FOXHOLLOW - The Early Years (now and then)

Posted on 6 Nov, 2009 13 comments

Title for the blog is probably a misnomer, as the garden has only been in existence for 11 years. halfway through the blog decided to add a couple of recent photos for comparison and to try and make it a little more interesting. So here are a few pics including some pre – digital ones of how the place looked when we first moved here on the May bank holiday 1998.

This first photo was actually taken in February 1998 when we first viewed the house, and 3 months before we moved in.

This photo was taken in August 2000, and the majority of plants shown have since been replaced.

This photo was taken end October, 2009, from more or less the same position, just a little further forward I would guess.

Looking back down to the far end of the garden from where the first photo was taken, May 1998.

Trench digging the bed to remove the mass of roots from the old Copper Beech (out of picture) 20 metres away to the left, July 2002.

The same view and bed, slightly further back, in September 2009. Although this bed was originally planted up for the first time in spring/summer 2002, and has since been replanted between Autumn 2008 to summer 2009.

Yours truly digging the very first bed in June 1998.

Elevated view from the house back down into the far corner of the garden. June 1998.

More or less the same view, October 2009.

Comments

Seaburngirl

this is a fantastic blog. I am amazed how anyone can visualise the grand scheme of such a wonderfull garden. thanks for sharing bluespruce.

6 Nov, 2009

Skillen

Yes fantastic and very interesting blog. I love to see 'before' and after pics. It shows just how much hard graft has gone into producing such a beautiful garden. You must be so satisfied Bluespruce.

6 Nov, 2009

Hywel

Nice to see how you've changed it over the years. Your hard work has payed off.

7 Nov, 2009

Moon_grower

Great blog.

7 Nov, 2009

Clarice

Enjoyed your blog.

7 Nov, 2009

Drc726

Great to see the changes taking place and its a real achievment in a relatively short time span. You must have incorporated in tons of compost and mulch do you know how much? Do you get more or less disease in this type of garden?

7 Nov, 2009

Pipsqueak

Great blog. Lovely to see how it has changed and developed over the years

7 Nov, 2009

Crazydi

Fantastic Bluespruce....well done on creating such an amazing garden! :)
I really enjoyed seeing the "before" and "after" pics, thanks.

7 Nov, 2009

Ginellie

It looks amazing. I love all the new borders and beds but what I am most impressed with (and envious of) is the change from field to lawn. Having seen yours I will keep working on mine.

7 Nov, 2009

Andrewr

It's always god looking at photos of a place before you started work - gives you the satisfaction of what you've achieved. You certainly got a large plot with the house

7 Nov, 2009

Bluespruce

Thanks all for your comments.
Denise - Yes a lot of compost and mulch over the years, I make my own compost, and all the mulch has come courtesy of tree surgeons until this year when I have had to put my hand in my pocket and buy 30 cubic metres of bark mulch - so far, and it doesn't come cheap. As for diseases, my main problems are fungal (botrytis) on many of the very tight conifers derived from witches' brooms, have to continualy clean out dead needles from within many of the plants.
Ginellie - there has been no special treatment to the grass (don't have the time) just regular mowing, and it's not as good as it looks in the pictures, mainly couch and other assorted weeds.
Andrew - whole plot including house is just over 3/4 acre.

8 Nov, 2009

Annella

How lovely to see the before and after pictures. I didn't have a digital camera when I moved here, did you scan the older ones on? I know what you mean about the lawn too, on closer inspection I have a lot of crouch and other nasties.Making sure the edges are always trimmed makes so much difference.
Very beautiful picture :-)

11 Nov, 2009

Bluespruce

Annella - yes the older photos are not digital, and had to be scanned.
Regular mowing, and as you say keeping the edges trimmed does make a lot of difference no matter how poor the lawn.

12 Nov, 2009

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