Put down the trowel and step away
Last weekend we had visitors staying. It meant that time was divided between frenetic weeding and mad washing and dusting. It was a manic time in preparation and then doing the tour guide ‘bit’ showing off the best of (local) Ireland. As things calmed down a bit and weeding became less important, someone who came to buy flowers for Hope at the gate asked to see the garden. Without a hoe or trowel in my hand I saw through new eyes and the changes to the garden, and the sense of maturity struck me. When a garden is constantly demanding attention- and it still does, every day – it is difficult to make time to stop and look. In fact my visitors asked how often we sit on the five benches and numerous chairs scattered around the garden and I said ‘never’. Which is largely true.
But it is a Bank Holiday here today and although I will be busy on my knees in the garden, I will pretend to have the day off! And look back at the garden.
The real change is the hedges and the trees. There is now some shade. And the hedges are providing shelter and new growing conditions. The main borders are now framed by the hornbeam hedges.
It is almost impossible to remember that the site was originally bare.
The far part of the garden is now a developing ‘woodlandish’ area divided by hedges.
So I would say to you, if you have some ideas for the garden just do it. If you are put off planting something because it will take five years to mature, do it NOW. The years pass quickly. And it need not cost a fortune. All my hedges were bare root and 45-60cm high for economy. They have taken five years to get to this stage but the time has flown by.
And even some of the borders are filling out and ‘working’ now. I think I need to do less weeding and more looking – only kidding!
The Biking Gardener 
It is amazing how quickly the garden has grown, filled in, matured, especially the hedges which give such good structure and shape. What is the yellow-foliage shrub to the right of the Physocarpus, by the way?
Thank you. It is Cotinus ‘Golden Spirit’. It is a bit tall and narrow because the crab apple is shading it a bit but the colour is good and ‘zingy’. I really need to reduce the lower branches on the crab apple now it is getting big.
Ah, yes! I have Cotinus ‘Golden Sunset’ which seems quite similar.
It is probably very similar. Breeders seem to have been very busy with them lately although, like all popular plants, there is a plethora of ‘selling names’ for just a few plants
Same as snowdrops!
Indeed!
Lovely! I hope that, after you can no longer work daily at your garden, somebody will treasure it as you do.
This shows the value of taking photos as the garden grows. Quite the change in 5 years!
Absolutely. Even if the garden does not look great, still take photos to show later changes