The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Growing => Gardens => Topic started by: gallovidian on May 18, 2009, 10:16:21 am

Title: Our garden then and now
Post by: gallovidian on May 18, 2009, 10:16:21 am
Thought I'd post a few pics of our front garden.  When we moved in, eighteen months ago, it was a mixture of neglected jungle and tattie patch.
(http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2483/3541374425_1faf01a821_m.jpg)  (http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2442/3542179540_335dc0fb56_m.jpg)
Particularly with a view to our B&B guests, we decided to start a smaller veggie patch at the back, and transform the front into an ornamental flower garden where folk could sit and enjoy the view. (http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3376/3421398663_162e85b116.jpg?v=0)  (http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3248/2713844220_cab9832d16.jpg?v=0)
I hope you agree the hard work has paid off!
Title: Re: Our garden then and now
Post by: sellickbhoy on May 18, 2009, 10:51:09 am
Awwww, what did you do that for???

i feel like i've done nothing at all now! Boo hiss!!!!

seriously though, congratulations, looks fantastic.
Title: Re: Our garden then and now
Post by: dixie on May 18, 2009, 11:44:53 am
Looks lovely, with fantastic views! well done!
Title: Re: Our garden then and now
Post by: doganjo on May 18, 2009, 12:15:50 pm
Beautiful!  Like your website too.
Title: Re: Our garden then and now
Post by: Castle Farm on May 18, 2009, 02:32:35 pm
(http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h117/castlefarmpoultry/Garden/Sept08066.jpg)[/IMG](http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h117/castlefarmpoultry/Garden/June004.jpg)(http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h117/castlefarmpoultry/Garden/June001.jpg)(http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h117/castlefarmpoultry/Garden/Sept08133.jpg)

This took 4 years from a field and brambles.

We are just over 1000ft and exposed.It gets very windy here.The conifers help to break the windspeed and trying to get plants to grow under them was a small problem.
Title: Re: Our garden then and now
Post by: Lizmar on May 18, 2009, 02:42:12 pm
Tell me? it looks like you are quite high up. How do you deal with the wind?
Title: Re: Our garden then and now
Post by: sandy on May 18, 2009, 04:18:30 pm
Lovely garden, I bet you don't like going inside!!! Working in a garden is very absorbing, time and worries just drift buy!!!!
Title: Re: Our garden then and now
Post by: doganjo on May 18, 2009, 04:24:56 pm
I would love working in garden's like those.  Mine is just a big patch of garden grass that has to be kept short and neat, and I can't bend or kneel any more.
Title: Re: Our garden then and now
Post by: sabrina on May 18, 2009, 07:40:07 pm
Both just lovely, I have a long way to go before mine is worth showing.  :)
Title: Re: Our garden then and now
Post by: northfifeduckling on May 18, 2009, 11:27:19 pm
lovely! if you're not too busy, come and do mine, we'll cook for you! Or we could swap houses and gardens for a few weeks, I'll happily look after your B&B! Like SB, I feel I've achieved nothing in the last 13 years in mine ! :&>
Title: Re: Our garden then and now
Post by: gallovidian on May 19, 2009, 10:34:42 am
Thanks for all the positive comments!
Like CastleFarm, we suffer a bit from the wind - tho we are only just above sea level, the storms rush in off the Irish Sea and have very little to break their force. We also have some big conifers along one side, where the worst winds hit, but still get buffetted badly from the front of the house, as we don't want to plant anything too big to block the view!

Anthony
Title: Re: Our garden then and now
Post by: Castle Farm on May 19, 2009, 12:35:33 pm
I'm afraid I'm a bit of a cheat.. :-[

I design,build and develop gardens for a living.
Title: Re: Our garden then and now
Post by: doganjo on May 19, 2009, 12:46:26 pm
A 'bit of a cheat'? ::) ::) ::) ::)

A
BIG
cheat! ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D 
Looks beautiful anyway Castle Farm - you are obviously in your 'niche'
Title: Re: Our garden then and now
Post by: gallovidian on May 20, 2009, 12:42:49 pm
That's an area we are hoping to get into; having designed 4 gardens of our own to date, we would love to put our skills and enthusaism to work for others and make a bit of money into the bargain. So if you know anyone in D&G who needs a garden 'makeover'....
Title: Re: Our garden then and now
Post by: doganjo on May 20, 2009, 12:50:47 pm
No, but I know someone in Clackmannan  ;)  Trouble is I need it done without any cost  ;)
Title: Re: Our garden then and now
Post by: Castle Farm on May 20, 2009, 03:45:13 pm
I have just taken a very large estate on and it includes a fantasic walled garden with 3 large glasshouse and glass protection around the tops of 3 walls to protect the fruit.
Wonderfull gardens, but been left to go abit over the last few years.
I'll try to post some photos if anyone would be interested.
Title: Re: Our garden then and now
Post by: doganjo on May 20, 2009, 05:10:15 pm
I'd love to see them.  I watch the house programmes and the best bit is the before and after photographs.  Some wonderful changes are made.  I'm sure you'll do the same with any gardens you are asked to sort out.  So yes, photos, please!