Hoarding - Collecting, it's a fine line

The on-going quest for the garden NOT to look like the backdrop for an episode of Steptoe and Son continues. Not only is the garden looking similar to the programme, I seem to be looking more like Wilfred Bramble’s character Albert Steptoe the older I get. There are a few differences, he has more hair than I do for a start and (as yet) I don’t own a horse and cart. (For those of you too young to remember the programme Google the title to see what I mean. It’s uncanny.

Granite Sets

I have made a decision to make use of some of the accumulated “stock” in the garden and found somewhere to put the granite sets and old hexagonal paving slabs. I don’t think I have mentioned the yellow slabs before. I dug them up last year when I was clearing a space for the polytunnel. They have probably been buried for 30 years but are still miraculously in one piece, they must have used strong cement in those days.  We have an area outside of the back door that would have been planted up at one time and slops down from the lawn. Over the years the ground has slipped and if anything grew in it in the past it doesn’t get a chance now as I just mow it when I cut the rest of the grass. It has only been used as a place where the dogs can site and look longingly into the kitchen window whilst waiting for either a walk or scraps of food to be thrown out of the window. It’s my own waste disposal unit.  I’ve spoken a lot about how to plant on a slope so had a pretty good idea what to do so didn’t see the need to complicate things by making a plan. I am just making it up as I go along.

Two Levels

The slope is steep enough for a couple of levels. I have a row of just two of the old slabs then a row of three high, dark granite sets. There is then a level area about three feet wide before the next level of granite sets go in. This time only two high of the lighter speckled ones. I have done a rough estimate and think I’ll have enough to finish. If not I know where there are some more if I need them. There will be a space next to the wall wide enough for the dogs to poke their noses over into the neighbour’s garden over the dividing wall. Our house isn’t the only place the dogs use their longing puppy dog eyes for food and the neighbour will come out at least once a day with something tasty for them to munch on.

Light Work

The slabs have developed a layer of gunge and greenery but I am not going to clean them up. The house and garden pathways are old and the dirt seems to fit in a bit better. You can pay a lot of money for getting things that look old so they match their surroundings – that’s my excuse anyway. The granite sets are not going to be cleaned either.  

I am not going to cement the slabs, or even put them on a level of sand for that matter. It’s such a small area and because of the shape there will be a small planting hole every two slabs where I can plant herbs for harvesting from the back door and will also give the dogs a softer seating area as I am sure they won’t be long using it. The granite sets will be free standing too as I would like the dry stone wall effect with lots of strawberry plants jutting out of the cracks.  As nothing will be secured into place I can modify, adjust or take the whole thing down when I get bored with looking at it. It’s one step away from having a garden on a pallet where you can move it around to suit. 

Oil Can

What do you do on a sunny morning at the weekend? Last Sunday I spend a few happy hours cleaning up my old rusty oil can and coating it with six layers of clear lacquer. When I say cleaning up I mean brushing it gently with a paintbrush to get rid of any loose flakes of rust and then adding the spray.  The finished effect (I think) looks fabulous and will delay the rusting process for a good few years.  I proudly showed it to Julie and asked her what she thought. 

 

She thinks I ought to get out more.