We did, although it is cheap Bradstone cast concrete pavers not stone. I think they're starting to look better now they're starting to age .I wasn't keen when they first went down.
I can't believe it has been 3 months since I lasted posted on this thread. Work got busy, I had RHS exams to study for, I did a few days with a local gardener to help her out and went on holiday! Oh, and lots of jobs done in our own garden.
This is the overall look at the moment. I'm waiting for the 2nd flush from the roses to add some colour through the borders. The lack of rain has left a couple of things struggling but there have been no big losses. I've had to regularly water stuff that was planted in the last few months though.
The crocosmia in parts of the garden has struggled with leaves turning brown and dying but there are a couple of spots where it has done well. A lot of the verbena bonariensis didn't make it through the cold and wet winter but there are still a few dotted around for the butterflies to enjoy. Overall it seems to be a good year for the pollinators in my garden. The acanthus has had wilted leaves quite a lot but picks up quickly after a good water. If we are destined for hotter, drier summers then it may have to go. For now though the flowers are looking good. The self-sown calendulas have also done well this year with no watering needed. I love the colour and will be throwing the seeds about the rest of the garden next year. Just so nobody thinks the garden is all looking great, there are areas which need a re-think or a few more additions.
Finally is the little plant theatre I made. There are a couple of little hostas on the top - Blue Mouse Ears and trailing lobelia in the others. I've got a few hosta cuttings of a couple of different types which I may try next year.
7 months since I last updated this thread so it is well past time to share a few more photos. The following have been taken this year, most in the last few weeks.
From earlier in the year to begin with...the dogwood by the garage has not all been chopped back but it did a good job over the winter adding a block of colour. You might just be able to make out from the picture how some of the bark has been nibbled away by either muntjac or rabbits.
It is in February when the flowers started to return. Lonicera 'winter beauty'...
The Honesty on the right of the above photo is a bit of a mystery to me. I don't recall planting it but it has made itself happy in a spot where I've had a couple of failures. I did have the bird feeder over there at one point last year so I wonder whether a bird may have deposited some seeds.
Primroses pop up everywhere. If only all weeds were as well behaved
I dug up a big clump of doronicum late last year and spread the bits around the garden and gave a few away. When the garden gets into its summer stride there aren't any yellow flowers. It feels like a spring colour to me - little bursts of custard yellow sunshine on sometimes grey days.
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This is the overall look at the moment.
I'm waiting for the 2nd flush from the roses to add some colour through the borders. The lack of rain has left a couple of things struggling but there have been no big losses. I've had to regularly water stuff that was planted in the last few months though.
The crocosmia in parts of the garden has struggled with leaves turning brown and dying but there are a couple of spots where it has done well.
A lot of the verbena bonariensis didn't make it through the cold and wet winter but there are still a few dotted around for the butterflies to enjoy. Overall it seems to be a good year for the pollinators in my garden.
The acanthus has had wilted leaves quite a lot but picks up quickly after a good water. If we are destined for hotter, drier summers then it may have to go. For now though the flowers are looking good.
The self-sown calendulas have also done well this year with no watering needed. I love the colour and will be throwing the seeds about the rest of the garden next year.
Just so nobody thinks the garden is all looking great, there are areas which need a re-think or a few more additions.
Finally is the little plant theatre I made. There are a couple of little hostas on the top - Blue Mouse Ears and trailing lobelia in the others. I've got a few hosta cuttings of a couple of different types which I may try next year.
From earlier in the year to begin with...the dogwood by the garage has not all been chopped back but it did a good job over the winter adding a block of colour. You might just be able to make out from the picture how some of the bark has been nibbled away by either muntjac or rabbits.
It is in February when the flowers started to return. Lonicera 'winter beauty'...
Crocus
Snowdrops seem like they're everywhere...
Winter Aconites
I planted pots of tulips last autumn. Planted in the ground they soon get dug up and eaten but I'm pleased with how well they've done in pots.
In the last photo they're a mix of 'Apricot Beauty', 'Brown Sugar' and 'Red Revival' from one of the GW magazine reader offers.
The Honesty on the right of the above photo is a bit of a mystery to me. I don't recall planting it but it has made itself happy in a spot where I've had a couple of failures. I did have the bird feeder over there at one point last year so I wonder whether a bird may have deposited some seeds.
Primroses pop up everywhere. If only all weeds were as well behaved
I dug up a big clump of doronicum late last year and spread the bits around the garden and gave a few away. When the garden gets into its summer stride there aren't any yellow flowers. It feels like a spring colour to me - little bursts of custard yellow sunshine on sometimes grey days.