Thankyou Bee and Joyce. im beginning to get some really good pictures in my head please keep them coming. im beginning to think about making sure she has the right chair and accessibility.
I have been staying indoors because it is so icy underfoot.
I have been cooking up a huge pan of veg. soup to serve at a welcome-to-new-members lunch tomorrow.
Hot Veg. Soup with Crusty Bread and Mince Pie with Cornish Clotted Cream. £5.00
The trouble is people do not seem to realize quantities need to be worked out in advance. I have had 3 people casually say they are now thinking of dropping in. I did ask for a closing date to be included but that seems to have been lost in the ether.
With no hot water for washing up and no heat it is going to be interesting. We have disposable mugs and plates, an electric kettle and I am taking my greenhouse fan heater so it will be fine. There is a micro wave oven so why am I worrying?!
Thank you for mentioning me @GardenerSuze. I've been a bit busy with Christmas stuff, 14 grandchildren.
I wouldn't have fake grass. We have some over the concrete septic tank in the lawn. It does its job disguising the septic tank but it needs sweeping regularly, not as easy as mowing the lawn.
I think @Nollie had some good ideas, patio with table and chairs and scented plants and herbs in pots. If the patio is big enough and if the budget runs to it then a garden sofa of a garden seat that you can put your feet up or lie on would be nice.
I would choose some small, easy shrubs, like Spirea Anthony Waterer, Caryopteris, maybe a variegated leafed Euonymous as it's evergreen. Then I would plant some easy perennials, like geraniums, rudbeckia, salvias and if there is a shady place some epimediums, Brunnera, hostas. Everyone probably knows by know that I'm not keen on grasses, I like flowers and roses and clematis - the English cottage garden style.
But I would keep the main part as lawn for the children and dog.
Dordogne and Norfolk. Clay in Dordogne, sandy in Norfolk.
thanks Busy lizzie, im glad people are against the artificial turf. I really don't like the effect on environment. I have cottage Garden style in my own garden, but i will discuss with nice to see what she wants
Lots of good ideas already but I think capturing the childrens' interest is important and would be valuable for everyone as they could also contribute and learn to help in simple ways.
Watching the birds and other creatures in the garden can give great pleasure to adults and children and would also allow some precious, shared family time. Allowing wildlife to flourish demands little effort, doesn't require an immaculate garden and can be enjoyed in many different ways,
The children are old enough to take an interest (beyond football!) if introduced to some possible inhabitants and enjoy sharing their findings with their mother. Frogs, toads, various beetles and other creepy crawlies need little more than some cover, a small patch of grass allowed to grow long, a little pile of sticks or logs and access to some water, which can be small and very shallow like a cat litter tray with a few pebbles and a ramp to help tiny creatures escape. It might even attract a hedgehog
Birds appreciate a tree or shrub from which to check out the area before approaching the feeders. You get a wider variety of birds by providing different foods, but
you can also grow your own - sunflowers are an obvious example that the
children might enjoy.
Even in a small garden you should manage to fit in a dwarf fruit tree or crab apple, even one grown in a pot, which would mark the changing seasons with blossom, fruit and autumn colour. Fastigiate trees grow taller, but stay narrow, if space is very limited. Some cotoneasters grow like small trees, but can be cut back hard if need be and are popular with bees and birds.
Butterflies, moths, bees and other insects will visit many flowers but favourites in my garden include Erysimum 'Bowles mauve' which is rarely out of flower, small, open flowered dahlias, (bees often spend the night in them), allium sphaerocephalum and flat, daisy type flowers.
Wishing you and your family a good outcome in a difficult situation.
What a lovely community. Some great advice already.
I went through two years of chemo and radiotherapy and it's partly why I got into gardening, as a way to take my mind off things. I don't have children but a space for them where she doesn't have to worry is important, I think but equally important, and many others have mentioned it, is a quiet retreat where she can get away from it all if needed.
I was interested in fruit. Kids love growing strawberries and the like and it can be a real family bonding experience. You will have to consider how she is, foods didn't taste right for me but I was ok with that and I also didn't mind having to wait for things to flower and fruit over a few years.
If I had to sum it up I'd go for colourful perrenials with some grass but overall low maintanence apart from perhaps some interesting raised beds or similar. It's nice to have a retreat where you don't have to worry about it but can potter if you want.
@stuartwilson134 Hopefully there will be some more posts for you. I am sure you will agree lots of talented gardeners write on this forum. I always enjoy reading what they have to say.
It is a busy time of year but people who garden are kind, I knew they would take time to post some helpful ideas and thoughts. There is such a wealth of expertise here. I apologise again to those I didn't mention. I am sure you understand. I wanted a way to get some good advice for Stuart.
I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
Posts
I have been cooking up a huge pan of veg. soup to serve at a welcome-to-new-members lunch tomorrow.
Hot Veg. Soup with Crusty Bread and Mince Pie with Cornish Clotted Cream. £5.00
The trouble is people do not seem to realize quantities need to be worked out in advance. I have had 3 people casually say they are now thinking of dropping in. I did ask for a closing date to be included but that seems to have been lost in the ether.
With no hot water for washing up and no heat it is going to be interesting. We have disposable mugs and plates, an electric kettle and I am taking my greenhouse fan heater so it will be fine. There is a micro wave oven so why am I worrying?!
I wouldn't have fake grass. We have some over the concrete septic tank in the lawn. It does its job disguising the septic tank but it needs sweeping regularly, not as easy as mowing the lawn.
I think @Nollie had some good ideas, patio with table and chairs and scented plants and herbs in pots. If the patio is big enough and if the budget runs to it then a garden sofa of a garden seat that you can put your feet up or lie on would be nice.
I would choose some small, easy shrubs, like Spirea Anthony Waterer, Caryopteris, maybe a variegated leafed Euonymous as it's evergreen. Then I would plant some easy perennials, like geraniums, rudbeckia, salvias and if there is a shady place some epimediums, Brunnera, hostas. Everyone probably knows by know that I'm not keen on grasses, I like flowers and roses and clematis - the English cottage garden style.
But I would keep the main part as lawn for the children and dog.
I went through two years of chemo and radiotherapy and it's partly why I got into gardening, as a way to take my mind off things. I don't have children but a space for them where she doesn't have to worry is important, I think but equally important, and many others have mentioned it, is a quiet retreat where she can get away from it all if needed.
I was interested in fruit. Kids love growing strawberries and the like and it can be a real family bonding experience. You will have to consider how she is, foods didn't taste right for me but I was ok with that and I also didn't mind having to wait for things to flower and fruit over a few years.
If I had to sum it up I'd go for colourful perrenials with some grass but overall low maintanence apart from perhaps some interesting raised beds or similar. It's nice to have a retreat where you don't have to worry about it but can potter if you want.
Best wishes to you all.
It is a busy time of year but people who garden are kind, I knew they would take time to post some helpful ideas and thoughts. There is such a wealth of expertise here. I apologise again to those I didn't mention. I am sure you understand. I wanted a way to get some good advice for Stuart.