The Eggy Garden
The Eggy Garden at the driveway-end of the water race was started in the year 2004. Big gum trees on the boundary fence were close, and I did wonder how dry the garden would get. So there was much initial bucketing of water onto the new plants.
Garden in the Making - Summer 2004
It quickly turned into a very typical Moosey foliage garden, I'm afraid - filled with the usual assortment of Phormiums, Pittosporums, Rhododendrons, and other shrubs. No style, no finesse - and obviously no idea how large anything would grow, by the pruning and chopping of Pittosporums I often do in autumn!
Rules for Purchasing Plants
I used birthday money from the Moosey London Son, nicknamed 'Eggy', to buy all the plants that are in here. So it seemed polite to name the new garden in his honour. But this time there were some strict rules as to what I spent the money on (for example, something had to be blue) - and I had to complete my purchases in ten minutes. There was a threat about buying conifers, too, if any money was left over. Eek!
The Eggy Garden - Summer 2005
Since the first planting I've added a few filler shrubs, tussock grasses, and some bare root white Iceberg roses on the edge. There's also a mass planting of Mignonette, which I didn't realise would be quite so tenacious. I think I might mean invasive...
Early Progress
These photographs show the garden's early progress, with the hybrid flaxes like Jester, and my motley collection of spare annuals (mainly raucous pink Lavateras) and roses.
The Eggy Garden - Summer 2006
The rhododendrons in the Eggy Garden haven't done so well (a couple have had to be moved, too small to compete with the other greenery). I enjoy the dreamy summer weeding sessions in this garden - it's very sheltered, dappled with shade in mid-summer, and has water running nearby. Ambience plus!
What Happened Then?
Over the years the rhododendron Blue Wave has grown well, and the original Pittosporums have grown rather too well. These are forgiving tree-shrubs, though, and can be chopped severely to bush out again.
Blue Wave Rhododendron
The Wedding Cake Viburnum has struggled away (fancy planting such a special tree where it can't easily be seen). In the summer of 2009 a Lady Hillingdon climbing rose suddenly decided to climb. And the Libertia has spread everywhere.
The Eggy Garden - Spring 2011
Like all parts of the Stumpy Garden, this end garden got quite a shock in September 2013 when next-door's pine plantation came crashing down onto its trees and shrubs, which were broken and squashed. It's taken time, but the garden has healed itself really well. Phew! But there's now so much summer sun and wind that the rhododendrons, for one, don't know what's hit them!