Into the Wood - 2015
One of this year's projects has been extending the path into the woodland area. A project we started in 2013. This area we call the woodland is really an overgrown shrubbery. It's a narrow strip sloping down to the lane. We've been told that this strip was originally an orchard and there are still some very old fruit trees there. From old photos we have of the house it looks like these fruit trees were underplanted with shrubs - probably about 30 years ago (although the photos have no dates).
The shrubs - Pittosporum, Garrya elliptica, Euonymus, Laurel, Viburnum and others, have not been kept in check over the years and are now as large as the old fruit trees.
When we moved in this area was impenetrable and we had help to hack a way in. That was in 2013. I might put up some of those photos in a later post.
This year masses of brambles and ivy have been cleared. Then the path has been extended and steps have been built that will take us up to the next level.
In the picture above you can just see the area on the right where the next path will go (2016??). This will wend along to our boundary fence then more steps will go up to the top lawn where the new fruit trees have been planted. That's the plan at present anyway.
The steps have a handrail - useful for those of us prone to trip in the garden!!
These 2 ferns have been moved from other parts of the garden and seem to have taken well. Alongside the ferns you can just see glimpses of old carpet which cover the whole area. We think this was put down when the shrubs were planted, possibly as a weed suppressant. It now has ivy well embedded in it and some of it had to be pulled up where the path has been formed.
In summer this is quite a dark area and eventually we will thin some of the trees and shrubs to let a little more light in. I'm hoping to plant more ferns and to move some of the hosta collection here and maybe put some variegated ivies in as well.
Nearer the entrance to the woodland the anemanthele lessoniana is enjoying the shade and has made a large clump in two years - this was a seedling transplanted from elsewhere in the garden.
The woodland is only a small area but it's a complete contrast to the rest of the garden which is very open with far-reaching views.
The shrubs - Pittosporum, Garrya elliptica, Euonymus, Laurel, Viburnum and others, have not been kept in check over the years and are now as large as the old fruit trees.
When we moved in this area was impenetrable and we had help to hack a way in. That was in 2013. I might put up some of those photos in a later post.
This year masses of brambles and ivy have been cleared. Then the path has been extended and steps have been built that will take us up to the next level.
In summer this is quite a dark area and eventually we will thin some of the trees and shrubs to let a little more light in. I'm hoping to plant more ferns and to move some of the hosta collection here and maybe put some variegated ivies in as well.
Nearer the entrance to the woodland the anemanthele lessoniana is enjoying the shade and has made a large clump in two years - this was a seedling transplanted from elsewhere in the garden.
The woodland is only a small area but it's a complete contrast to the rest of the garden which is very open with far-reaching views.
Good to see you've put Dad to work!!
ReplyDeleteGood to see you've put Dad to work!!
ReplyDelete