Gravel Path

I meant to use these pictures as my introduction to the PNW thread, but it has taken me all this time to figure out how to post a picture. In truth, it is remarkably easy to do, but just not something I could get my thinking around. But last night I finally managed it, and I would like to share these with you as a belated hello.

This is a project in the lower part of our garden which we started almost exactly this time last year.

The large structure is our 18th century barn, the small structure attached to it is a small lean-to structure that was probably a work shop of some sort.

There were three projects running simulataneously in this larger scheme: 1) was to save the small structure from collapse (it was close to derelict). 2) the area to the right of the barn was a 15 degree grass-over-compacted clay slope. This was made into path and beds 3) channel the water run-off from the large barn roof to a lower area and make a damp bed.

Here is picture 1.

This is picture 2.

Well I almost got it right - I posted the pictures without the barn showing - so you will just have to imagine it backing on to this room. But I am sure that you get the idea.

The area to the left of the big willow is now a damp bed. We collect the water into two large rainbarrels, and the overflow is then channeled through a drainage pipe under the path, and into the bed. We didn't have to line the bed (thank goodness!) because we are on heavy clay with a limestone base less than 50cm below. However, when we dug the beds last winter, we did double dig all of it, incorporating two spit deep trenches of barnyard manure. I think the effort of double digging, along with the geologic structure worked. This summer we had drought conditions, and although the level of the pond dropped to it lowest level ever (it pre-exists the new bed), the bed never dried out or needed topping up.

Interestingly, having just had the wettest october on record (and this is England so the records do go back a fair bit) the bed has not turned into slushy mud. That I can't figure out at all.

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And this is picture 3.

This is the view we have from the patio in front of the little room. It has been an amazing effect developing this end of the garden. Up until now it has been treated as a treacherous throughfare to the log store (the little room) and the big compost bins. But this summer it felt as if we had developed a completely new perspective to the garden. What was an unclaimed area, suddenly became the place we were living in. It became an extension of the house, and yet it has a real feeling of remoteness. When we started the work last autumn, I never imagined it would become such a integral part of our living. That was a real surprise.

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This message was edited Nov 21, 2006 3:40 AM

Hi Laurie! Thanks for taking the time to get the pix posted. I am transported back about 30 years (Good Lord!) & enjoyed seeing what you've been up to. Nice gravel path - I am contemplating something similar, but since we are having the wettest November, it will wait 'til next year - perhaps May, when we have a reasonable expectation of some dry days...
I have been watching out the window each day, waiting for a break in the rain & rushing out to finish anything I can. Yesterday, I had to give up when I could no longer grip the spading fork - it was a sight, & I'm certain my neighbours have decided that I am certifiably crazy. Soggy - muddy - chilly: not my favourite conditions to work in, but I have accomplished more than I thought I would.
Please post more pix, if possible - I really enjoy seeing them. Take care! Kate

More pictures, yes please! That is just a beautiful sight, Laurie and your work has paid off handsomely. Now for some placid grazing sheep or horses beyond the fence.... I love the house and would love to see the barn as well. What a peaceful retreat.

What a view from that little room... wonderful.. I could sit there all day.

Viv

Laurie,

Welcome! That is so lovely and I can imagine myself sitting there with a drink in my hand looking at all your hard work and loving every bit of it. What a charming building too! I am so glad you are saving it. Seems so many let those old buildings get torn down but they have their place too and are so wonderful.

Did you grow up in England? I have always wanted to visit there. Maybe someday I will.

Lani

Thank you. I am really pleased - felt like a real gardener doing this, moving dirt and putting in landscaping! Big stuff. The rocks we planted in the gravel path all came out of the two beds. This is one of the problems we fight here all the time. The soil is quite shallow and we kept hitting sandstone that had to be plied up with long scaffolding pole tools. One of the guys that worked on this with me is enormous - he kept digging these up and chucking them out of the way. Then I'd go off with my wheelbarrow and retrieve them and bring them back. Became a bit of a joke after awhile trying to see just what a demented wheelbarrowing gardener looks like. I must admit there were a couple dys I came in and caught sight of myself and was absolutely shocked!

And now that the development is done, this is where we stop for tea. And Viv, somedays it is really hard to get up and get the gloves back on to finish mulching the rest of the garden.

Lani, I didn't grow up here, but I have lived here for 30 years (longer than I lived in the US!). Husband is as English as they come - small, quiet, and an eccentric maths professor. (Sorry, it was Ponditis that asked if I grew up in England)


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This message was edited Nov 22, 2006 9:27 AM

Oh my! To have such bucolic glory greet your every step … how inspiring. Please do keep the pictures coming.

Whenever I speak of a garden (whether verbally or in writing), the first thing I’m likely to mention is the FEEL of a place. And what a glorious feel you’ve achieved there.

Silly question, probably, but in what way does that view change with the seasons?

How incredible - I felt myself take a deep breath and relax!! You have my utmost admiration for the work you have done - it's amazing, to say the least. Please post many more pictures - these are inspirational to say the least.

THANK YOU!!! Thanks a lot, Laurie for sharing this thread with me. I really like what you are doing and I enjoyed the pictures so much! For a moment I thought I was there in person watching and smelling everything in your garden.
Keep it up and keep sharing pictures with us!

CONGRATULATIONS!

Gus.

Laurie, I will trade you some of my sandy loam for some of your rock. LOL I wish it was that simple sometimes. I have very deep sandy loam soil and it is wonderful but not a rock on the place other than what we haul in from miles away. I am glad we don't have the clay that the neighbor on the hill above us has.

Thanks for the answer about my question of your tie to England.

Lani

I'm so glad all of you like what I have done. Hmmmm, and thanks for the offer, Lani, but I'm going to keep my rocks. I love them. (I may be mistaken, but it always seems that it is easier to turn clay into good friable soil than to get change sandy soil to a dirt that holds shape - is that true).

Have any of you met Gustichock before? He has a tendency to stay over in the European section and the tree thread, but he is an amazing tree grower - http://davesgarden.com/pf/showimage/102714/ - http://davesgarden.com/pf/showimage/102714/#99459 he has a small garden in his town Ramos Mejia which is full of his seedling trees. As is his roof, and his kitchen. Apparently he has several hundrend ginkgo and oaks growing on his roof. When the trees get big enough he walks around his town and finds streets in need of trees, plants them, protects them, and nurtures them. He tells me that some do well, some get stolen, and some get abused - but he just keeps growing them and caring for them. Extraordinary man. I have sent him some of my Wild Pear seeds, along with various genus of Oaks (acorns) that I have collected from Regent's Park. I admire him greatly.

This message was edited Nov 25, 2006 12:44 AM

I want to see the barn too!

Laurie, I love all thing British. We installed an Aga last year. ;) My big dream is to spend about 6 months living and traveling in England. I may try and pop over for a visit sometime in 2007. I've never been, so I have no idea what my fascination for your country is all about.

Gwen

Gwendalou - all the more reason to come. When we are fascinated by our imaginations, marvellous things await! England will look forward to your visit, and I am sure we will not disappoint! Enjoy your AGA, they are a joy to 'drive'. (Have you seen the little city aga they produce now - soooooo cute! Now even if you are living in a flat (apartment) you can cook as if you live in the country. How cool is that?)

Do you mean the 2-oven or 3-oven? The 3-oven was just released over here but the 2-oven has been here a while. We don't have all the models you have there. But we do have all the newish models that run more or less like a regular oven that Aga has brought in to compete with the wolf, viking, and other 'upscale' ranges so popular these days.

I'm trying to decide when to come for my short trip. Should I come when I can see gardens and maybe even incorporate a garden tour into the trip, or should I come in December when all the Christmas decorations are up or just when? I definitely want to see plays. I'd like to see the Queen's dollhouse. I want to drive around the countryside and visit small town and villages. I'm looking for the England I read about in novels. Perhaps it doesn't exist! LOL I subscribe to the British version of Country Living and love looking at all the pictures in it, esp the garden photos. When is your best month for viewing gardens? When are your warm-weather months? They may be the same as here. I've always heard that our weather is similar to England's weather. Which surprised me as I thought you had more snow than we do. I assumed you had snow all winter. Is that not true?

I live on Whidbey Island, about 35 miles northwest of Seattle. I live on the south end and we take a ferry to get 'to town.' On the north end, there's a bridge that goes over Deception Pass (beautiful spot) to connect with the mainland. We don't get as much rain as Seattle; we're considered to be sort of in the 'banana belt', but we do have an awful lot of cloudy grey days. The house we're in now, where we've been for 1-1/2 years, is esp grey as we're surrounded by tall trees and get almost no winter sun. We really appreciate those summer days!

Gwen

Gwen, this link should take you to the Aga product list,scroll down to the bottom and you'll see the little one for city dwellers - so cute. They have one in the window around the corner, in Penelope Pitstop Pink! What a darling. http://www.aga-web.co.uk/57.htm

No, we don't have snow all winter. We usually get 4 or 5 falls, usually in January February. But mostly we are the same climate as the coastal area of Washington State. Very much like Seattle. Warm weather is never predictable - we can be sunning ourselves at Easter, and back in winter woolies in June. But July and August are usually our hottest months, and September can be gorgeous.

Garden viewing is a very personal choice. I have a tendency to go in the winter to look at structure, in late summer for foliage, and spring for bulbs. Take your pick - depends on what your interests are. It is still very possible to find 'old england', but it may not be as glamourous as some of the literature/films make it out. There are some breathtaking villages. The cotswold is gorgeous, and it is always worth a trip to Oxford (beautiful botanic gardens), and most of the colleges have gardens (Worcester college is lovely). Devon (try Tavistock for a great little village), and St. Ives in Cornwall - both for the Tate museum and for the Biosphere (amazing building/gardens under glass), and the retored gardens of....shot, just forgot the name (sorry rushing abit).

gotta dash, next appointment is here. Good travelling

ah, that has actually been for sale here for a while but was called the Aga Companion. Looks like they're changing their marketing strategy.

I was more interested in tours of private gardens - cottage gardens specifically - than the big touristy gardens. I'd have no problem walking by a garden and asking the owner for a little look-see!

Gwen

There is a listing that is published every year called the Yellow book - it is the listings for all of the private gardens that open for charity. Its quite marvellous. And the effort people put in for their open days is fab. Really worth getting a copy. 1000s of gardens are listed, and all over the country, and all styles. Here's a link: http://www.ngs.org.uk/