Tags
Carpinus betulus, Cornus alba Elegantissima, Cornus alba sibirica, Cornus sanguinea 'Midwinter Fire', davidaustinroses.com, Dogwoods, Fragrant English Rose The Lark Ascending, Hornbeam, Rubus cockburnianus, white stemmed bramble
The garden is now blank, following many weekends of clearing. It is not a garden at all really as it is devoid of shrubs, flowers or bulbs. Yet in my mind, it is full of my favourite shrubs, grasses, perennials and bulbs and, on a warm day, it has colour, scent and movement.
So where to start?
Back of an envelope type plans were scribbled to start the process, before the scale drawing started. From this point the ground plan was drawn to scale and then the grass was marked out.
The turf was lifted, then the soil was turned over by digger, pending planting in the Spring.
Carpinus betulus, Hornbeam whips have been planted and will become a hedge. The hedge will become a green wall for the birds to shelter in and for a bench to back up against. A quiet spot to read a book or share a cup of tea perhaps. Rather hard to imagine, I admit.
There are dogwoods to plant. I have chosen a combination of Cornus alba Elegantissima, the silver variegated dogwood, Cornus sanguinea ‘Midwinter Fire’ and the red stemmed dogwood, Cornus alba ‘ Sibirica’. I have also added a white stemmed bramble, Rubus cockburnianus to the group. They may not look much now but they will eventually create a large curve of colour for the drab Winter months and a natural screen to block out the roadside.
There are lists of must have plants, yet to be organised into a planting plan proper.
There are roses. How fantastic to take delivery of, not one, but three, David Austin Roses. Thank you Gail and Neil. ‘The Lark Ascending’ is not familiar to me, although the piece of music after which it is named, is! The website davidaustinroses.com tells me that The Lark Ascending will have cupped, medium sized blooms in a light apricot colour. It is repeat flowering, has a tall airy growth and a light fragrance. How exciting.
So that is where I have got to. Lots of plans. A planting plan to draw up. A bucket full of seeds to start off, as clearly there is going to be room for lots and lots of annuals. Whilst the weather is freezing and the ground too hard to work outside, I need to get on with the plan and make that list.
If you have any must have plants that you think I should include, do let me know. The site is North facing but remains in sunshine most of the day thanks to the open position. The soil is flinty with clay patches. D.
digwithdorris.com 
Love seeing this develop – you are inspiring me to get out and start digging.
Thanks Sam. Ground is too hard to be digging just yet, put the kettle on and plan instead!
This all looks like a wonderful start, you’ve got a diagonal west to east on your paper plan, I can’t quite work out where your house and views are onto the garden. Love the idea of the Hornbeam hedge. If its open is it windy too, do you need a windbreak? How lovely too to have a blank canvas, I feel a little envious!
Thanks Julie. It is quite windy but no where near as bad as my last garden which was on a hill. The shelter will come as the hedge and shrubs grow upwards and outwards….about 5 years then! The garden is in front of the house, separated from it by the drive. The kitchen and bedrooms look out on to it. It is exciting and there is going to be a huge amount of work to do.
This is making me antsy to start digging in my own garden. Have to wait for a thaw, though. Very jealous of all that green turf waiting to be dug out and replaced with hedges, beds, and borders.
Thanks, got to wait for a thaw here too. Those dogwood whips are just heeled in the raised beds at the minute, waiting to be planted.
There is already a generosity of scale evident in the layout of the borders. It takes courage and vision to carve such spaces out of the grass. I eagerly anticipate the garden plan. I do hope you will be posting it soon! It will provide us all with some ideas for our own borders.
No pressure then!
As ever, thanks for your encouragement.
What fun you are going to have. Everything in the garden will be plants chosen by you. How lovely. Are you going to buy any trees?
I am hoping to get out next week in search of a pair of trees. Any suggestions?
Exciting times for you Dorris – and I admire you for being able to look at the bigger picture in one fell swoop. I look forward to seeing it all come together in due course.
Thanks Cathy. Off in search of a pair of trees tomorrow. 🙂