First Impressions

~ it looks very nice Andrew and will look very good next year!

I like this area of your garden Andrew, how deep is the border there ?
(sorry if i've asked that before)

Pretty planting, Andrew..
Do you have to qualify every few years to be in the Yellow Book ? What are the rules please ?

Louise - it's more than a border really - the whole of the front garden here is down to plants with just a path through the middle of it. This planting area is about ten feet at its widest point

TT - once you're in the Yellow Book, there are only three ways out (as far as I know).
One is to voluntarily come out (you might be moving house, finding it too much work or any number of other reasons)
Secondly, if the County Organiser starts receiving a lot of adverse comments, he/she will come and take a look and discuus the problem with you and may ask you to leave
Or thirdly, you may go off to the great compost heap in the sky

Ah i see.
I'm looking at it and imagining how i could make my front look this good, i too have a central path but it's much, much narrower than yours.

I have already stolen 50% of the lawn and turned it over to herbaceous planting and am seeing/looking at yours for inspiration !

Thanks Andrew for the explanation...
seems like your garden is guaranteed to stay in the Yellow Book for many years to come :o)

Louise -the area to the left of the gate was originally all grass (apart from a narrow overgrown border just inside the front wall). At first, I just dug a three foot border against the drive.
The next change, after a few years, was to make a curving border, starting at the gate, along inside the front wall, up the side and round to the front door. I also extended the drive border with a sort of circular bit nearest the gate. This left an area of grass shaped like an overgrown comma.
When I became seriously addicted to plants, I put in a gravel path against the outside curving border, and dug up the rest of the grass.
I hope this makes sense!
If you look at my blog from April last year (called EEEKKK!), it gives some idea what I have been trying to explain

TT - thanks (blush)
I try to go round the garden in late summer each year and look at it critically to see which areas could do with improving. It is all too easy to jog along and not notice areas becoming overgrown or overcrowded. Fortunately, the fine autumn this year has helped by allowing me to spend a lot of time ripping things out and moving plants around, not to mention completng my 'Bit on the Side'

bet this will make a big differance andrew and will look great next year, not that it ever looks anything but great lol, keep up the good work :o))

It looks really nice AndrewR. I am now going to have a look at the Eeek blog

You've really improved the area, Andrew. I'm sure you're pleased with your efforts - and your visitors will get a really good first impression, too!

It made a huge difference just taking out the berberis. It remains to be seen if I've got rid of the convolvulus or whether it is as invasive as our native wild ones

Which one is/was it, Andrew? I keep trying to get C. sabatius to stay with me - but I've lost it twice. Yes, I know that's blue! lol.

The pink one is C.althaeoides. I planted it at the base of the berberis thinking "That will look nice when it climbs" and it just took off along the border instead. I've got C.sabatius elsewhere in the garden (on well-drained soil) and have no trouble keeping it but I gave a piece to a friend and she can't keep it going either

Gets my vote Andrew.

I'm looking forward to visiting your garden next year Andrew
I must remember to bring note book and pen as I'm not good at remembering the botanical names of plants

Can I bring my camera?

Sparkle - yes, by all means.
One thing to mention, although I will be around during the open garden, I do tend to get asked a lot of questions by a lot of people. If you would like to go round privately with me, arrange to come on another date and I can give you my undivided attention.

Would love to see it next year, still trying to get ours up and running before we apply, but, keep getting cold feet!!

Thank you Andrew I will get in touch in the spring

Great blog Andrew, its prompted me to have a bit of a re-think on my front garden.

Looks great - and well balanced. With the bed outside the gate blending in it makes a wonderful welcome.

Seems much softer and gently layered: inviting indeed! So glad to hear you have taken out all the lawn. I too have been making the front all flowers & shrubs without grass: less upkeep and more beauty!

It's looking lovely Andrew, I only wish I lived near and could see it in person. I recently bought h. georgia peach, what a colour! :-)

I too would love to see your garden next year. Where are you?

Sarah - I'm at the east end of Berkshire between Ascot and Reading, a few miles off the M3 junction 3