Louise, try and do a soil sample; the kit is v. cheap from Garden Centres and it will enable you to figure out what plants will not tolerate those conditions, e.g. winter flowering heathers don't like alkali soil, but I believe summer flowering heathers do. (at this point I think someone more knowledgeable than I is going to gently correct me) but you get the idea A good garden designer, or a good gardener will advise on the 'hard landscaping'; where to put paths, steps, retaining walls. I was lucky to have a brilliant local builder who could sort out the different levels, (yes in the Fens the levels can vary by as much as 2 feet!)
GG many thanks. Would this explain why when I worked really far north in Scotland where the soil was v. peaty (the water came out of the taps brown, I won't even attempt to tell you what my lingerie looked like after washing it) a lot of the heathers were in flower? This was in summer, or as we would say in England; winter. I have never been so permanently cold in my life.
I once spent a freezing holiday in Scotland in August. I have never returned! In my neutral-ish garden soil, I can grow winter heathers only. Not fussed on heather, anyway, after that frozen fortnight looking at endless heather, mountains and lochs through a mist of wind-driven raiin.
Apologies to all forum members who live in Scotland!
ok thanks,i want to design shape and paths,hard standing,lawn and beds myself,small chelsea style garden east facing,stone walls 2 sides,fence 1,all gets some sun,quite sheltered,like very fragrant plants,like organic looking rambling romantic style,nothing formal,got to have some grass for little girl to play in summer, front garden west facing path up middle,neighbours got rhododendrons so presume camellia on my wishlist would do well? (williamsii think 'donation'?)I'm utterly useless on computer and have no idea how to put photos on,sorry,not v helpful I know,even doing this is quite something for me!! Particularly want to include eg zepherine drouhin(?) Madame gregoire something (!) clematis (2 or 3 particularly 1 montana) would love blue moon rose and some honeysuckle and peonies,just unsure which walls to put thing s on and front or back,wish i could put photo on,saw v impressive pics on herer!
Louise, I too am not a technocrat, BUT if you have a mobile phone that has a camera, or a digital camera, they will have leads that attach to your computer. The computer will tell you how to download the pics. It hopefully will tell you to give them a name or date, and where to store them on the computer. Then you click on the picture of a tree on the tool bar above and 'browse' your pics and upload onto the site. I am sure that someone with more knowledge than I can improve on these instructions, but hey! people who know a lot about computers often talk way over my head; they don't understand how little I know but am still able to function
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Louise, try and do a soil sample; the kit is v. cheap from Garden Centres and it will enable you to figure out what plants will not tolerate those conditions, e.g. winter flowering heathers don't like alkali soil, but I believe summer flowering heathers do. (at this point I think someone more knowledgeable than I is going to gently correct me) but you get the idea
A good garden designer, or a good gardener will advise on the 'hard landscaping'; where to put paths, steps, retaining walls. I was lucky to have a brilliant local builder who could sort out the different levels, (yes in the Fens the levels can vary by as much as 2 feet!)
Gentle correction - other way around for heathers.
GG many thanks
. Would this explain why when I worked really far north in Scotland where the soil was v. peaty (the water came out of the taps brown, I won't even attempt to tell you what my lingerie looked like after washing it) a lot of the heathers were in flower? This was in summer, or as we would say in England; winter. I have never been so permanently cold in my life.
I guess it would, since peat is acidic.
I once spent a freezing holiday in Scotland in August. I have never returned! In my neutral-ish garden soil, I can grow winter heathers only. Not fussed on heather, anyway, after that frozen fortnight looking at endless heather, mountains and lochs through a mist of wind-driven raiin.
Apologies to all forum members who live in Scotland!
ok thanks,i want to design shape and paths,hard standing,lawn and beds myself,small chelsea style garden east facing,stone walls 2 sides,fence 1,all gets some sun,quite sheltered,like very fragrant plants,like organic looking rambling romantic style,nothing formal,got to have some grass for little girl to play in summer, front garden west facing path up middle,neighbours got rhododendrons so presume camellia on my wishlist would do well? (williamsii think 'donation'?)I'm utterly useless on computer and have no idea how to put photos on,sorry,not v helpful I know,even doing this is quite something for me!! Particularly want to include eg zepherine drouhin(?) Madame gregoire something (!) clematis (2 or 3 particularly 1 montana) would love blue moon rose and some honeysuckle and peonies,just unsure which walls to put thing s on and front or back,wish i could put photo on,saw v impressive pics on herer!
Oh want garden to look full,and every season something to pop up,planted and inherited lots of spring bulbs,love idea of garden bursting with flowers
Louise, I too am not a technocrat, BUT if you have a mobile phone that has a camera, or a digital camera, they will have leads that attach to your computer. The computer will tell you how to download the pics. It hopefully will tell you to give them a name or date, and where to store them on the computer. Then you click on the picture of a tree on the tool bar above and 'browse' your pics and upload onto the site. I am sure that someone with more knowledge than I can improve on these instructions, but hey! people who know a lot about computers often talk way over my head; they don't understand how little I know but am still able to function