In Prague, I lived in a flat and our 1st home in the UK was also a flat (super cold attic flat in a victorian terraced house... quite a change). Our 2nd UK home had a small north-west facing garden and I was over the moon about that. I grew herbs and annuals in pots, had a patch of strawberries (allowed by the landlady and later disputed) and courgettes in pots. Our 3rd UK home was our last rented, with a bigger and nicer garden and much more friendly landlord. I did upkeep of the garden, filling gaps with annuals and went full crazy with vegetable container gardening. In our second year there, we were actively house-hunting and found the house where we are now. I absolutely love having my own house and garden. This is from the previous garden - container gardening. And my current garden on the day of the viewing the house (early May 2018).
Interesting garden pics folks. @edhelka, is that a sheep field behind your garden? Do you have to be careful what you plant near the stock fence? My daughter has a similar situation in her new place and has a very big retaining wall with a stock fence on top of it in the back garden. I am researching climbing plants but don't want anything too vigorous in case the sheep eat it. There existing roses at the foot of the wall which I'm hoping can be better fan trained.
@Lizzie27 Yes, there are either sheep or horses. The strip on the top of the retention wall is very narrow. The previous owner planted bergenias there and I like it - they soften the wall, are evergreen and need no care. The sheep eat them when they can get to new leaves but I haven't seen any ill effects neither to the sheep nor the bergenias.
That's good to know @edhelka, I've got some bergenias I could dig up for her if she wants them. I'm just not sure yet whether it's possible to get to the top of her wall, might need mountaineering equipment!
@newbie77 don’t be so modest, you have done a great job! Your garden somehow looks much bigger as a result, more colour and interest for the eye to follow and distract, perhaps?
Mountainous Northern Catalunya, Spain. Hot summers, cold winters.
Argh, wife has tested positive. Unfortunately we're both teachers so have been having to work through the lockdown and sending boys to nursery so it could have come from anywhere. Luckily she's ok, just tired, she was convinced she just had flu.
More time in the garden I suppose as that's the only place we can go for a while!
I am shocked to read Marlonena and others didn't like roses at one point , I used to dislike Euphorbia and hellebores now they seem to follow me home . Nice stories how people got into gardening, when you're bitten by the gardening bug it doesn't let up weeding / digging / planting can be enjoyed something you possibly scoffed at year ago.
I've grown up doing gardening dad does garden maintenance mostly grass cutting / trees etc although not much interest in growing or planting , Grandad ( dad side ) did garden maintenance when he was older, he also grow lots of veg and potatoes street was nicknamed spud lane apparently must of be more common in the 50's / 60s to dig up your garden and plant it up with veg etc. Mum likes gardening but didn't really start till in her 40s really but grandma ( mum side ) liked gardening with lots of roses multiple greenhouses . Mum says Great Grandad used to show Chrysanthemums /others with masses of tomato plants in a huge greenhouse . Unfortunately all but one grand parent passed before I were 15 so never really spoke about to them about gardening or plants .
My own venture into gardening happened while I was 5-6, I don't think I can count following my dad round with a plastic lawnmower when I was even younger. I used to collect apple pips and grow them in pot outside , they did germinate and got growing but I never remember what happened to them after, Mum said she and dad didn't look after them so they must of succumb to the weather . The guilt most of got to them one day cause they bought me a dual apple tree when I was around 7 or 8, I still have this tree in the back garden although next door dog snapped one of the branches off so I never seen an apple off one of grafts yet but it is finally got growing 23 years latter. I used to go working with dad cutting grass through my teenage years for some pocket money. Didn't really grow anything again until I was around 20 years old tomatoes on the windowsill, around this age is when the gardening bug really got to me I've been a prolific spender on plants ever since . I've always liked roses and bought my first rose ( Mary Rose ) around 6 year ago , I have quite a collection of herbaceous plants mainly - trees - fruit and a few roses now at age 30 . I don't really have a style of gardening cause I do like most of them but I am a sucker for herbaceous borders and nice clean lines , I describe my own herbaceous borders as organised chaos .
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Our 3rd UK home was our last rented, with a bigger and nicer garden and much more friendly landlord. I did upkeep of the garden, filling gaps with annuals and went full crazy with vegetable container gardening. In our second year there, we were actively house-hunting and found the house where we are now. I absolutely love having my own house and garden.
This is from the previous garden - container gardening.
And my current garden on the day of the viewing the house (early May 2018).
@edhelka, is that a sheep field behind your garden? Do you have to be careful what you plant near the stock fence? My daughter has a similar situation in her new place and has a very big retaining wall with a stock fence on top of it in the back garden. I am researching climbing plants but don't want anything too vigorous in case the sheep eat it. There existing roses at the foot of the wall which I'm hoping can be better fan trained.
More time in the garden I suppose as that's the only place we can go for a while!
Will have to order some more pots and compost!
Yes with little ones going to nursery, there is always a risk. Mine is going to nursery too.
I've grown up doing gardening dad does garden maintenance mostly grass cutting / trees etc although not much interest in growing or planting , Grandad ( dad side ) did garden maintenance when he was older, he also grow lots of veg and potatoes street was nicknamed spud lane apparently must of be more common in the 50's / 60s to dig up your garden and plant it up with veg etc. Mum likes gardening but didn't really start till in her 40s really but grandma ( mum side ) liked gardening with lots of roses multiple greenhouses . Mum says Great Grandad used to show Chrysanthemums /others with masses of tomato plants in a huge greenhouse . Unfortunately all but one grand parent passed before I were 15 so never really spoke about to them about gardening or plants .
My own venture into gardening happened while I was 5-6, I don't think I can count following my dad round with a plastic lawnmower when I was even younger. I used to collect apple pips and grow them in pot outside , they did germinate and got growing but I never remember what happened to them after, Mum said she and dad didn't look after them so they must of succumb to the weather . The guilt most of got to them one day cause they bought me a dual apple tree when I was around 7 or 8, I still have this tree in the back garden although next door dog snapped one of the branches off so I never seen an apple off one of grafts yet but it is finally got growing 23 years latter. I used to go working with dad cutting grass through my teenage years for some pocket money. Didn't really grow anything again until I was around 20 years old tomatoes on the windowsill, around this age is when the gardening bug really got to me I've been a prolific spender on plants ever since . I've always liked roses and bought my first rose ( Mary Rose ) around 6 year ago , I have quite a collection of herbaceous plants mainly - trees - fruit and a few roses now at age 30 . I don't really have a style of gardening cause I do like most of them but I am a sucker for herbaceous borders and nice clean lines , I describe my own herbaceous borders as organised chaos .