creating a new garden

13 Oct '06 10:34 pm

Hi Dixie, like Jack I'm still catching up with posts I've missed or had visited but briefly and not left any replies! I've followed your great progress in your new garden with amazement, visualizing all the passion you've put into this one and including your fairy garden! Love the look of this one, delightfully coloured with your blue bells and lots of greenery and love too those fallen leaves strewn on the ground. I remember seeing your deep blue chairs in a lovely garden setting too, a few months ago - is that another section somewhere else, that scene was beautiful! I like to have an assortment of colours in my garden, but blue is so scant here. My only blue currently is the sky-blue plumbago, though I had previously planted the lovely blue Clitoria Ternatea to creep along my chain-link fence, but didn't survive for long because it hates the harsh afternoon sun!

Thanks for sharing.

14 Oct '06 4:55 am

Thank you for all the encouragement .It was certainly daunting wondering where to begin .The area around the house has a gradient ,that goes from ground level at the entrance ,around the house , and levels out at the living area -a fact that sometimes amazes visitors who climb the stairway inside ,and come out at ground level !
To complete the circular walk ,you descend steps ,down to basement level again .It has been difficult to get the flowing effect ,as Michael(Muddy wellies ) comments "turning pages " ,and I never think I've got it right!
Here's the part of the house where you descend the steps.
I had started to clean and paint the rails .A beautiful white Mandevilla on the left ,and an ancient woody shrub not worth saving .
Dixie

14 Oct '06 5:03 am

The Mandevilla is dormant in Winter ,and I cut it back .
I cleared everything .The concrete block walls were scrubbed and I gave them two undercoats ,then two top coats of white .The bench seat I painted the same blue as on the house
Dixie

14 Oct '06 5:10 am

I planted 'Crepuscle 'against the now white wall ;it has now ,three years later spread along the rails . I also planted 'Buff Beauty 'and 'Penelope 'in front but have had to move them both to a more sheltered place ,as I found the prevailing wind (very cold) made them miserable .In the front left ,there is a plumbago .So this garden is now nearly blank again at the moment ,as I need to have something that can take cold .
Dixie

14 Oct '06 5:13 am

Such a happy ,rewarding rose ,scrambling up and over ,to flower all year.
Dixie

14 Oct '06 5:20 am

I have posted this photo previously ,without the 'before 'pictures .Looking down the steps ... The plumbago is tumbling over the wall ,as I wanted the roses to do ,but they didn't .
The fairy garden is on the right - under the cedar ,which almost completely shades this garden .
Dixie

14 Oct '06 9:06 am

Here is the other side of the concrete garden bed that juts out from the house .
Dixie

14 Oct '06 9:21 am

The victorious 'after 'photo ..... I'm winning !
Dixie

17 Oct '06 4:08 am

What wonders a coat of paint can do. Like one of my favorite sayings...."Smart as paint!" Wink

The brick work is real nice and even as well.

You are looking smart too.

Christopher

17 Oct '06 9:03 am

I'm enjoying looking at everyone's garden here. It looks like you've achieved wonders so far, Dixie.
I wish you well in the eternal battle with possums. At our last place they were winning the fight. I had few roses I could grow so it's a relief to be possum free out where we are now.

Long may your roses bloom! Smile

creating a new garden

Lovely Garden

Thank you

area cleared

after

the cheerful 'crepuscle'

plumbago

white paint

and 'after'

Wow!