Readers’ gardens
A Norfolk garden, with shady borders, wildlife areas and a large herbaceous bed.
What a year the garden has had! The weather was a real trial and, at times, made us wonder just how well it would survive! But each time nature redressed the situation and, looking at the garden right now, it looks good and we’re ready to take on another year.
One new feature is a windspinner. It’s a real eye catcher – especially in a garden like this, which is quite exposed to the wind. We didn’t realise that it came with solar-powered lights and so were very surprised when, as darkness fell, we suddenly had lights alternating from red to green!
Another new addition is a raised bed behind the garage that fills in a shady corner. The plan is to fill it with variegated ivy and ferns that can tolerate drier conditions.
This year I’ve tried growing chrysanthemums for the first time. I’ve eight different varieties which have been grown in large pots, to be used solely for cut flowers. I’ve had beautiful vases of blooms indoors from early October and they’re still going!
The garden is currently alive with birds busily feeding in readiness for winter. We’ve a feeding station in the front garden where we provide millet specifically for the house sparrows, which at any one time can number up to 50!
One of my first jobs of 2019 will be to sow perennial seeds such as Verbena bonariensis and achillea ‘Summer Berries’, as we plan to use these in the new bed recently cut in the lawn. The grasses that will go with them will be bought in spring.
What 2019 will bring us weatherwise, nobody knows, but one thing is certain; with a lot of hard work and a little help from Mother Nature, we can be sure of another year of fulfilling and enjoyable gardening.