Moving Gardens

Hoo-wee!  When moving from one garden to another, especially one that doesn’t actually exist yet- is quite a job..

Means you absolutely  must take your half de-composed compost.  Even if it highly peeves off your man because he’s the one that has to haul it into a fadge bag and then to your new abode (because you, ie. me! are seven months pregnant).

Half de-composed compost

Means you must take cuttings, divisions and whole plants (mainly herbs) out of the garden in the may-as-well-be middle of summer.  Whilst crossing fingers and toes that they’ll actually survive..

Herbs ready to go..

Means you have to sort out all those pots wedged between a hedge and your glasshouse.  But then get so distracted by all the fascinating insects that made their homes in them that it doesn’t actually happen… When you asked your son to do the job!

Piled up I said!

But then… you get to plan a whole NEW garden!

And have fabulous ideas like making a formal herb garden…

“The Chelsea Physic Garden was founded in 1673 by the Worshipful Society of Apothecaries of London as a place of instruction for their own apprentices, it’s riverside location providing easy access by barge from the City of London. This view of the garden was drawn in 1751 and show its carefully planned layout, with individual plots for the growth and study of particular plant species.”
Taken from The Healing Garden by Sue Minter

OK, perhaps not that formal, I don’t have easy access for barge boats anyway!  So here’s my plan.

Only my third sketch so still could change..

The land available to me used to be horse paddocks.  Awhile ago now judging from the height and spread of the grass, dock, broad leaved plantain, clover, weed willow and blackberry.

Thank you my man!

After being weed whacked (with a meaty steel blade) I’ve been able to see the contours of the land.  The weeds tell me that this ground must get quite damp/water logged so I’m choosing to start on the highest ground and putting in beds of herbs that don’t mind wet feet like peppermint and soapwort.

Unlike everybody else stuck in this dry spell I’m really hoping rain won’t come until of at least laid down our flattened moving boxes where my proposed beds are going to go.

It’s like a blank canvas!

Then it’s going to be a build-o-rama of soil on beds.  One of which is going to be an Ugandan Keyhole garden.  More on that next.

I’m excited!