Now what has this armed combat sport got to do with a blog about Exotic Gardening I hear you ask?
Well actually not a lot, for us terms like Foil, Sabre and Epee are replaced by posts, gravel boards and concrete, as we got stuck into one of the winter jobs and started to replace an old section of wooden fence long since past its best.
We had to collect a number of concrete posts yesterday from a local builders merchant, and my Dad and his trusty trailer came in handy yet again (I have to make a special mention as he often helps us on some of the building projects and on reading the blog had noted that rather than being given full credit has appeared in a photo making a rather unflattering pose).
Unfortunately said trusty trailer is getting on in years and wouldn't cope well with five 8foot concrete posts balanced on it so we had to make two trips with Mark being left in the cold outside the builders merchants looking after the last couple of posts.
We made a good start today clearing away the old fence and starting to dig out the new post holes, however soon found that some of the old wooden posts that have long since rotted away were concreted into place. My idea of fun on a cold January day isn't digging out a 2 foot deep lump of old concrete so the new posts will be put in just to the side of the old fence.
Hopefully we will have a dry (and slightly milder) weekend next week to get this particular project finished.
Gaz
This gardening blog follows our journey as we create our Tropical and Exotic themed garden. We hope you'll enjoy the journey as much as we do. We started our Exotic Garden in 2005 and this site will show its development, as well as our travels, both abroad and within the UK to gardens, nurseries and friends.
Oh dear, I have been putting of some 'goat fencing'. But I suppose if you can do it in the middle of winter, I don't have any excuses. Especially as Bazza keeps jumping into the front garden and eating my peach trees!
ReplyDeleteHi Hazel, putting up fences is rarely the most fun things to do, but you'll have to do it or you won't have much of a peach tree left :)
ReplyDeleteHats off to you guys! I really admire and envy your drive and determination, not to mention your skills!
ReplyDeleteFencing is something I decided never to do myself after seeing how long it took our next-door neighbor who tackled a small section a few years ago with her then fiancé.
:: Bamboo and More ::
Dear Mark and Gaz, Replacing your fence sounds like incredibly hard work but I am certain that your new fence will prove to be an enormous enhancement to the garden. I am most intrigued to know what style your new fence will be and shall it be painted?!!
ReplyDeleteHi Edith, fortunately its only a section of fence that is being replaces rathert han the whole. The new part will be about 6 feet tall and 45 feet long. We are using ready made panels (similar to thes ones http://www.obrientimberproducts.com/uploadedfiles/1.8m_x_1.5m_Log_Fence_Panel_-_Capped.jpg )
ReplyDeleteThey will be painted, although we havent decided exactly what colour but probably white or a pale cream or even dove gray. That will have to wait for spring to make sure we get a dry day.
Gaz
Gaz, that fence style is very different from what we typically see here in California. It looks very nice and will provide a beautiful backdrop for your plants.
ReplyDeleteOur most common fence style looks like this.
:: Bamboo and More ::
I do think Winter is the best time for getting fence work done, don't have to concern yourself with damaging the plants.South of the border you so often sensibly use concrete posts, you generally see wooden posts used here in Scotland. Good luck hope the weather stays good enough for the weekend.
ReplyDeleteGood luck finishing it off, such a boring job but so necessary. I was delighted to see that the professionally-built fence next door, which is 2 years younger than ours, is collapsing and the one P and I built is still solid! Dove grey sounds nice, my next fence is going to be black though, it sets plants off so beautifully and fades away from sight well too.
ReplyDeleteGerhard, I like that sort of fencing too, simple and streamlined. Until recently fencing isn't something I've given much care and thought about, too functional a job, but this section of the garden is narrow and most of the fences will serve as an obvious backdrop. So this time we had to give it much careful thought on what sort to put up.
ReplyDeleteHi Alistair, looks like it's going to be a bit colder this weekend, won't be able to do concreting but if it's reasonably dry we can do most of the digging for the holes. Not looking forward to the sticky mud!
Janet, I highly recommend black as a fence paint (apart from the smallest gardens where it can actually make the space feel/look much smaller), it is elegant and does set off plants beautifully, or just let boundaries fade in well :)