listening to radio 4 there is a funny series with Ronnie Corbett "when the dog dies" about this chap who's horrible son in law wants him to move into a home. it doesn't matter how many times he tells him he doesn't want to, they don't listen. this week they told him they'd reserved him a flat in "farewell towers"!!
I know my parents worry about this problem and my dads garden is getting too much for him now,and he refuses my offers of help.what to do?!
Well, Expectations were a couple of replies though all my old friends and cohorts have appeared, where have you been hiding? Yes Charley we are old school and also as an engineer that was my motto, "if it aint broke don't fix it" brought up on farms we both know it true.
To me there are no rules, no fixed lines, no fads, no fashions, you garden as you feel, my first 18 years were with a walled garden with no view but the garden 12 foot walls two sides a house and stables t'other and a 10 foot wall pigsties hen houses a huge midden on the fourth, to look out you climbed a ladder and then fields as far as the eye could see. The whole focus was on a working garden that fed us and the extended family through the war and long after. Every inch of wall was used for fruit trees, Green houses, and even a vine, the actual garden which had four seasons with in its walls all year round grew vegetables all year round, the pigs were fed on the waste from those plots, nothing wasted really. Years of travel many gardens later I am settled with what I have so Daughter dear you do your own thing with your own garden and leave me with memories of Joan in mine, it pleases me and that is all that matters.
Hello again Frank - I suppose that we've learned to be patient and neither want - nor expect - "instant" results in life. One of the things I've enjoyed is being able to stay in this house for over 20 years and see some of the things I planted in the early years look now as though they've always been there.
I used to think - as far as fashions in houses etc go - that it was just kitchens and bathrooms which people simply "had" to replace as soon as they moved in. In most cases "have to" is no more true than anyone "having to" spend a fortune on what look to me like the sort of trousers which are only fit for the rag-bag! Now it looks as though people aren't happy merely to amend/adjust things in the garden either. Oh well - it'd be really boring if we were all of the same opinion, wouldn't it?!
Funny that your daughter's gardening style is so different from your own Frank, I am my Mother's daughter in that respect. I remember people thinking she was mad for having no lawn laid to the rear of her new build years ago and when I moved into my house the first thing I did was start digging up turf to plant trees and put in a pond (before the boxes were unpacked). The neighbours must have thought I was mad but I had already drawn my plans for the garden before the sale was complete! We both have lots of trees, shrubs and perennials in our gardens and no soil showing. I am lucky enough to still have my Grandad with us and he always comments on the weeds in the strawberry patch as he always has a neat lawn and edges and hoed soil. I suppose I have taken on both their influences as I do feel guilty when I see weeds in my more 'formal' areas.
I think a garden is humankind asserting their dominance over nature, saying what is to grow somewhere, and what is not, who is to eat the produce, and who is not. But we have to work with nature to make the most of our gardens. Some of us almost fear our garden's ability to run out of our control. You can tidy the lounge, close the door, and come back to it two weeks later, and it will be exactly the same as you left it. But tidy the garden, and go on holiday for two weeks, and who knows where it will have run amok. Fear of nature's ability to do its own thing, means that some people prefer a sterile garden, whereas others amongst us enjoy a bit of anarchy, and will take risks. Human nature I guess. I think I fall somewhere in the middle.
I like the nettles until they get me! Other people always comment on how well my nettles are doing though. My 2 year old is better at avoiding them than me!
Mrs G, Daughter was a full of life teenager who only knew the garden as the place Dad disappeared and came back with green stuff covered with caterpillars she was expected to eat for her complexion. Her first house had no garden, this house Dad did the garden for years then watching TV make overs she took over and it became an extension to the lounge, Dads garden went in the bin and now it is a newly made over play room-chill out area, they sit with a bottle of M&S wine living the life. !!!!!!
Who am I to say that is wrong, I am either up the top end on my sun trap patio or in the conservatory watching the rain pouring life into everything, each end a separate entity hidden from the other, "err" I do lock the doors when I disappear into the rain forest as Daughter calls it, do not try it on or the little Jack Russell I mind will have your ankles. Maybe we are to blame we did not give them the time our Fathers gave us working in the garden, the Grandchildren are very interested especially the Strawberries peas and carrots, at least that is a start.
I am with Mike having been given plenty of advice over the years filter it and use the best bits is the way to go.
My son already uses his plastic shears to cut the hedge, mows the lawn, digs and waters. I couldn't stop him if I wanted to, he has a mind of his own. He does have a lawn area and a play area, we are lucky enough to have the space but of course the whole garden is his, he is a free range toddler. My theory is if he learns to respect and care for the garden now he is less likely to destroy it when he gets older.
Posts
Scott
listening to radio 4 there is a funny series with Ronnie Corbett "when the dog dies" about this chap who's horrible son in law wants him to move into a home. it doesn't matter how many times he tells him he doesn't want to, they don't listen. this week they told him they'd reserved him a flat in "farewell towers"!!
I know my parents worry about this problem and my dads garden is getting too much for him now,and he refuses my offers of help.what to do?!
Well, Expectations were a couple of replies though all my old friends and cohorts have appeared, where have you been hiding? Yes Charley we are old school and also as an engineer that was my motto, "if it aint broke don't fix it" brought up on farms we both know it true.
To me there are no rules, no fixed lines, no fads, no fashions, you garden as you feel, my first 18 years were with a walled garden with no view but the garden 12 foot walls two sides a house and stables t'other and a 10 foot wall pigsties hen houses a huge midden on the fourth, to look out you climbed a ladder and then fields as far as the eye could see. The whole focus was on a working garden that fed us and the extended family through the war and long after. Every inch of wall was used for fruit trees, Green houses, and even a vine, the actual garden which had four seasons with in its walls all year round grew vegetables all year round, the pigs were fed on the waste from those plots, nothing wasted really. Years of travel many gardens later I am settled with what I have so Daughter dear you do your own thing with your own garden and leave me with memories of Joan in mine, it pleases me and that is all that matters.
Frank.
Hello again Frank - I suppose that we've learned to be patient and neither want - nor expect - "instant" results in life. One of the things I've enjoyed is being able to stay in this house for over 20 years and see some of the things I planted in the early years look now as though they've always been there.
I used to think - as far as fashions in houses etc go - that it was just kitchens and bathrooms which people simply "had" to replace as soon as they moved in. In most cases "have to" is no more true than anyone "having to" spend a fortune on what look to me like the sort of trousers which are only fit for the rag-bag! Now it looks as though people aren't happy merely to amend/adjust things in the garden either. Oh well - it'd be really boring if we were all of the same opinion, wouldn't it?!
Funny that your daughter's gardening style is so different from your own Frank, I am my Mother's daughter in that respect. I remember people thinking she was mad for having no lawn laid to the rear of her new build years ago and when I moved into my house the first thing I did was start digging up turf to plant trees and put in a pond (before the boxes were unpacked). The neighbours must have thought I was mad but I had already drawn my plans for the garden before the sale was complete! We both have lots of trees, shrubs and perennials in our gardens and no soil showing. I am lucky enough to still have my Grandad with us and he always comments on the weeds in the strawberry patch as he always has a neat lawn and edges and hoed soil. I suppose I have taken on both their influences as I do feel guilty when I see weeds in my more 'formal' areas.
I think a garden is humankind asserting their dominance over nature, saying what is to grow somewhere, and what is not, who is to eat the produce, and who is not. But we have to work with nature to make the most of our gardens. Some of us almost fear our garden's ability to run out of our control. You can tidy the lounge, close the door, and come back to it two weeks later, and it will be exactly the same as you left it. But tidy the garden, and go on holiday for two weeks, and who knows where it will have run amok. Fear of nature's ability to do its own thing, means that some people prefer a sterile garden, whereas others amongst us enjoy a bit of anarchy, and will take risks. Human nature I guess. I think I fall somewhere in the middle.
I love an overgrown jungle which is fortunate because it's what I've got
I don't mind if some of the plants are considered weeds. The other inhabitants of the garden need them and I prefer to call them wild flowers.
No sharp edges on the grass (not lawn, too sterile) Plants growing here and there in cracks (and the drive).
I wouldn't mind a few less stinging nettles, hogweed and goosegrass though
In the sticks near Peterborough
I like the nettles until they get me! Other people always comment on how well my nettles are doing though.
My 2 year old is better at avoiding them than me!
I like a few nettles Mrs G but they've got a bit out of hand
In the sticks near Peterborough
Mrs G, Daughter was a full of life teenager who only knew the garden as the place Dad disappeared and came back with green stuff covered with caterpillars she was expected to eat for her complexion. Her first house had no garden, this house Dad did the garden for years then watching TV make overs she took over and it became an extension to the lounge, Dads garden went in the bin and now it is a newly made over play room-chill out area, they sit with a bottle of M&S wine living the life. !!!!!!
Who am I to say that is wrong, I am either up the top end on my sun trap patio or in the conservatory watching the rain pouring life into everything, each end a separate entity hidden from the other, "err" I do lock the doors when I disappear into the rain forest as Daughter calls it, do not try it on or the little Jack Russell I mind will have your ankles. Maybe we are to blame we did not give them the time our Fathers gave us working in the garden, the Grandchildren are very interested especially the Strawberries peas and carrots, at least that is a start.
I am with Mike having been given plenty of advice over the years filter it and use the best bits is the way to go.
Frank.
My son already uses his plastic shears to cut the hedge, mows the lawn, digs and waters. I couldn't stop him if I wanted to, he has a mind of his own.
He does have a lawn area and a play area, we are lucky enough to have the space but of course the whole garden is his, he is a free range toddler. My theory is if he learns to respect and care for the garden now he is less likely to destroy it when he gets older. 