the paddock
The Garden – creating our own bit of paradise
The Paddock – the garden project continued from the initial work by my partner, Daphne.
My contributions started with 4 vegetable beds, in March 2020, as Covid-19, made the world grind to a halt.
As restrictions continued beyond the initial three weeks, the gardening project grew.
Working within the constraints of the site and existing features, the aim is to create a little bit of paradise, for ourselves, a family garden, to feel the glory of nature, to view the beauty of plants and experience the joys of having the beauty of plants all around us.
The work continues…
zones @ the paddock
This is the first part of the garden that I tackled, originally it was four rectangular beds, similar in appearance to graves! After a year of looking at rather uninteresting beds, I decided it was time to make it more interesting. Daphne wanted a space in the middle for practicing yoga, so this was a major consideration. The area is situated at the rear of the house, north facing, but gets good sunshine from March to September, and is probably the most sheltered part of the garden.
In April 2020, the second project, we had restrictions on traveling over 2km from our homes. Additionally, nobody was allowed to visit us.
The weather was sunny, I started with a circle, and removed the grass.
The aim was to create an area to dine outside with privacy, shelter and have lots of nice plants.
In September 2020, we gathered around fire pits, socialising was restricted to outdoor gatherings. We were warm in the front, but cold at the back: I decided to create an area for ‘pitting’, to provide shelter from cold winds.
I wanted an enclosure made from a material with a reflective quality, but not too shiny; galvanized steel sheets, to reflect the orange glow of the fire thereby creating the feeling of being surrounded by warmth of the fire. The planting utilises plants with hot fiery colours and smoky textures and colours.
In Autumn 2021, a new area was created, a challenging project.
Standing tall and proud is the duo of tall wooden pillars connected by steel, tethered to others with along a route of many kilometres by high voltage cables, a pylon!
You can’t hide a pylon with a shrub, like you do with a shed. So we had to work with it, three gabion pillars and paths create a focal point, drawing the eye from the ugly monstrosity.
This area is a low maintenance garden with an eclectic mix of planting featuring mediteranean-style plants and more lush tropical foliage plants, aswell as annual plants inspired by trips to Namaqualand in South Africa, many years ago.
The Corner
The corner, as it is affectionately called, predates my arrival, so some of the plants are more mature: Choisya ternata, Hypericum ‘Hidcote’. The area is gravelled and beneath it is the bio-cycle; sewerage treatment.
There are a number of concrete blocks hosting manholes, so in this area we have utilised pots to provide colour throughout the year.
The Front Bed
In September 2022, I was fortunate to receive a gift of some bamboo plants. This windfall resulted in some major changes to the front of the house area and remodelling of our car parking spaces, which led to the creaton of a new border.
A south facing area which is home to some succulents and other exotics.
The Front Corner
A small part of the garden at the front of the house, mixed planting creates a secluded seating area, centre of which is a two piece table and chairs painted bright red, a Covid-19 project by Daphne. They look fabulous, and gave a new lease of life to an old rusted table and chairs.
The stone suface has been liberally seeded with lupins, geum and other self-seeding plants. The tree is a a specimen of Umlus parviflora which is kept to size with annual pruning.
The Bamboo Border
The gifted bamboo, it was not in my original plan to have a bamboo screen, but when they came along, I could not say no.
Thirteen plants of Phyllostachys aureosulcata ‘Aureocaulis’, have settled in well: yellow stems and swaying foliage.
They are spreaders and a bamboo barrier needed to be installed to curb their travelling nature. On the farside a border was created with durable plants that can survive the occassional hit of a football.
The Football Pitch
The ‘must not touch’ area. A young lad needs his football pitch! Daphne’s son is a pre-teen and a walking enyclopedia of football facts.
The area borders the neighbouring property, established shrubs provide some screening and shelter.
Ciaran The Gardener 