My front garden
Well I've finally got round to it. My front garden may have made up half a page of tittle tattle in one of my least favourite tabloids this year for looking a bit of a mess, but I've finally got round to sorting it out.
The procrastination was actually due to the possibility of creating more space in my house by digging out the basement which would have created a couple more rooms, but meant that we would have had to excavate through the front garden. Having found out how much a good basement job actually costs however (answer- far too much!), and in turn deciding against it, I've redesigned the front garden and have a couple of my landscapers digging out the old wall and paving as I write this. The problem is that overall it has to house 4 bikes (which are currently in the hall and living room), two large wheelie bins (one for green waste and one for rubbish) plus two other recycling boxes! It's only about 4 metres by two metres, so it's a tall ask and all down to clever design. I've hit on the idea of building a wall with a return which will have a large metal tray sitting within it above bike level. This will be planted up and both visually hide the bikes but also act as a mini green roof, meaning I can get some planting into the scheme. I bet the tabloids won't be round when I've finished saying how lovely it is, but hey ho- there you go, they only want bad news and gossip.
© MMIX~RS~q~RS~~RS~z~RS~51~RS~)
Comments
Sign in or register to comment.
Dear Tabloid Journalist,
I must enlighten you as to why Joe's front garden was briefly nowhere near as bad as yours has been for the past ten years.
You see some bloke from Whitley Bay was treated to a surprise visit to the Chelsea Flower Show this year for his birthday by his wife Frankie and he left a small gift for Joe in the form of a book called "Adam the Gardener", which in some way he hoped might amuse and entertain him as he has done for us on his allotment.
This is where the trouble started as the bloke didn't expect Joe to write to thank him and wasn't so presumptious as to leave an address.
Joe, being an all round good egg decided he would like to thank the bloke and wrote him a letter. It then took him an age to locate the bloke with no address to go on and his time would have been better spent sorting the garden.
Anyway the letter was duly sent and co-incidentally arrived yesterday. It's personal and anecdotal and not one of those run-off jobs that some might write. The bloke was well impressed and delighted by the way.
So, dear tabloid journalist it's all my fault for diverting Joe from his task, just so he could take the trouble to thank somebody he didn't know and had never met, when he had every excuse not to bother with no address to go on etc.
Joe's behaviour reminds me of a saying my mother introduced me to as a lad. "Manners maketh man." I don't suppose you've heard of it.
John
Complain about this comment
Ah yes, the problem of the window cleaner's windows.....
My front garden is also the neighbourhood disgrace - overgrown shurubs, weeds galore and crumbling paving. Since the back garden is on public view for much of the year, this is where I have spent my time and energy, and the front has been ignored.
With builders knocking the house around I felt I had an excuse to leave it be - their skip lon the drive looks much worse than the garden! But in January the builders will go and the front garden's time will finally come.
No worries about bikes and bins, but we may have a clash of styles. I fancy something a bit contemporary, hubby fancies a traditional cottage garden. But since I'm the gardener.....
Complain about this comment
Hi Joe!
Any man who works full time and has children needs to be given a chance!
I love my garden, but it takes time! Often my back garden looks better than my front - I think I like the privacy of working there. Family too always come first for any working father.
Dont be bothered about what the papers say - it was not too bad free publicity!!
Keep up the good work. Love the Allotment stuff!
Richard.
Complain about this comment
Hi Joe,
Can't wait to see the photo's of your finished garden. Will you post them here?
Ada
Complain about this comment
A garden like a small child need nurturing, and more attention. Many times as we plant our gardens we find that picking weeds, and such take much of our time, but the outcome of the time youve put into it, will give great joy!
Complain about this comment
Hi,I need help.I am selling plants on ebay and I have just had two plants withdrawn from ebay as they say they are a banned drug so I have breached their policy.The plants in question are salvia hotlips and salvia dots delight.I have tried arguing with them but will not listen.Please help.Anyone.
Complain about this comment
View these comments in RSS