The History of Barum Garden

Introduction

Please Note:- In this historic ramble, the names used to identify the various sections of the garden are described on the "main page".

This page has been written, against my better judgement, for the many people who have wanted to know: 'How', 'When', and particularly 'Why', we resurrected this garden from the jungle we moved into in 1991.

HOW - by recovering a section, then using the power of guesswork, deciding what plant would work 'there'. This guesswork has become more refined the longer we have been here, we have come to understand the local conditions and mild climate. In particular, we have become more adventurous and planted more half-hardy / tender plants.

WHEN - this is addressed in the tedious sections below.

WHY - there was nowhere to sit and drink gin without having our legs torn to pieces by brambles.

I have added some structure to this page, as it is getting too rambling for me to find my way around it. The garden sections are the same as on the main page, with the exception of the Vegetable Section. This has its own set of pages.

The happenings of last year are reported in a separate page. I hope this isn't too confusing, mentoring is available by visiting the garden and relaxing in one of the many seating places (no gin is supplied though).

We moved into a dilapidated bungalow in 1988, and during the time we were doing it up, we became addicted to enhancing the large garden. The most dramatic thing we did was to dump the old garage against a bank in the garden and covered it with the soil from the hole we had dug. This created an instant raised bed, provided an item of interest in a bland outlook, and was a lot cheaper than hiring a couple of skips.

Then in 1991 (3 years into the project) my employer made me an offer I could not refuse - come with us to Bristol or GO. This started the challenge of finding a house within commuting distance of Bristol with a garden that would match the one to which we had become used. The garden was necessary to keep Herself out of mischief, especially since she had decreed that she would take advantage of the move to retire from the chore of contributing to the household funds by becoming Head-gardener. The excuse was Mother - who had become severely arthritic and needed looking after.

Eventually, we came across Barum, a house that had been unoccupied for 4 years, and had not been improved since the 1950s. The garden had not been touched for 4 years, and lower down for at least 10 years. The agent admitted that we were doing him a favour - as we forced our way towards the lower sections of the garden - to prove to Herself that it really was as long as the details claimed - 80m by 14m.

When we moved, we needed 2 removal vans - 1 for the contents of the house and 1 for the potted-up plants being saved from the garden - these were not going to be left behind!

Near the House was a lean-to greenhouse against the back of the house (with the roof across some windows). There was a shed at the side of the house, and a well hidden patio housed a collapsed pergola.

The Top Garden had been laid to lawn - about 30m long, but in need of a herd of sheep to return it to a decent state. There were shrubs planted as side bedding. This had encroached into the garden by at least 3metres on each side. Out of this peeked a Romneya coulteri, a magnificent 15ft Acer palmatum, and a lot of Viburnum tinus. The end of the section had a step disappearing into an impenetrable jungle, with a pair of Chamaecyparis lawsoniana 'Columnaris' acting as entrance pillars. A larger picture can be seen by clicking on it.

The Paved Plant Maze was a jungle about 30m long. There was a path along the side, passable with difficulty. There was a huge apple tree and a large Prunus cerasifera 'Pissardii' (Cherry Plum) visible.

Beyond Civilisation was an area about 15m long, growing some very vigorous specimens of ivy and brambles. In the middle could be seen an elegant tree (now believed to be a Sophora japonica, although we have never seen it flower). The rest of the area was covered by a 'ginormous' pile of rocks - obviously dug up in the process of creating the beds in the rest of the garden.

Near the House, the lean-to greenhouse was left as a storage area. The shed was kicked, and fell down. The collapsed pergola was removed and burnt.

The Top Garden was the first part of the garden to be worked on. Herself very quickly got busy (amazing woman) soon discovering that there were beds, with limestone rock edging - a clue to what we were to discover about the soil. No significant plants were found. The width of the garden was recovered by hacking back the overgrowth. This picture was taken in February 1992. A larger picture can be seen by clicking on it.

The lawn problem was solved by an over-eager salesman who insisted on giving me a demonstration of a 22inch brute of a lawnmower. He brought this on a trailer and, with great pride, zoomed around the "lawn". After about 20 minutes he had produced enough hay to feed the local riding school for a fortnight, and the lawn was reborn. I subsequently bought a 16inch mower - which is the sort of size I wanted him to sell me! This picture was taken in April 1992. A larger picture can be seen by clicking on it.

The Paved Plant Maze obviously contained something, as we could see the ends of several paths. Our son, gird in big boots and gloves, armed with hedge cutter, secateurs and loppers was dispatched into the jungle. We sat nearby with large gins and shouted encouragement. After 2 hours he emerged in a state of great excitement - and demanded we come and see what he had discovered - a network of paths surrounding 10 beds, each about 3 metres across.

Each bed boasted an Apple tree (most beyond recovery). A 2.5metre (height and spread) Hibiscus syriacus (later found to boast two flower forms (a double - 'Comte de Flandres', and a single - similar to 'Lilac Queen'), either it has sent up some shoots from below the graft, or two plants were planted close together. A pair of Fuchsia magellanica 'Alba' 2.5metre tall. Also a vast Choisya ternata, and a trio of Buxus sempervirens at least 1m diameter.

Beyond Civilisation remained true to its name.

Near the House the lean-to greenhouse was removed, this exposed an oblong concrete slab that seemed suitable as a patio base. This still exists and would look a lot tidier if it was cut back - currently in the too-hard file as some idiot (moi?) built steps to the conservatory over one corner, and in 1995 (never one to learn from his mistakes) built a 'comma' shaped raised bed over another corner.

The other patio was extended, and a pergola erected in 1993.

The Top Garden had a path laid to Paved Plant Maze. This enabled this section to be reached without winter wellies. This path took me a year to complete - utter idleness. A couple of wooden erections (oil rigs a la Geoff Hamilton) were built. These are used to support some small flowered roses, including a David Austin rose (these seem to do well here). Latterly Clematis are to be seen growing up anything vertical. A larger picture can be seen by clicking on it.

The end of this section was defined by building a trellis and rustic arch, separating this from ...

The Paved Plant Maze had an apple tree removed, to make room for an 8x8 greenhouse (seemed large at the time, but now much too small). A shed was erected - no aesthetic benefit, but essential to the running of the garden.

Beyond Civilisation was cleared of its undergrowth by the means of setting the lawnmower on its top setting, and charging at the ivy, brambles etc. Several applications of this treatment converted the rubbish into weedy (naturalistic) grass - none was ever sown.

We then built a small 'Fruit Cage', for a Victoria plum, and Raspberries. This section was instantly claimed for the Vegetable Patch, just in case greedy eyes found a use for it. It is now considered as part of that section.

So, what do we plant in all this bare soil - a gardeners delight. The soil was unrecognisable to eyes used to the deep loam of North Hertfordshire - even in midwinter it slipped between the tines of a fork. It is shallow too - try to push a fork too far in and a resounding clang is heard as the fork hits bed-rock. We were also ignorant of the climate - having regularly experienced -13°C. Neither did we understand the importance of the shelter provided by 2.5metre hedges.

To solve the planting problem, we visited the local garden centres / nurseries, and began to visit local gardens (NGS naturally), and of course Bristol University Botanic Gardens.

The useful knave of trumps lay in Milady's genes; her family includes a tame horticultural guru - Roy Cheek - he is her Mother's first cousin. Prior to our move, contact had been limited to Christmas cards etc. He had to be encouraged to make a royal visit, and give us a clue what we should try to grow. In short, he came, sipped weak coffee, wandered the garden and pronounced:- if it grows in New Zealand, Australia (wetter bits), South Africa or South America (non-tropical bits) it is worth trying here.

The style of planting that came from that visit (he has been back since to criticise) has not concentrated on the tender / half-hardy / exotic plants. Rather, we grow plants we like, but have extended the range into the half-hardy with reasonable success - the well drained soil permits many plants survive the winter wet.

Near the House, the base of the lean-to greenhouse was not broken up, rather the area became a patio - used for the storage of pot plants during the winter (protected by the house), and as a "summer pasture" for the conservatory plants during the summer. This leaves very little space to sprawl about with a large gin, at any time of the year.

The pergola was soon clothed with a pair of Actindia delicosa, Akebia quinata, Wisteria sinensis and a Passiflora.

The Top Garden had several beds unearthed, so they had to be filled - I remember a Bottlebrush (still there) a Pieris (it died 2 years later of drought - fancy planting it on this drought ridden soil) a Magnolia 'Susan' and a Robinia. The Roses we had transferred from Hertfordshire were planted (a mistake - these need deep, nutritious soil with a touch of acidity), here they send up a couple of lanky shoots and provide a couple of flowers on the top.

The successful planting included:- Crinodendron hookerianum, Garrya elliptica, Rhamnus alaternus 'Argenteovariegata', Myrtus communis and Photinia (Red Robin and Palette).

An Acacia dealbata was planted in a well sheltered spot upon the instigation of Roy Cheek - whilst sipping coffee one day in our conservatory he enquired when we were going to cut a hole in the roof to allow the Acacia to grow? "But" she protested "it is a conservatory plant - it will not survive the Winter outside." "Oh yes it will." he insisted. So it was planted. It was pollarded to a trunk in 2002, see the special page!

The trellis was planted with a Clematis montana - it is so vigorous that it is now hacked back far more brutally than recommended a very sweetly scented species Lonicera; a Wisteria (first decent flowers in 2004). The arch became a rose-arch by the addition of Rosa 'Compassion' and Rosa 'Breath of life'.

The Paved Plant Maze had a few of the Apple trees removed. A Daphne odora 'Marginata' and Trachycarpus fortunei (a 1 year old) were planted. The rest was left to see what would come up. These included Primulas (several colours), Buddleja (grows in any crack), Kerria recovered from having been hacked down, Harts tongue fern is endemic, as is Geranium robertianum - Herb Robert (pretty weed).

Lily-of-the-valley was plonked around. This is now considered a weed as it has spread throughout this section of the garden - looks quite pretty though.

Beyond Civilisation remained untouched apart from planting up the Fruit cage with a Victoria Plum and 3 types of Raspberry - Glen Clova (early), Malling Admiral (mid season) and Autumn Bliss (late).

This was the year that we discovered the garden centres in Cornwall - Burncoose, Hardy Exotics, Probus, Trevena Cross and Trewithen. We drove home towing a caravan whose central aisle was crammed with plants - Agapanthus, Ceonothus 'Trewithen Blue', Styrax japonica, Pittisporums 'Tom Thumb' and 'Irene Patterson' and more.

Near the House, a shed, we had erected at the side of the house, was moved to the bottom of the garden. The path to the garage was re-routed along the side of the house, and a new bed created by breaking up part of the concrete shed base.

The path to the garage involved building some steps. So, naturally the concrete base became a flat section, stupid idea, flat does not mean level - this sloped towards the back of the step forming a lovely puddle. No problem - just drill some 19mm holes through the concrete to drain the water - shame this job burnt-out my electric drill!

The new bed was planned to include a shallow stream with a series of small waterfalls. No such luck: a manhole cover was discovered, under the concrete, in the path of the planned stream. So, a dry riverbed was created, which is used for displaying tender plants in the summer - especially spiky plants, such as Agaves.

The Top Garden was planted up with Cornus controversa 'Variagata', and other plants Herself had bought without my knowledge or permission. A larger picture can be seen by clicking on it.

The Paved Plant Maze had a huge Apple tree removed, this had a trunk of 30cm diameter, and took about 2 months to dig the root out. When the trunk fell over it cracked a concrete path - repaired in 2003. The trunk was cut through at 90deg and used as an elevated pot stand until 2004.

A Lavatera maritima was added, this died in the bad winter of 2002-3, but has since been replaced.

An Eucalyptus gunnii was also added. This now gets pollarded by the removal of only the 2 year old growth each spring. This maintains a semblance of tree rather than totem pole. This is achieved by swaying about at the top of a 5metre ladder.

Beyond Civilisation had an area cleared of rocks. These had accumulated since the garden was first set out until the Top shed became the Bottom shed.

A sad year at Barum - I started to build a raised bed, containing a fountain that Marian's mum had bought. The bed was intended for her to cultivate. Sadly, before it was finished, she had a stroke and died 3 months later. This had a huge effect on Marian; her love of the garden was encouraged by her mother, who would proudly bring friends to admire it. Marian's motivation was seriously dented, and this was reflected in the garden.

The Under Gardener was appointed - He managed to get voluntary redundancy, at the end of January, from the day job, having worked-out 10 months of notice. How would the garden fare? What would I get up to? A disillusioned Head Gardener, and an ignorant Under Gardener! Have no fear - our daughter moved, and needed a kitchen designed and installed - that sorted out the 1st half of the year. Meanwhile, in the garden:-

Near the House the "Fountain Bed" was completed. This is a comma shaped bed - no straight lines at Barum. It extends from the corner of the house, where it is about 30cm wide. It extends to about 3m at the blob end, the fountain sits in the centre.

A wattle screen was installed along one side to protect the area from wind that whistles down the side of the house. This was just before withies and wattle became popular on television, so we just wandered down to the few Willow Farms that had survived on the Somerset levels, opened the back of the estate, and they piled in as much as we could take for about £10. (Compare our Veg Patch experience in 1998).

This bed was planted, a few of these were: Myrtus (now Luma - name changed to confuse Under Gardeners throughout the world, it's difficult enough to learn one) 'Glanleam Gold', Trachelospermum variegata, Hebe 'Rosie' (a must - one of our dogs is called Rosie), a couple of patio roses, a silly little conifer, and two Lampranthus - to see if they would survive the Winter.

The top patio had a narrow bed added to separate it from the lawn, created by building a low wall at the level of the patio. The Dregea sinensis was planted out, as it had become too heavy to heave in and out of the conservatory (the Undergardener needed a hernia op in 1997). It would have to take its chances - "Mon Dieu" - I now have to hack off about 2.5m each spring, and it oozes a latex like sap.

The Top Garden had a new bed quarried out. A Cercis siliquastrum became its centrepiece, until it was blown over in the gale of October 2002.

The Paved Plant Maze had a few new plants e.g. Vestia foetida and the start of the Phormium collection (we now prefer these to Cordylines as they have more than one growing point and not so susceptible to Winter wet).

Beyond Civilisation had more rocks cleared, this created a bonfire area.

The Top Garden was always separated from the Paved Plant Maze by a trellis and a pair of conifers. These conifers (Chamaecyparis lawsoniana 'Columnaris') had begun to grow unevenly, so the Undergardener had tried to even them up by pruning. This did not work as the top no longer looked natural. Then we had a visitation from Roy Cheek, who was in a creative frame of mind. He suggested that the tops of the conifers should be pulled over to make an arch. "Never" says I. So out came the ladder, up he went, encouraged by Herself, pulled them across and tied them together with washing line, came down and brushed his hands in the manner of a man who has just done a good day's work. He didn't mention that it would need clipping each year, and that it was too slender to lean a ladder against it - the Undergardener's problem.

The Paved Plant Maze had an Iochroma australe added, also an Olea europaea was planted out - it had been kept in a pot, for winter protection.

Beyond Civilisation had some of the undergrowth and Spindle berry (a weed locally) cleared, and a new bed recovered. During this process a Mountain ash was first noticed, it must have been there all the time, but disguised as a nettle.

The first year we opened the garden for the National Garden Scheme, so we didn't add much - just panicked.

The Top Garden was divided from the Paved Plant Maze by a trellis and rose arch, (recently having the Conifer arch over them). These conifers need clipping each year, and this task fell to the Undergardener. Well, there he was with a ladder propped against the arch when there was a sickening crack, and it collapsed below him. It was too late in the year to do anything then, so it was decided that this arch and all the trellis posts would be replaced next Spring. A larger picture can be seen by clicking on it.

Work began on the creation of a pergola to be placed near the bottom of this section of the garden. As winter drew in, it got too cold, so completion was put off until the spring.

The Paved Plant Maze had a Fascicularia bicolor added. The leaves turn bright red in autumn, and a strange blue flower is produced at the centre of each plantlet.

There he was, ensconced as Under-gardener, when a call came - would you like some part-time paid work for about 3 months? He thinks that doesn't sound too bad an idea, so became partially un-retired.

Near the House had no additions to beautify it more.

The Top Garden had the trellis posts replaced. The Rose Arch repair was started, then whilst going to the house He looked back and wondered - "is there any point? the conifer arch looks better without the arch." So that job evaporated, the roses are now trained into the conifers, where they grow up to 4metres before flowering.

The pergola build had got as far as completing the roof (obviously I built the roof before considering and supporting structure). This had lain around, upside down, on the patio all winter, and looked like a boat. so the pergola became known as The Boat. This was completed, planted and had a Humulus lupulus 'Aureus' (Golden Hop), and a Lonicera planted against it. An Araujia sericifera, supposedly borderline tender, has since been added, it now climbs into a weather vane and causes confusion in the wind-direction, probably accounts for the strange summers at Barum.

The Paved Plant Maze showed the beginning of the Salvia craze. This began with: patens, microphylla and confertiflora.

Beyond Civilisation had some shrubs added - Salix matsudana 'Tortuosa' (twisted willow) - her choice to try and grow a willow on this soil. A Crinodendron patagua was added - this started flowering in 2001, and we got some viable seed in 2003 - well done under-gardener. A Deutzia scabra 'Plena' and a Buddleja davidii 'Black Knight'.

The "3 month" part-time job continued, so we had a holiday in northern Tenerife, and discovered a new world of plants, including Aeoniums and other succulents that fail to survive outside in this part of the country - not on account of the cold, they succumb to the cold damp of our winters.

Near the Househad nothing done, although the concrete slab was beginning to annoy. When it gets done, it will be added to this ramble.

The Top Garden had an Acer griseum added, and we started to train the Rhodochiton along the horizontal branches of the Cornus controversa. The Cornus alternifolia 'Argentea' was found a proper home - in the lawn near the house. This had been shunted around the garden, by the Head-gardener, shoving it in between shrubs in the Paved Plant Maze where it was throttled. This naturally involved the Under-gardener in another quarrying exercise! A larger picture can be seen by clicking on it.

The Paved Plant Maze contained a scruffy conifer, and we mutually agreed (a rare event) to have it out. This created space for the Acacia baileyana 'Purpurea' to be planted out, allowing its roots to spread - it had been kept potted, and sheltered, for a winter to give it a chance to mature. A Stipa gigantea was also planted.

Some Cannas and Hedychiums were added, they seem to survive the winter here, but we have been digging up the Cannas and storing in winter for the last couple of years to encourage them to flower earlier in the season - plant forcing at Barum? More Salvias were purchased.

Beyond Civilisation had nothing done - the Under-gardener just visited it frequently, to admire his work from the previous year.

We returned to the same area of Tenerife - Puerto de la Cruz - because the Under-gardener had succumbed to the dreaded flu that was about last year, so only managed half the holiday. This time we went for 2 weeks, with one week being dedicated to a Saga Gardening Special Interest holiday. How did this improve the garden - hardly at all, but it was great fun.

The Front Garden has not had a look-in in this diatribe. But, when the side-fence nearly collapsed after one of those Bristol Channel windy nights, the Head-gardener decided that it would be a good idea to break up the path by the fence, and extend the adjacent bed to the boundary - "Yes dear, of course, anything you say, dear". So, once the fence had been repaired, up came the path - 2 tons of concrete and 2 tons of hardcore. " We need some soil now, we'll take it from the veg patch - you've got too much there!" So, 10 barrow loads of the most valuable soil in the garden had to be shovelled up, and transported UP the garden to support her new project.

The bed was planted up with a couple of Phormium (Jester and Evening Glow) acquired for elsewhere in the garden; a Hibiscus 'Blue Bird' (rescued from the Top Garden where it was being suffocated); a Correa 'Marians Marvel'; a Choisya 'Sundance' planted to lighten up an area under an old conifer; and a Chimonanthus praecox. The remainder of the bed was tidied up, but nothing was added: Roses that were here when we moved in - they are small floribunda type and seem to do well on this soil; A Cercis siliquastrum (snuck in by the Head-gardener, despite there already being one in the Top Garden); a Yucca filamentosa 'Variegata'; and other herbaceous stuff that is unidentifiable to this author, especially in January. A larger picture can be seen by clicking on it.

Near the House had a strawberry pot added, containing a collection of Aeonium plants (Aeonia?).

The Top Garden had nothing done at all!

The Paved Plant Maze had flowers on the Acacia baileyana in January. The Trachycarpus fortunei flowered for the first time in May. We have now discovered that these are sexed - ours is a male so it does not produce any berries - amazing what there is to learn.

Beyond Civilisation had more spring bulbs added.

Near the House the concrete continues to annoy and frustrate, but as it does not annoy the Head-gardener, it is at the bottom of the priority list.

The Top Garden was affected when the Cercis siliquastrum was blown down in the storm in October; this was evidence of the problem of planting trees on this very light soil - they can only survive if their roots manage to penetrate the underlying rock. We replaced it with an Acer davidii 'George Forrest'. There was no need to buy another Cercis, there is another in the front garden - bought and planted without this author's knowledge or approval.

The Acacia dealbata was truncated - it had been planted in a very protected position - under a Yew as it was believed to be of marginal hardiness in this area. However, it had outgrown the Yew - reaching at least 15metres, and, owing to its position, was leaning away from the Yew so that it looked ungainly and dangerous. It had to be lowered, this was done in stages as there was a lot of wood to remove, and we had not decided how much to take off. There is a page dedicated to this event at Truncated Acacia dealbata.

The Paved Plant Maze had paving made from natural stone that was de-laminating badly in places. So, the edict went out to all (the Under-gardener) that it was time to dig up more path and replace it with crazy paving. Crazy paving is no longer available, as it is too cheap and no-one stocks it any-more. That did not deter Barum, one day wandering around a builders merchant we came across a pile of broken slabs dumped in a corner - waiting to be added to some landfill site. Under interrogation, they agreed to deliver some to us, provided we paid for the delivery - £20. Later that week a large lorry appeared with a complete pallet, about 6 tons, of chipped, cracked and broken slabs - 3 times the amount we thought we needed. Work started in September, and a section around the greenhouse - about 12metres long was completed before the winter monsoon started.

Beyond Civilisation had nothing done.

What's that got to do with the garden? Lots, as it happens. The Under-gardener had innocently said that the Head-gardener would love to make the nuptial cake - amazing talent she has, she was formally trained into catering, and used to dish up the most fabulous nosh until she got hooked on gardening - now its a quickly thrown together meal, at dusk, "Anything you want before then, get it yourself!"

The problem with the cake was that today's youngsters do not want rich fruit cake, decorated with royal icing - which can be cooked months in advance, and decorated weeks ahead. They wanted rich chocolate sponge, with chocolate butter icing in the middle, and the sides decorated with castellated strips in white chocolate. The Under-gardener was not popular!

• Compromise was slightly possible - the side decoration could be made of fondant icing, even though she had never used the stuff before.
• How are the layers supported on a sponge cake? - wooden or plastic dowels shoved into the cakes.
• How long before the wedding can chocolate sponge be made? - 3 weeks if frozen after cooking.
• How much decoration is possible before transportation across the country, in a car, in the August heat? - all but the side decoration.
• How easy is fondant icing to use? - initially a disaster, then some was found at Sainsbury which worked fine.
• Is it possible to get space in the hotel kitchens to finish the decoration? - yes, but this was denied when we arrived, until a lovely lady said "Yes".

The Happy Couple

The Cake

After all the sleepless nights, the cake was made, transported, decorated, presented, cut, eaten and she was applauded - it was good.

Meanwhile in the garden, we only opened twice in May and June, so we had time to panic about the wedding.

We had a very cold winter here, the temperature stayed below freezing for about 10 days in January, and we had a very dry, and frosty nights in April.

Later, the hottest summer we have experienced here. This caused unknown stress to the plants with many leaves just drying up and falling off. But, amazingly, the Acers and Liquidamber gave the best autumn colour ever.

The Top Garden had its Euonymous alatus killed by frost.

The Magnolia grandiflora had a branch that was burnt by the spring frost, which spread across the rest of the crown during May and June. I chopped it all off to the trunk in July, but by August new growth was sprouting - we thought it may survive but we removed the stump in 2004.

The space left by the M. grandiflora was used to enhance the fern bed.

The Paved Plant Maze had the Iochroma australe cut back to the roots, by spring frost, after had started to leaf-up. We feared the worst, but by August it had recovered and grown to about 1metre - it even had a few flowers in September, it normally flowers in June.

We also finished the paving round the greenhouse, preparing the way for Aeoniums.

Beyond Civilisation had a very bad drought, looked very sad, but the Crinodendron patagua produced loads of flowers - it even produced some viable seed.

We did some hard sums and discovered that we had been married 40 years, and there would be a demand in the family to celebrate this fact. This event was celebrated in August when many of the family travelled to join in the festivities - we are very grateful and it was lovely to meet people we hadn't seen for many years. We would like to take this opportunity of thanking our neighbour, Tony, for these photos.

This event prompted the creation of another cake. This one is a cut-down version of our original wedding cake, so there was no external pressure regarding the design - the husband may make some suggestions, but his influence is zero. Please note - the ladle in the foreground is really stainless steel, and not tarnished silver.

Meanwhile, back to the garden

We tried a change in the garden openings - moved them to Thursdays. We enjoyed it.

We also entered a competition organised by the local BBC news programme (Points West). To our amazement we were runner-up in the 'Old Avon' area, and won a prize - wow. The prize was immediately spent by the Head-gardener, with the Under-gardener complying - naturally.

We also lost our old dog Max - our favourite - a Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier. The decision was made to get a replacement in September - his name is Barney - to be a friend to our other Wheaten - Rosie. There are now some pictures of our Wheatens , accessed from the Navigator bar of the web site. We had forgotten about the destructive energy of a puppy - he has a favourite trick of collecting plant labels from around the garden, so we expect all our visitors in 2005 to assist us in identifying our plants - particularly the various Clematis.

The Front Garden had one Phormium (Jester) removed. It was replaced with a smaller variety (Flamingo), in a different position, also a new variety P 'Alison Blackman' was purchased (money taken from the Veg. patch profits) and planted in the same bed.

Near the House the concrete slab has still not been replaced, Ruby wedding to blame, but we still need to agree a suitable surface.

The Top Garden had the fernery extended after removal of the Magnolia grandiflora which had succumbed to the winter of 2002 - 2003 and was finished off by the drought of 2003. Also sat down and have several large gins.

The Paved Plant Maze had the repaving job completed, and a low retaining wall built across the width of the garden - very posh!

The shed floor bearers had decayed. So it was emptied, jacked up and replacement tantalised bearers slid into place alongside the old ones - it's now 50mm higher. A good job well done!

The Aeoniums, were planted out.

Beyond Civilisation had more bulbs added.

The Head Gardener, together with the Under Gardener, of Barum can no longer claim to do all the work in this garden. In September 2004 we took on an apprentice. A larger picture can be seen by clicking on it.

His initial training was during the fallow season, so his unrivalled enthusiasm for digging has been utilised to the full. The lawn is his latest target, we like to believe that he is attempting to eradicate the Chafer grub menace – optimistic to the last.

He has proved extremely effective at pruning, but his precision needs some improvement – in particular the accuracy of cuts; the correct time to prune; and whether or not it is necessary to hack anything off at all – especially when it involves pulling the plant out by its roots.

He is displaying great enthusiasm, frequently excessive, in getting to his place of work. This has resulted in several short-cuts being developed across previously well-tended bed. Intense training, assisted by barriers is slowly improving this situation. However, the direct route is still preferred.

His most successful project has been learning the names of the plants – especially Clematis. Unfortunately he has interpreted this section of the syllabus as an instruction to collect any label pushed into the ground near a plant and deliver it to the house; normally he has chewed over the label, and is in danger of inwardly digesting the plant name in the learning process. Consequently, the Head Gardener now has no idea of which Clematis is which (amazing but true).

Barum therefore invites our visitors to let us know the name of any Clematis they spot – we might even have the label in his collection pot.

The Front Garden has had some pruning applied. Most dramatic has been some radical pruning of a conifer that was interfering with the main electricity supply to the house, and providing a route to the roof for squirrels. The intent was to trim the new growth back, but access problems resulted in the whole of the green bits being removed. This looked a mess, so more was removed until only a skeletal sculpture remains. This has a truncated form of a Clematis alpina and Rosa 'Madame la Carrier' draped artistically about it. We may now see the flowers from these plants - it was only visible to the local low-flying gulls (and an occasionally passing squirrel). Wonder if it will re-sprout??

Near the House the Dregea sinensis was brutally pruned back (4metres removed) - it was covering the patio making it very dark and dusty to sit under. This was very brave, since nowhere have we found any advice other than 'gently tickle with a blunt pair if secateurs'! One of the Lonicera had similar treatment, but we had no qualms about hacking this back.

The Top Garden had little brave activities carried out. Some of the Echium pininana exceeded themselves - so much so that there is a separate page illustrating their progress. Just click here.

The Paved Plant Maze had more Aeoniums planted out as the bed developed.

Beyond Civilisation had more bulbs added - mainly small daffodils this time. Also hacked off one section of the Crinodendron patagua - to encourage it to form into a more slender tree - it was getting difficult to walk past.

Yes it's true - we are now a Grandmother!! Luca Charles Owen Peacock was born on the 22nd September 2006 to Monica Peacock at Kingston Hospital - Stephen Peacock was in attendance. He weighed 9lb (what a lump). The Grandmother is highly chuffed, and regrets that we live so far away. The picture on the right shows a 3 month old bouncing boy weighing 15lbs. These baby bouncers are fabulous devices: They strengthen legs; Use up energy; Result in a quieter life for parents. A larger picture can be seen by clicking on it.

However, there has been some activity in the garden, enough space has been taken up on our pride and joy, we must expound upon our successes / failures in the realm of horticulture.

The Front Garden had more Clematis planted around the conifer statue (a conifer that was defoliated in 2005 since it was interfering with our overhead electricity supply cable). The bed has become much more balanced since - the conifer was causing several plants, in its shade, to grow in a distorted way.

Near the House the Dregea sinensis recovered well from its brutal pruning, and produced a wonderful display, it is possible that it has produced some viable seed. A vast trellis was built for the back of the house wall, replacing a mesh of wires which inadequately supported the plants that clamber around this area.

The Top Garden had a pair of Viburnum tinis removed, it was deemed that these were nothing more than a mess, and the removal job only inflicted 2 hernias upon the Under Gardener. These have been replaced by a Freylinia lanceolata and a Griselinia littoralis 'Variegata'.

Another bed was devastated by the gale on 2nd December which smashed over our Grevillea 'Olympic Flame', which had grown to 2.4m - this is a great loss. We have resolved to rehash this whole bed next year, the results will dutifully presented in these pages.

The Paved Plant Maze progressed as most of the Aeoniums survived a long hard winter.

Beyond Civilisation had some more spring bulbs (daffs mainly) planted, hope they survive the excessive drought we had this year.

This Web site was temporarily relocated, but the different ISP added its own adverts. Problem solved in 2007.

The wet created a completely different garden from normal:- roses were worth growing, ferns did not sag, Japanese anemones grew to 5ft tall and produced flowers that did not droop. The arid lovers did nothing but grow. Since everything has put on vast amounts of growth this year we spent much of the Autumn cutting back to minimise damage from Autumn / Winter gales.

The Front Garden had some dramatic clearance carried out:-

• A Viburnum tinus with some disease in the upper-storey was cut to the ground. This is not the end of it since there is a lot of new sucker growth coming up round it. This will produce a more shrubby form.
• There was a Tamarix growing through the Viburnum. This had to suffer a similar fate, hopefully this will recover.
• A Berberis darwinii was also hewn back.

This has provided much more light for the under-storey planting. But more importantly it gives the Head Gardener a much better view down the road - she needs to be able to check up on the activities in the street!

Near the House had no particular activity applied.

The Top Garden was affected by a vicious storm on the 2nd December 2006. This blew over our Grevillea alpina 'Olympic Flame', which had grown to 2.4m - this is a great loss. We resolved to rehash the bed, which was getting congested, but could not rip out everything since there are some mature plants that are unlikely to move successfully e.g. a Magnolia 'Susan' and a variegated Ilex.

This made the re-design more complicated (especially as Barum does not "do design"). The Management Committee (the Head Gardener plus one large gin) met to produce a recovery plan. The Committee produced its plan, and summoned the Under Gardener (with a cup of weak tea). He was given his instructions:-

• "Rip out the remains of the Grevillea". This has been replaced by a Grevillea rosmarinifolia, moved from elsewhere in the garden.
• "Rip out those two climbing roses, they look a mess here". They flowered well. One of the roses ( R 'Pink Bells') was binned. The other (R 'Gypsy Boy' now called R 'Zigeunerknabe' - unpronounceable) was moved further down the garden where it could clamber through a Fuchsia magellanica 'Alba' and an old apple tree. (see "The Paved Plant Maze" below).
• "Hack back the Callistemon citrinus 'Splendens' (Bottle Brush)". This remains hacked back. The Head Gardener claims it is recovering well.
• "Leave the Pittosporum tenuifolium 'Tom Thumb' alone, I am going to renovate it". This had become too large, they need pruning annually to achieve the desired shape - it doesn't break from old wood easily. However, the Head Gardener knows this to be rubbish - she had seen new shoots growing in the centre. She hewed a window in one side to enlighten these shoots, and gave the rest of the plant a haircut, Here is a picture. The obvious question: "Why not just replace it?" is too easy for Barum, we get great enjoyment in proving the learned literature wrong.

Here is a view of the work to June 2007.

The Clerodendron tricotomum now has plenty of space, and there is still a large amount of bare soil. A Pittisporum 'Garnettii' and an Acca sellowiana have been planted. Much more is planned.

Someone will be called upon to construct some frames to replace the Apple tree that supported the Clemates (plural?) and Rosa 'Gypsy Boy'.

Since this destruction, it has occurred to the Under Gardener that a Worcester Apple is a prolific pollinator - hope we still get some fruit from the Cox - the only Apple in the garden that earns its keep.

The Aeoniums continued to progress well, as reported on their own page.

Beyond Civilisation had nothing particular added, so a short description of this area is called for:

Barum strives to stay at the cutting edge of tasteless design; this section is dedicated to that ideal. It has been inspired by the numerous make-over programmes that convert a wonderful natural garden, into a building site, and eventually into an advert for expensive debris tastelessly dumped around a few very expensive specimen plants. Here, we have attempted to re-create the wonder that those people have destroyed.

However this is not just a wilderness, just a bit unruly. It has plants, which include a Salix matsudana “Tortuosa”; Deutzia scabra “Plena” and Crinodendron patagua (flowers most of the summer). These are under planted with naturalised Primroses (that are endemic in this garden), and many Daffodils.

There is also an island bed containing a Phormium tenax “Purpurea”, Stipa arundinacea and the ever-spreading Japanese Anemone.

The area is roughly mowed twice a year with a whirling blade, encouraging the unkempt appearance.

This Web site has now been successfully relocated, better make best use of the increased space offered.

We opened the garden on 3 sequential Thursdays: May 29th, June 5th and 12th.The weather was generally kind, as were the comments from our visitors. More information on the weather can be found on the Weather Page.

The Front Garden

The Viburnum tinus, Tamarix and Berberis darwinii that were ruthlessly hewn back last year are all recovering well.

More importantly, the Head Gardener's improved view down the road is much appreciated. Now, nothing happens here without her knowing.

A wild Bee Orchid appeared among the gravel of the front drive. The Undergardener was dispatched to grovel in the gravel to get this picture.

Near the House

No particular activity.

The Top Garden

The bed that was renovated in 2007 following the storm of Dec 2006 is recovering well. Here is a picture taken in May 2008 (sorry about the Forget-me-nots).
The renovation of the Pittosporum tenuifolium 'Tom Thumb' has been completed. The renovation has been captured in a separate page.

In another bed there is an old apple tree. This decided to sprout a couple of pieces of Mistletoe a few years ago. This December it has produced some berries. I've had my eye on that tree for firewood ever since the gas prices started to escalate, another fruitless idea.

The Paved Plant Maze

The Greenhouse bed is where the Aeoniums and other succulents are planted. This had some dramatic reworking this year as reported on their own page.

The Narrow Bed had a Liriodendron tulipifera. This was planted about 10 years ago and was growing very well. It was decided that it was getting too big and casting too much shade. Furthermore, it won't flower for another half century. It had to be removed - another hernia.

The Cordyline Bed had an Abies koreana growing into the plant next door, and looking scruffy. "Out", she cried. The remainder of the bed is still being re-organised.

The Tricotomum Bed had a mammoth renovation last year, which was reported in 2007. Here is a follow-up from this work:

• The frames to support the Clemates (plural?) and Rosa 'Gypsy Boy' have still not been built. This is disgraceful!!
• The Worcester Apple was dug up. We were concerned since this variety is a prolific pollinator. No problem - the Cox produced its normal crop.

The Veg Patch

Please see the Veg Page.

Beyond Civilisation

The Raspberry plants and the Victoria plum tree are planted in the Fruit cage, and the crops have been dropping off during the last few years. The Headgardener pointed the finger of guilt at an old Sophora tree, some boughs overhung the cage, cutting out the light.

A couple of boughs were pointed out to the Undergardener; "Have them off!" she screamed.
"What about the Honeysuckle that is strangling it?" "Get it off!"
"What about the the rose 'Madame Alfred Carriere'?" "That must not be harmed!"
"What about the old dead Laburnum trunk, that is supporting the Rose?" "Remove it, without harming the rose!"

• The Sophora boughs were sawn off from the top a long ladder - Well done that man.
• The strangling Honeysuckle was extracted using a long arm pruner, and a lot of pulling whilst standing at the top of the ladder. There was miles of it! The roots were also dug out - Another spinal transplant.
• The Laburnum trunk was dug out, carefully. No damage was done to the Rose - Brilliant!

However, when the Undergardener was lowering the ladder, it slipped. It fell perfectly on top of the rose, breaking it at 9inches above the ground - Whoops!
"Worry not" dear reader, within one month new growth could be seen.

We opened the garden on 3 sequential Thursdays: July 16th, 23rd and 30th. It poured throughout the first opening, but was fine for the other two. The visitors were wonderful. The thumbnail gives a view of the top part of the garden in August. As usual a larger image can be found clicking on the thumbnail.

Introduction

What a Winter, reported as the coldest winter for 30years. At Barum the cold started at the beginning of December and didn't let up until the middle of February. The coldest temperature was −7°C, in January. Snow remained until the middle of February, then it started to warm up slowly.

The Winter was sufficiently noteworthy for the RHS to run a hardiness survey. Naturally Barum had to contribute, which is included on this website.
The RHS planned to publish the results in 2010, but since the 2009-10 Winter was even harder they have repeated the survey.

More information on the weather can be found on the Weather Page.

We lost many of our more delicate plants, particularly the Aeoniums and Lampranthus. We even lost some plants and cuttings overwintered in the frost-free greenhouse. Replacements were needed, so, at the end of May, we trotted off to join our daughter for a few days in Cornwall, our favourite plant hunting county.

The trip started wonderfully, but had a nasty sting in its tail.
We visited 4 garden centres on the first day and relieved them of a lot of stock.
The following evening the Headgardener slipped off the side of a slab bridge and twisted her knee sufficiently badly to detach a cruciate ligament together with a bit of bone.
We spent the following day at 2 hospitals. At 5pm a surgeon was dragged out of his theatre to give the benefit of his experience. The surgeon began to indicate that she was "an interesting case" (manifesting itself in the surgeon's eyes – they reflect a scalpel being honed), This caused panic to rise in Marian. By this time She could straighten her leg (probably thanks to the painkillers), and He was instructed to "Get me out of here", so off we went as fast as the wheelchair could be pushed.

The next day the pain had sufficiently subsided for Her to instruct the Undergardener "Head West" for the 5 garden centres we knew would stock interesting plants. Luckily, we found all but one provided wheelchairs.

Next day we travelled home with the rear seat of the car crammed with plants, and the boot filled with Barney Wheaten and our bags. Upon arrival we reported to our GP and got directed to the Weston hospital "bone repair shop". The hospital stated that we were wise to run away from the over-enthusiastic surgeon. They recommend "rest and exercise in appropriate proportions", where the term "appropriate" depends upon the individual's pain threshold!

The knee is still improving, but will never be as good as before – she still cannot kneel; not that the Undergardener often demands such signs of submission. If fact, now he does the kneeling - "and about time too" say all our friends.
She has had to tolerate many frustrations during her enforced idleness:-

• "Don't pull that one up – its a Delphinium!"
• "Pull up the green one – and make sure you get all the roots out." "Which one, dearest?" "That one over there, stupid."
• "Plant the red flowered one there, and the yellow one just to the left of the stone." "But they haven't any flowers." "Just look at the label!"
• "Don't tread there, I planted some Hedychium there last year." "They're dead then." "You can't be sure!"
• "Prune the roses down there." "Which ones?" "Any that need it." "How hard?" "Until they look right."
• "Gin?" "You haven't finished yet."

After this experience, maybe the garden should be renamed "The Old Crockery".

Despite this there have been some development in the garden.

The Front Garden

At long last, the Yucca Gloriosa 'Variegata' flowered, it had been overshadowed by the Viburnum that was hacked back in 2007. The Yucca filamentosa 'Variegate' also flowered. As usual a larger image can be found clicking on the thumbnail.

Near the House

This includes a raised bed, protected by the house.

An Abutilon megapotamicum 'Variegatum' which had put on a lot of leggy growth. This was caught by the frost, making it very messy. It genus does not recover well if old wood is cut into. The Headgardener completely removed the long branches, leaving some new shoots growing from the base. These have grown well and produced a lovely crop of flowers.

A Trachelospermum jasminoides 'Variegatum' that had been trained over a trellis on the house wall. This had become too rampant, exceeding the range of the trellis. This is a pig to prune - it exudes a milky sap that ruins clothes. So the Headgardener found the loppers and hacked it off at base. After a few weeks it was deemed dead enough, and the Undergardener was ordered up a ladder to detach the dead shoots from the trellis. This was tricky since it had intertwined with a Rosa banksiae, which must not be damaged.

All the Lampranthus on this bed were killed. The new Cornish plants have been planted out - mostly in pots. A few managed to show some flower.

In another bed a Cestrum 'Newellii' was cut by half (about 1.2m). This was left until signs of recovery were evident (June) before we cut out the dead, had a gin and hoped. This has recovered, and even had some flowers - in September!

The Top Garden

As mentioned last year, an old apple tree decided to sprout some Mistletoe which produced some berries in December 2008. Here is a photo of them taken in December 2009. The few berries is a bit disappointing - the local flock of blue tits find them irresistible. As usual a larger image can be found by clicking on the thumbnail.
The renovation of the Pittosporum tenuifolium 'Tom Thumb' has been completed. The process has been captured in its own page. The thumbnail gives a view of the bed containing Tom Thumb at the beginning of August. As usual a larger image can be found at clicking on the thumbnail.
Following a very idle holiday in Menorca with grandson and his parents, it was deemed the Undergardener was adequately refreshed to be set to work on a project that had been developing in the Headgardener's mind during her enforced idleness:- "The Rhamnus has got too big, and the Garrya is looking a mess (Winter wind burn). These must be removed." The job only took about a week to complete and the Undergardener's back will get better as soon as he stops wingeing. The thumbnail gives a view of the newly planted bed after all the Undergardener's hard work, that gave the Headgardener a glow of satisfaction. The planting in this bed, from left to right, is:- Acer griseum, Enkianthus campanulatus 'Hiraethlyn', a Rhododendron hybrid, Acer shirasawanum 'Aureum' and Crinodendron hookerianum. The 3 smaller plants are the new ones. All had been planted in pots because they are supposed to need an acid soil, and they had become exceedingly pot-bound. The A griseum and C hookerianum have thrived in this bed for many years and they are also supposed to prefer an acid soil. This side of the garden has rusty looking chalk "stones", which I suspect indicates the presence of iron in the underlying rock, enabling acid lovers to survive there. As usual a larger image can be found by clicking on the thumbnail.

The Paved Plant Maze

The Greenhouse bed has had such an exciting time that it also has its own page.
The Clerodendron tricotomum has grown magnificently. In fact it is now so tall that it is hard to fully appreciate the flowers / berries. During the Winter (2008-09) we gave it a light pruning, just to see if it would recover. It did, and the new growth was strong with many flowers. That has given us confidence to give it a harder pruning in early 2010 so that we can enjoy the wonderful show.
The top picture, taken in May, shows the trellis erected in Autumn 2008 and the pollarded Acer negundo 'Flamingo' just beginning to leaf up.
The lower picture, taken in August, shows Crinodendron tricotomum in flower. The the Acer negundo 'Flamingo' is now being strangled by a Clematis 'Royal Velours'.
The Cordyline Bed had the Deutzia 'Mont Rose' relocated as well as adding yet another Clematis. The remainder was left undisturbed.

The Veg Patch

This is reported on the Veg Page under 2009.

Last year an old Sophora tree had three boughs removed, and this year the Raspberry plants and the Victoria plum tree have fruited much better since they have got a lot more light.

We also heard that if late fruiting varieties of raspberries (we grow Joan J) do not have all their stems cut to the base each Winter, those that are left will give an early crop on the old stems, as well as the normal late crop on the new stems.
So we completely cut back about 2/3rds of the stems, and only cut off the top foot from the others. We got two good crops. After the early fruiting, I cut out the early and gave the plants a high potash feed.

Beyond Civilisation

The Winter severely burnt the Crinodendron patagua, hard to recognise it as an evergreen. The photo was taken in March, and leaves a lot to be desired – in the front are some branches of a Weigela, and the light green in the background is a conifer further up the garden. Once new growth started the Undergardener removed the dead wood. The result was a very unsightly tree. After much thought, and a couple of gins, he pollarded the main trunk and tied some side shoots, growing from the base to the main stem. At the moment this looks strange. If the main trunk does not re-sprout it will be removed and the side shoots left to make a new tree. Otherwise the side shoots will be removed. You will be kept informed - maybe it will sprout its own page! As usual a larger image can be found clicking on the thumbnail.

Rosa 'Madame Alfred Carriere', that got broken last year, has had its new growth destroyed by the local passing deer - who says they should be culled?

Website Changes

The following additional pages have been added:

• The Winter Damage Survey written;
• The Clematis are now identified;

The following pages have been significantly enhanced:

• Tracking the development of the Greenhouse bed, replaces the report about succulents;

Introduction

We opened the garden on 3 sequential Thursdays: June 24th, July 1st and 8th. The weather was dry for all our openings. As normal, the visitors were wonderful. The thumbnail gives a view of the top part of the garden in early June, anyone wanting to examine any image in greater detail has only to click on the thumbnail.

Headgardener's Knee

The Headgardener's damaged knee improved during the year, but will never be as good as before, this has resulted in Barney having to go to a professional haircut shop, naturally the Undergardener pays. The first picture shows him in snowboots last January, and the other one after a very posh hairdo in early May.

Luca is now 4.

We had a lovely few days with them in the New Forest in August, when we visited a Theme Park, like you do. The Grandmother made him a Dalek cake for his 4th birthday. He was introduced into the magic of sparklers when they came down for Guy Fawkes.

Meanwhile in the Garden

The Weather

The previous Winter was bad, but this was a lot worse. The first frost wasn't until early December, and we had snow in mid December, and another dose in January. In January we recorded the lowest temperature since we moved here in 1991: −8°C, not cold for the UK, but this is balmy Clevedon.
It was the coldest winter since 1962-3, when I, a callow youth, commuted between Barnet (Herts) and Rochester (Kent) each week on a Vespa − very chilly.

This Winter was long, as well as hard − it remained continuously cold until April with the wind stuck in the North. In early Spring there was very little cloud cover so the day temperatures were warm, and very cold at night, with the wind in the North. So the plants put out a lot of delicate new growth only to be shrivelled off by the night frost.
We lost more of our more delicate plants, even some in the "frost-free" greenhouse, the heater was not up to the job.

Normally this ramble only addresses the Winter at the start of the year, but this year it had a special treat at the end − 50mm snow at the end of November that laid for about a week; then 80mm in mid December that gave us a white Christmas. The blobbed yew made a very festive subject on Christmas Day. Guess who has to trim this overgrown Xmas pudding each year? Yes, we had to stay at home for Christmas, on our own − first time ever.

The RHS was so impressed by this weather that they repeated their hardiness survey. Naturally Barum had to get involved, and our contributions to both reviews are included on this website. The RHS now plan to publish the results in 2011.

We have been recording the weather in greater detail during this year.

The Front Garden

A pine that the Headgardener thought would look good by the front wall was decapitated to a 2m post. The Undergardener was immediately instructed to build a trellis box round the stump, and another Clematis and a Solanum was planted at its base. The trellis had to extend beyond the top of the stump so that She could sit a pot on top, planted up with Trailers e.g. Rhodochiton.

Near the House

An Abutilon megapotamicum 'Variegatum' which had been cut back last spring, took another bashing, but was not killed. It was tidied up, and produced some new growth from the base − it even produced a few flowers in late Summer.

The replacement Lampranthus, bought from Cornwall last year, had been split − some were planted out and some were kept in pots. Those in pots survived the Winter, along with the inevitable cuttings. But since the Spring was so late very few gave a decent show of flowers.

The Cestrum 'Newellii' was again cut back badly. Its recovery was so messy that it was dug out. It will be replaced by Cestrum roseum 'Linacullin', which is still in a pot. We were caught out by the unexpected late November Snow, and it had not been put under cover − it is now (Dec 2010) under cover. Let's hope it survives.

The Top Garden

Glorying in Last Year's success

Last Year's efforts to plant out some acid lovers: Acer griseum, Enkianthus campanulatus 'Hiraethlyn', a Rhododendron hybrid, Acer shirasawanum 'Aureum' have settled in very well, The left picture is after planting (September 2009), and the other was taken in early June 2010.

Dead Photinia

This bed had a Pittosporum 'Irene Patterson', the pride of this bed, planted on the corner as a sentinel. There was also a Photinia 'Red Robin' and an old Salvia microphylla. These had all grown together as shown in the left photo (June 2007). Owing to the hard Winter and persistent cold Spring winds, the Photinia 'Red Robin' died. The Salvia had grown leggy and had been twined into the Photinia. It became obvious that restorative hewing and digging was needed − both the Photinia and the Salvia had to go, but what about the Pittosporum? It was 3m high (pruning department failure). .The committee met (The Headgardener and a large gin) and decided that the Pittosporum had to go − it was too large and would show a lot of dead wood when the others were removed. So, the Undergardener was summoned, fully fitted with hernia trusses and set to remove all three. This exposed a great openness and a huge rock − Who put it there?, How? Why? What to plant? Naturally there was another Pittosporum 'Irene Patterson', purchased a couple of years earlier and sitting in a pot. Why was it bought? I have no idea − I leave you to imagine. This was planted on the corner. There were couple of Acers loitering in the wings awaiting repotting, these were plonked (artistically) on the bed. Acer palmatum 'Seiryu' (the green one) was placed so that it managed to drape over the rock − very oriental. Acer shirasawanum 'Autumn moon' was placed alongside. The results of all this hard work is shown in the right photo (May 2010). This photo shows that these plants had hidden the covered bench thingy, where gin is partaken and many plants are overwintered, protected by a mesh screen attached to the sides − we lose more plants from cold wet than frost.

Magnolia Removal

Since it was a quiet year for the Headgardener, she had time to prowl the garden looking for some work to load upon the Undergardener. Eventually she came to rest at a bed where she had great success a few years ago − renovating the Pittosporum tenuifolium 'Tom Thumb'. Having decided this was the bed that needed some renovation, the Undergardener was summoned and introduced to her latest plan: Move those rocks out of the way, they are only half sunk into the soil so cannot weigh more than 200Kg; Dig out the Magnolia, it has got too big and shading the Rose and Bottle Brush I squeezed in there many years ago; Dig out the Holly, it is pretty, but making the congestion even worse; Ensure you get all the roots out − I don't want to come across any when I dig planting holes. Replace the rocks in an artistic fashion − as directed, then you can have a gin. I will have one with you and decide what I'm gong to plant! I have shamelessly re-used a picture from last year, since it shows the variegated Holly and the Magnolia she wanted "OUT". The middle picture shows a similar view of the area without these trees. The chair in the middle picture was used by the project's architect to "guide" (shout at) the labour force. The right picture shows the empty space awaiting the Headgardener's wisdom.

The Paved Plant Maze

The Greenhouse bed continues to consider itself too important for this page, it has its own!

Acacia baileyana 'Purpurea

This Acacia baileyana 'Purpureum' used to be one of their favourite plants − producing a mass of bright yellow flowers in Winter to brighten up their dull lives, and my new shoots have very interesting purple leaves. They left me out in the cold, without even a fleece cloak, for the last two Winters. I put on a show in January despite the frost (Left photo). But the remainder of the winter remained cold, taking its toll on my weakened constitution, killing off all my beautiful branches exposed to the brutal North-easterly winds. However, I am not dead yet, by July I had produced prolific new growth along my trunk (middle photo). Just to complete the insult, they even used me as a clothes horse to drape a Rhodochiton atrosanguineum over my damaged limbs (right photo) − what next? All they have to do is give me a sympathetic pruning, wrap me up for the Winter and I will be as good as new.

The Veg Patch

Details of our successes in the realms of food production are reported on the veg pages under 2010.

A Question of Compost

The Undergardener had one of those moments in early September: There we all were walking Barney by the Marine Lake in sunny Clevedon when he noticed a group of men with a digger, dumper truck and a small lorry. They were clearing seaweed that had been thrown onto the footpath by a recent storm / high tide. Tragically, when we were walking back to the car they were unloading the dumper truck into the lorry, and his eyes saw free soil conditioner. The lorry man confirmed he was taking it to the dump, and would be very happy to deposit it in the Undergardener's front garden. This he duly did - magic.
Even though it was a very small lorry, it is amazing how many wheelbarrow loads it holds. Some was spread round the front garden. There was very limited space on the veg patch - too many crops still in the ground. The Headgardener was very sniffy about dumping it upon her prize shrubs.
So the Undergardener had to create a pile in a quiet corner where the birds can enjoy the creepy crawlies that live in beached seaweed. In December the heap is still in place, but has shrunk as it has fermented, the Undergardener will have no problem in shifting this slimy sludge to the veg patch, and the quality of next year's veg will prove he made a very wise decision.

Beyond Civilisation

The Headgardener has taken the name of this section to heart − this year she used it as a dumping ground for all those plants that died or were not up to her standard following the 2 hard winters. The remaining space has been taken over, by the Headgardener, as a depository for the dead and dying− particularly the Dicksonia antarctica which had survived 10 years. I wonder who will recover the pot, INTACT. The island bed was dominated by a Phormium tenax 'Purpurea'. It was cut back to a few sickly shoots − the remnants are now in the "plant recovery ward". This bed has taken on a pretty flowery look!! − will it revert? The Crinodendron patagua, as mentioned last year, was treated to the Undergardener's little electric saw to reduce it to a height of about 2m in late Summer 2009. There was further damage last Winter, but the trunk did break, and by the end of the Summer 2010, it looked almost elegant (why no photo?). There is an old tree at the bottom of the garden that has been referred to as a Sophora. This year it flowered for the first time since we moved here, and we can now confirm it to be a Sophora japonica, two photos below taken in early September.

Website Changes

The following additional pages have been added:

• The Clematis now have their own page with more photos;
• The Vegetables pages have been reorganised;

The following pages have been significantly enhanced:

• Tracking the development of the Greenhouse bed, replaces the report about succulents;
• The enhanced Winter Damage Survey has been added;
• Daily temperature reading are being taken;

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This Page was last updated: 03/02/12