The new garden

I remember we had a chat on one thread earlier this year @Sheal. My Dad was a Londoner, but he was a musician, playing with the Big Bands during the war years. He met my Mum on the Isle of Man when touring. She was there on holiday. My Mum was from the south side of Glasgow, so when they married, that's where we lived. Most of my pix aren't on this laptop
Ullapool was where we spent many childhood holidays, as my parents loved it. We stayed in a caravan in a little place beyond Ullapool itself - Ardmair Bay. I can still remember my Mum's words as we came round the corner on the approach because she was so taken aback by the view.
I took my girls on holiday near Beauly, 9 years ago [I think we recently had a chat about the place we stayed in?] and we did a visit to Ullapool and of course, to Ardmair Bay, where we all skimmed stones - something my sis and me did on a regular basis. Happy days.

I had been back after my Dad died, and sprinkled a little of their ashes under the bench just above the beach. In my head, they'll have that view forever.

 

Sweet memories @fairygirl and you couldn't find a better place to spend your holidays.

Back on thread - I've done nothing in the garden for the best part of a fortnight due to the weather and having family with me for a week. It looks like conditions will improve next week, so I'll be back out there shifting gravel. I did pick up a metre long edging slab today to extend the bed where the log shed stood.

 

Back to the 'patch' today. I've moved all the gravel and dug over most of the soil - with a reminder of my last garden. There were a few rocks and cobble size stones that needed to come out.

I need to pick up some more edging slabs, one of which I will turn to butt against the wall as edging for the end of the bed. Beyond that the composter will stand by the shrub in the second picture. I'll re-lay the gravel along the path edge and buy in some topsoil to bring the bed up to level.

It's the first time I've dug the soil and it's good to work with. If there is such a thing it's a mixture of clay and loam.

 

Looking very promising for you @Sheal
What are you planning for the bed? The wall is lovely as it is, but I expect you'll want a few taller plants as well as lower ones, or even a climber.
Soil does look nice and workable.

 

It's going to look lovely @Sheal I'm sure the wall and whatever you plant in front of it will compliment each other well

 

Your wall and good soil are a pleasing sight @Sheal!

 

I don't know how I missed this thread garden looks great Sheal with some well establish greenery . Bit of taming required as you already know, I'd make a list of plants you don't like or questioning if you do and get rid your garden not as big as the last one sacrifices have to be made for that bit of colour . The wall looks great .

 

Thank you all for your kind input.

I don't think that will be possible @Loofah. The bungalow is long and sideways on - on the plot. The back garden is actually at the east end of it, so it follows that the back garden faces east, although it has almost all day sun as you can see in the second shot.

The area at the side that I'm working on is no wider than 10ft so it's sandwiched between the wall and bungalow below.



The wall is on the north side of the bungalow so the only sun in that area is brief and just after sunrise.

I haven't decided what's going there yet @fairygirl. The area being in shade for most of the day will limit choices. Currently that bed has Ilex (holly), Crinodendron, Cotoneaster and Berberis. Regarding the wall, I'm thinking Clematis 'Armandii' but I'll wait until winter's been and gone regarding that decision, as I'm not sure whether it will be hardy enough.

That mental list is already underway @Perki. There are four or five Laurels in the garden, of which four of them are going. There's one in the front bed that is huge but will stay for the time being as it gives privacy from neighbours on the other side of the road.

 

This is where I'd got too the last time I posted but things have changed a bit since then having had a re-think.



I had almost finished the area then decided I wasn't happy with the dalek composter that close to the bungalow, so decided to move it further down the garden and complete this area as a side bed.



But...that meant re-organising the area the composter was being moved too. I had already decided that the arbour was to go, so Mr S and I moved it off the slabs - blimey it was heavy, ready for dismantling. The base of the posts were rotting so another reason for it to go.

I then moved the slabs 2 1/2ft closer to the shed and level with the edge of the lawn. Typically I dropped the second to last one and broke the corner off, so will steal one from the area in front of the smaller shed.



The area finished and composter in place. The slabs ready (they need re-levelling) for a small greenhouse next year - or maybe not. I'm also re-thinking that idea.





The main shed has got a temporary hat as the roof is leaking. That will be dealt with soon and then a re-paint. I've sold the smaller shed to the people that bought the wood stacking shed last autumn. It will be collected soon as I've now cleared out the main shed of a lot of unnecessary old units to house the lawnmower and scarifier.



This last week I've finished the bed area apart from the lawn end. I'm yet to decide how to make that look tidy.



Edit: Sorry, some of the pics are out of order. You wouldn't believe the hassle I've had getting this posted, having been logged out every few minutes.

 

You'll get there @Sheal, gardening is a journey full of twists and turns ... you think you're on the right road but then you find you're not, and change direction. Enjoy the journey

 

Today I've moved the Euonymus from the far end and planted the young Chaenomeles beside it.



The large shrub in this pic is an old Escallonia and mostly dead with just leaves at the top. I'm thinking of replacing it with a Buddleja.

 

Thank you for the encouragement @Michael Hewett. Yes, it'll come good eventually.

 

It looks beautifully neat.

 

Thank you @Busy-Lizzie. It's been a difficult area to work in with only 8ft between bungalow and wall. With early morning sun only I've had to think about which plants I choose to put there.