You see? I do recognise that this is a challenge. Of course, I want it to be sustainable too. So we need some help. I could pick up a spade, dig up everything and plant new stuff from the local nursery all on my own. But there is one major problem. I do not know anything about gardens. Ok. There are other problems too. I do not know anything about plants, or soils or the things I do not even know I do not know about... hmmm, known knowns, known unknowns and other hidden disasters. A title for a book?
I would like to have a mediteranean area of the garden. My parents garden in London had three fig trees the height of the house, a 40 zear old olive tree that produced buckets of olives, a pomegranet tree (bush), lemon geraniums and a pergola covered in grape producing vines. I repeat - In London! All on a patch of land 3 strides (male of 5 feet 10 inches tall) by 6 strides. When I said I would like something like that my wife went white as a sheet. It took me while to realise her first thoughts where the fridge being used as a tool box, the rusty piping and the corregated plastic when I said I wanted a garden like my mum's and dad's.
I make no apologies for wanting a suburban english style to the garden too. It brings back memories of summer holiday parties at friends houses. But a little elaboration. I hate those boxy bland bushes that do nothing. I want a useful garden. Plants that do things. English hedgrows with berries and things that attract birds and that I can eat. The berries, not the birds... well maybe...
Ahhh... and an alpine touch. I do not mean pine trees only. Maybe a rockery with alpine plants.
Turns out that a Japanese part to the garden could be good too.
And a spot for growing things to eat. Runner beans especially. Maybe some asparagus. Definitely herbs, perhaps some fruit trees. Not potatoes. Why bother? Any suggestions for anything else? I know zour thinking that sounds like your missing a kitchen sink, but the misses would never agree to that.
Of course I will need a shed and a green house and a lawn too.
One last important area (apart from a terrace where we can have cocktail parties, and one day, hopefully, in 2012, space for a legendary BBQ competition) an area for a little friend of mine, aged 9, where she can feel and smell the garden... a sensory experience beyond sight.
Imagine walking around the garden from zone to zone. That would be great!
Oh, and a dappled shady bit where I can sit in hot weather and drink cocktails.
Please santa?
No comments:
Post a Comment