November rain! November rain! Fitfully beating the window pane ~ Ellen Palmer Allerton
I’m midway between planning and planting the back Japanese garden and filtering out the appropriate plants from the front garden collection. And these chilly, endlessly rainy November days are the most appropriate time to itemise what hard and soft landscaping there is already and what might be added. This after all is the main body of the garden – both skeleton and flesh.
Not in the plans however was last week’s catastrophic boiler failure and necessary switch to LPG supply. This meant that the front dais garden was immediate host to a couple of large red cannisters. Not to be too downcast by this eyesore, I upcycled a white wooden louvred screen – a structure quite in keeping with the planned cottage garden theme.
Already in the back garden are some obvious structures, not least the half-built teahouse styled gazebo. Also a greenhouse, boundary hedgings, paved pathways and steps between the different garden levels. There is also a cascade and ponds (awaiting plumbing). Woodland of willow, hawthorn, ash and hazel form the surrounds.
Either side of the interior pathway (through the planned gravelled garden) are a joined pair of metal trellises with a black metal obelisk opposite. These will act as staging posts for seasonal featured plants and will also help to partially occlude the entire garden view.
More hard landscaping on the planned list is a wooden screen to occlude the greenhouse, a new garden gate, as well as ‘clapper’ stile to separate the Japanese from the English woodland part of the garden.
Since the main level of the back garden is raised, narrow fencing has just been put in all along the edging (upcycled roofing struts to be painted black). The evergreen and deciduous hedging in front, includes Sarcococcas, Forsythia ‘Micador’, and two varieties of Japanese euonymus.
When it comes to living structures, trees are the obvious first choice. My two potted Japanese acers will be planted in Spring but already in the soil are a miniature Conference pear and apple tree. The latter, a Worcester Pearmain (I’ve wished for, for years) though partially self- fertile would do better pollinated by another apple.
To that end I’m about to plant a bare root hedge of crab apple (Malus sylvestris) an excellent, compatible pollinator. This ”green architecture’ is also designed to hide the compost heap and further along from it will be another short hedge of native Spindle (Euonymus europaeus).
After trees, shrubs are the next obvious choice for structure and ideal for a potted garden if not going to grow too tall. Thus, a Photinia and two Cotinus will pack the vertical gaps in the front garden whilst more hydrangeas, a Japanese quince, spireas, and rhododendron are planned for the back garden.
Statuesque annuals will then have to pad out the structure until the coffers fill again. And given the wonderful architectural impact of Castor oil plants this year, they are already on the seed wishlist.
A scrolling view of the garden’s bones so far:
Photinia ‘Louise’ for the potted cottage garden 
miniature ‘Conference’ pear 
miniature apple ‘Worcester pearmain’ 
apple and pear astride a trellis for espaliered Japanese quince 
Japanese euonymus ready to plant as hedge 
Sarcococca hedging 
hydrangea Kiyosumi putting down roots 
Castor oil plants -fiery fillers 
woodland surrounds 
雨降って地固まる – Ame futte ji katamaru After the rain, the earth hardens ~ adversity builds character
My Japanesque Garden 
Commiserations over boiler catastrophe. But well screened on the LPG. It’s been lousy gardening weather, hasn’t it. We had about 12 solid hours of rain yesterday. Everywhere goes squelch!
have been busy with BB trying to continue with the Teahouse but rain has stopped play so many times – only half achieved what was planned. Squelch for sure – I live in an area that has Clay in the street name!
Well done for soldiering on – between downpours.
a large working space garage helped some!
Good idea, that LPG hiding place! As usual, I admire your hard work ethic – now that it’s November, raining mostly over here, and having done tons of repairs in the garden this year, we’re all pooped out and are no longer in the mood for extra projects. Can’t wait to see your garden in full splendour once you’re done (although I’m guessing this is a life project…)
thanks Kiki – this is a work in progress which gives me the impetus (and a pain in the back!). I predicted 3 years to get it to something like I envisaged when I first saw the derelict garden’s potential. Often, I make it up on the go as am no good at designing on paper and am eager to start some serious planting in the Spring – if the rain ever stops!
I admire your hard work! Rain and wind have stopped all work in the garden here. I managed to get most of the cutting back done before the weather became really bad and the rest can wait until spring. Winter is a good time to take stock and make plans.
bulbs, seed catalogues, plans and dreams – these are the winter gardener’s jobs but I had so much still to do before the very cold weather comes. Just wish the rain would break for days rather than just hours
Yes. It’s grim this week.
overflowing our brook here but thankfully topping up all the reservoirs