End of Month View January 2014

I've been eager to take part in the End of Month View meme hosted by Helen over at The Patient Gardener's Weblog for sometime but could never quite make up my mind on a suitable subject. 

Now that I'm carrying out a wee bit of a rejig at the top of the garden - I think I'd find it useful to record the progress I make and of course I hope you'll enjoy reading about it too!
  
The area in question, as you can see in the picture below, previously housed the garden shed.  It faces south west and should get sun for most of the day.  I say 'should' because as yet, I'm not quite sure how much shade will be cast by moving the shed to the other side of the garden.  Judging by the amount of sun it's getting at the moment, I suspect there will be little shade come late spring.            

Before the move December 2013

The shed was moved mid December and here's a shot of the area, warts and all!  As you can see a bit of clearing up was needed, as well as new trellising.  It was at this point I decided that the trellising that runs the entire length of the garden would be better off raised.  The trellis was an after thought when the fence was replaced and it was easily enough done over a couple of afternoons.  It now gives a good height but at the same time doesn't block the sun from the neighbour's greenhouse - something they were keen not to have happen when I started replacing the fencing a couple of years back.

Shed gone!

Mid January 2014

There is a distinct drop in height between the 2 areas.  I've used log edging as a retainer for the top section.  Best to work with what I've got - rather than to try level out the difference between them.

Part one of this makeover will be to choose shrubs that will eventually hide the fencing.  There are other areas in the garden that are currently a tad over subscribed in terms of planting.  I find I'm never able to judge just how much room a plant needs and therefore end up having to move them way too soon.  I know that I'm not alone in that respect.  I've currently a Buddleia, a Physocarpus and a Hydrangea paniculata that could do with a new home.  I do though want to fill that corner (where the Aucuba currently resides) with the Sambucus nigra Black Lace and Cotinus Golden Spirit struggling away in a pot that really would benefit with it's feet in the ground.

This next shot - taken from a slightly wider angle, gives an idea on where the border will continue from.  I've humphed all those slabs round to the side of the house this afternoon, hence the divits you can just make out in the lawn.  Next job will be too mark out a better shape for the border, move the edging stones and try to figure out how to soften the corner of the deck/steps.    

End of Month View January 2014

It's a long way off being the finished product but I'm excited to just be this far on so early in the year - I really didn't expect to get started on this until March but as the weather has been kind, I'm well ahead of schedule. 

I know many of you have far better vision than I have - Can any of you suggest how I might be able to work a tree into my plans.  I've a Coral Bark Maple - Acer palmatum Eddisbury to be exact that copes with full sun, the area I think/hope should be sheltered enough from the winds by the shed.  It has a mature height of 4m (according to label) so should be short enough not to interfere with the telephone lines.  Of course, if you have suggestions for an alternative tree, I'd love to hear them.  Providing you don't think I'm imposing that is!

Thanks for reading and I hope that by this time next month - I will have made a bit more progress.  Have a good weekend!  Oops, I almost forgot to thank Helen for hosting - so thank you Helen.

p.s. The first snowdrops are just about out.  Well over a month earlier than last year.  It's all good thus far this winter!