow light to get across to this new bed, moved the path over then built a substantial bed against the fence, complete with posts and trellis (from the dismantled pergola) to grow squashes up, I've just got to top it up with soil before planting starts.
(http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c71/photocumbria/005.jpg)
(http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c71/photocumbria/008.jpg)
(http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c71/photocumbria/002.jpg)
Steve...:)
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I like the compost bins but does the compost stack against the church yard wall. Not sure I would be happy if someone stacked compost against my booundary wall.
The raised beds are great.
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OMG - do you ever stop. I just love the fact you are using every nook and cranny. You are an inspiration.
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it's abosolutely fantastic =]