Title : Garden Visits: Wendy's, in York . . .
link : Garden Visits: Wendy's, in York . . .
Garden Visits: Wendy's, in York . . .
This is the first in a series of posts, in which I will knock on the gate of various gardens maintained by readers within our blogging community. I've already finagled an invitation to a splendid English garden -- come on through with me, and I'll tell you how that came about and introduce you to the gardener. Some of you will already be on a nodding acquaintance with Wendy (of York) through her comments here and elsewhere in our virtual vicinity, but she's graciously agreed to tell us a bit more about herself while describing the stunning transformation she and her husband have made to their property over forty years.
Can you imagine strolling through this beautiful garden?
Let's wander a bit, shall we? And perhaps we could sit on the bench for a few minutes, and I'll tell you how this post evolved, and what I'm planning for the future in a short series.
First of all, thanks to Patricia, another regular commenter (whom I had the pleasure of meeting for lunch in Ottawa last year) for wondering if Wendy might share some photos of her garden.
A flurry of emails went back and forth, I received photographs of this glorious space, and at some point one of those cartoon lightbulbs went on, right above my head -- I swear, I'm sure my husband must have noticed it flashing!
So I came up with a list of questions, emailed them to Wendy, and she emailed me back her answers.
Before I share those with you, check out the Before photos taken some forty years ago.
Imagine transforming a space like this through four decades. . .
Never mind imagining, though. Let's let Wendy tell us what it was like:
Again, thank you so much for the tour of your glorious garden, Wendy. No, no, don't get up, we'll find our way out (although you may have to chase a few of us out the gate if we linger too long. . .
Wasn't that a brilliant outing? Shall I arrange another for you in the next few weeks? I thought it might be fun to learn more about some of my readers through a series of posts about their gardens. I have one possibility I'm crossing my fingers about at the moment. . .
And by all means, if you have a garden you think we'd like to see, and would be willing to share photos and answer my questions, let's talk. . .
Meanwhile, Wendy has generously agreed to answer any questions you might have and/or respond to your comments, although I'll be here to facilitate if necessary. And I'd love to know what you think about this idea, the lightbulb Patricia switched on. . . Any interest? Over to you, now; open for comments...
Before I share those with you, check out the Before photos taken some forty years ago.
Never mind imagining, though. Let's let Wendy tell us what it was like:
Thank you so much, Wendy, for sharing your garden with us. Could you give us a rough idea of where it is and what the gardening conditions are?
My garden is on the outskirts of York, a small city in the north of England. It is a temperate climate with annual rainfall of 24 inches or 600 millimeters. In area it is between a quarter & half an acre which is a pretty good size for the U.K. The front garden is quite big but not as densely planted as we need a gravel area for parking .
Our garden has sandy soil - dig down two feet & it's pure river sand. The soil was impoverished when we moved in & although years of manure & compost heaps have made a vast difference, there are some plants, like the acid & moisture lovers , which are only possible for us in pots. The plus side is that the soil is easy to work. I'm not sure we could have managed this area if it were clay soil. The back garden faces south so we appreciate the trees we have planted. They protect our poor soil & cut the wind from the west.
Could you tell us a bit about yourself?
I'm a retired public servant, hubby was an accountant in a chocolate factory & we struggled to keep on top of the garden whilst we were at work . We had lots of energy then but not enough time. We now have lots of time & just enough energy. Soon, I expect we will have plenty of time & no energy! We've altered a few things with that in mind. We have two dogs, Lurchers, & because of them we don't travel as much as we used to do but we were lucky enough to see a fair bit of the world when we were younger. We visited some fine gardens on our travels & in the U.K. we have a scheme where people open their gardens to visitors, charging a small fee for charity. So we visit gardens in our area, big & small .
How long have you cared for this garden, and what did you bring to it in terms of gardening experience?
We have lived here for forty one years. We had a very small garden at our previous house but we enjoyed improving it. My dad was a landscape gardener, so as a child I would make miniature gardens & I've always loved plants. So much so I can't bear to cut flowers for the house. Whilst growing they are alive, once cut they are dying. I don't buy cut flowers either & only cut mine if a storm is coming to damage them. Too much empathy?
I asked Wendy a series of questions about how she and her husband planned their garden, and then how they executed their plans, how they maintain the garden now.
I'm not one for big, bright, showy plants, perhaps it's our cool northern light that makes them too much for me. I prefer interesting shapes & foliage. We have some quite unusual plants dotted around - Astrantias, Pratias & various Euphorbias. I like to have some subtle little plants that you need to search for in the border & I prefer flowering plants with lots of small flowers like potentillas & perennial geraniums.
The climbing roses are not straightforward, lots of tying in needed & they fight back. I don't like pesticides or chemicals so they get tatty as the year goes on but I love them in June when the center trellis is a mass of different roses. Old roses don't keep flowering but they smell wonderful &, along with the hawthorn & privet hedges, they are all we have from the previous owners .
Scent is important so we have honeysuckles too. All the pots need watering but hubby seems to enjoy that - I think he finds it therapeutic.
As you can see from the before photo, it was pretty much a blank canvas when we arrived. Very neglected. The old couple hadn't done any gardening for years. We did lots of rough sketches before deciding on a York stone terrace & curved path with island beds & lots of curves. I remember us laying out a hose pipe & cutting along it to make the beds. Once we'd laid out the ground plan it felt like our garden.
We weeded & weeded - after seven years you break the seeding cycle & then it's much easier. Mares tails were a real problem but not now. At one time we had more cottage garden flowers, herbaceous & annuals with annuals in pots too but we've gradually opted for an easier garden. More shrubs, more low ground cover with pots of sedum, sempervivum, ferns & hostas.
We wouldn't have wanted a professional designer, we loved doing it ourselves despite the mistakes & there were plenty. We have no help with the maintenance. Hubby does lawns, hedges & serious pruning whilst I do most of the weeding & light pruning. I usually decide what goes where too :)
In early spring we spend dozens of hours a week out there but in the summer there is less to do & hardly anything in the winter. We are always impatient for the garden to wake up so we can get going again. One day I'm sure we will need help but for now it keeps us fit, is cheaper than joining a gym & we love it .
What frustrations or challenges do/did you face in the garden?
Our main problem is rabbits. We have laid chicken wire along the hedge bottoms which is sunk a foot into the ground but there's no keeping them out. They burrow in the light soil & kill plants from below as well as nibbling from above. We have gradually learnt which plants they dislike & protect vulnerable favorites with chicken wire. Lots of our shrubs have been nibbled into umbrella shapes with rabbit proof ground cover around them. The dogs do chase the rabbits, scraping up the grass in the old orchard area, but they don't catch them.
What makes you happiest in the garden?
What I do like is the way some plants have jumped around to suit themselves. Things strike quickly in our soil & that's fine with me. They usually know best. Our cherry tree was originally a rose stake. We have at least thirty species of birds including woodpeckers & owls & we make food available for them all year. Lots of nesting goes on & we are inundated with baby blue tits just now. Hedgehogs, frogs, toads & foxes visit & we have had baby foxes playing on the lawn. There are nine stone bird baths dotted around & they are usually all occupied. I also love the beauty of the stone areas after rain.
And then I closed by asking Wendy if there were any questions she wished I'd asked.
My extra question - Does your garden hold any special memories?
Very much so. My dad, the landscape gardener had lots of ideas for us in the early days & gave us plants split from his customers gardens. I was always stubborn though, like him, & wanted it to be our own garden. I can hear him now telling me the cedar would become a nuisance & he was right. Some of the garden furniture & stone pieces were our anniversary presents to each other - better than diamonds for me. We also have three of our past dogs buried in the bottom part of the garden & I often have a little ' chat ' with them.
Again, thank you so much for the tour of your glorious garden, Wendy. No, no, don't get up, we'll find our way out (although you may have to chase a few of us out the gate if we linger too long. . .
Thus articles Garden Visits: Wendy's, in York . . .
that is all articles Garden Visits: Wendy's, in York . . . This time, hopefully can provide benefits to you all. Okay, see you in another article post.
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