Thursday, March 27, 2014
Mark and Gaz
I saw this old photo of our middle patio a few days ago and thought, eek! Look how lush, leafy, and private this area used to be....
 |
| How it was in September 2012 |
Now it looks so bare, sparse, and exposed.
 |
| Crikey, like we just moved in and have only started doing up the garden... |
That's the way it is though, it is on repair stage and it's only late March and most deciduous plants are only starting to put on new growth.
This area is rather private anyway even without the plants but it would be nicer if the views of our neighbours shed roofs are obscured and fences blended away like it was before. At least old photos of our garden will serve as our guide as we work towards restoring and repairing it to how it was before. Not to be an exact copy of course but at least replicate the sense of privacy the area used to have, eventhough the area is private irregardless.
 |
| The road to recovery starts by removing mess and clutter |
Speaking of fences, it's one those things that seems most people are preconditioned not to see or take notice of. Fencing - you either blend it away or you emphasise it. Opt for the latter, make sure you have beautiful, well constructed, and sturdy fences for they will not only serve to demarcate boundaries but they become a feature. Opt for the former then use sensible, natural colours to blend it away.
 |
| Voila! Clutter gone! |
We're opting for the former and will be blending it away, like how it was before. It doesn't have to be perfect but we'll level the panels as much as is possible (our garden actually slopes) then paint the concrete (albeit charred) posts with dark brown masonry paint. Then the fence panels itself with dark brown stain. Then we'll let the planting do the blending and concealing.
I wonder myself how much lushness we will be able to restore this year. I'm pretty confident we can most it even if we have to use more annuals than usual this to fill in the gaps whilst the more permanent plants fill up.
 |
| Looking back at our own past for some inspiration |
Anyway, the year is early and the growing season has just begun. And we've only just begun ourselves. I'm curious what we'll come up with and achieve in this area this year. Will it feel private again as early as this year. We'll wait and see...
Mark :-)
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.
The difference is quite striking in that spot and a good summer of growth will certainly help. You will add plenty of interesting plants along the way of course.
ReplyDeleteOur fences were selected by the neighbors so blending and covering up is the approach and I'm getting to that this year finally.
It's an opportunity to add more and new plants Shirley and some change and variety from the previous planting :).
DeleteFor some reason all of the fencing on our garden are ours so at least in that manner we have control. If they were our neighbours like your layering and concealing would be the only option.
I'm sure it won't be long before the area is filled in again. I'm opting for using lots of annuals for my front garden till the evergreens get bigger.
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to the growing season ahead that's just unfurling now Alison, to see how much gap will need filling. I do wonder if it will take years or will be much quicker this time now that we have more experience under our belt. Hmmm....
DeleteYou will have to wait until mid/late season to see how that area compares with the past. Seems like a damned good excuse to buy loads of plants just in case it is not to your liking.
ReplyDeleteIndeed Don! Can't wait to get into the full swing of plant buying again (still feels too early at the moment...)!
DeleteYou will be pleasantly surprised at how fast your plants will fill up the space. Tropicals seem to have some sort of agenda to outpace all the surrounding vegetation...even when taken out of their jungle environment. Have fun!
ReplyDeleteP.S. I like the fence a lot.
David/:0)
Thanks David and will do! :)
DeleteOh I know that feeling, being exposed! I fee like I take a step forward and then two steps back. I can't imagine how it would feel to have a catastrophic event do the stepping back for me. Here's hoping your privacy and lush surroundings arrive even faster than you anticipate.
ReplyDeleteWe hope so Loree! When I was writing about part about the nice fencing I thought of you and your recent project which resulted in fencing that is effective and very nice! Looking forward to your planting!
DeleteI think everything will fill up fast...it is amazing how fast plants grow some times...
ReplyDeleteAnd at least your fence is pretty so the plants will look good next to it until they cover the gap.
Indeed Lisa, it's easy to forget how fast plants grow when they get going in the summer :)
DeleteYou could always use Ricinis communis, Melianthus major and Paulownia to fill the gaps quickly - Every summer I'm amazed at how quickly these giants grow from nothing! I noticed on a recent trip to London Zoo (love the planting around the gorilla enclosure!) that the Melianthus there is already grown to 5 foot tall. Either it's in a hot spot or it didn't die back over winter - looked very fresh though so probably new growth - amazing!
ReplyDeleteThis winter has been very kind to a lot of plants Caro, including Melianthus. Ours usually die back in the winter but not this last one. Paulownia we have already and will definitely grow Ricinus again which is such a fun plant to have in the garden :)
DeleteHi Mark, I agree privacy is such a nice thing to have! What a difference between the photos before the fire and now. But I am sure with your garden experience and the tropical plants that you are using you will be able to restore your private jungle quickly, again. Hope, by the end of the growing season this year you will be seeing a big change to the better. Wishing you a nice weekend!
ReplyDeleteChristina
Thanks Christina! Recovery shouldn't take long hopefully :)
DeleteI know your garden will look fabulous! Sorry that the fire caused you to begin again. Looking forward to seeing what you do!
ReplyDeleteWe hope so Peter, thank you!
DeleteI've always favored using annuals to fill in the temporarily empty areas between new shrubs and perennials. Pots work too. I'm sure your "new" patio will offer you enjoyment this year, no matter how you fill it.
ReplyDeleteIt's starting to feel fun again Kris, especially from last weekend onwards :) annuals are great for that as well as seasonal and temporary cheer!
DeleteEnjoy that handsome fence while you can.
ReplyDeleteThanks Ricki!
DeleteI bet you do get a lot of the growth back this year. They say fire generates newer and stronger growth than before.
ReplyDeleteCher Sunray Gardens
We hopes so Cher! On some of them they still have their old root system intact which should make them grow and recover a lot quicker.
DeleteGardens are resilient, and push onward with never a glance backward, unlike us gardeners! I suspect it won't take long to restore the lushness that made your garden both beautiful and private. But I sigh when I see your before photos, and I know it is hard to wait. I am looking forward to seeing the after photos later this year!
ReplyDeleteThanks Debs! We're curious as well how the garden will look like by the end of the season and how it will compare with before the 'event'. Very optimistic here :)
DeleteI absolutely love your garden. It is a great inspiration for me. I will be visiting your blog!
ReplyDeleteI bet it will be just the way you like it! Beautiful!
ReplyDeleteEek, that must feel rather challenging when you are having a tired moment, but what a great opportunity to tweak and change and use what you learnt first time around to create something that pleases you even more. And at least a lot of the luscious plants you love grow quickly. You have reminded me that I need to dig out the masonry paint to paint the pillars of my back fence black... When it stops raining...
ReplyDelete