Wednesday 20 April 2016

Easter activities

Easter was a busy affair in my household, travelling, family, births and deaths, and lots and lots of chocolate. With such a mixture of emotions and activities, gardening took a back seat to the point of just one afternoon of activity. But when the moment presented itself I got out the garden arch that my green fingered Mum gave me for Christmas.

This arch is part one of a plan to beautify the parking area and entrance to the courtyard garden at the back of the house. At the moment it is scruffy, overgrown and lacking in charm, not helped by two large lumps of metal right in the middle (I am not a petrolhead).



The plan is to clothe the walls in climbers, edge a narrow bed around 2 sides and create a proper entrance with and arch and a gate, resurface the parking area... oh and try and cover next doors garage without them realising - all on a very small budget!

Time to make a start, so I opened up the arch...



counted the bits and read the instructions.

It is a Classic Wall Arch by Agriframes and I chose it because it takes up very little space.
It was easy to build and only needed minimal input from the power tool chief.


(sorry about the weeds - really they are on the way out!)

In no time it was up and I cleared the weeds and dug a planting pit for the most important bit - what is going to grow over it.


This has been on my wish list ever since my trip to Florence (take a look at the covered walkway in this post), it was tumbling everywhere with it's fragrant, creamy yellow flowers. It is thornless and fairly fast growing if happy but probably won't flower for a couple of years until it's settled, but I can wait. This one has the added benefit that I found it in the sale area in the autumn for £5! 


And here it is (the brick is to stop me driving into it!).

Now I have to decide on an edging to define my planting area - I'm struggling at the moment with the edging and the surfacing of the parking area - all suggestions  gratefully received.

So the arch is up and the rose is in, and the Hydrangea petiolaris planted a couple of years ago is doing well...


and is covered in buds.


Next is the gate - a trip to the local sawmill for that, and a honeysuckle for the left corner - a trip to the nursery for that!

Hurrah for shopping!









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