How to Create your own Mini Garden P.1

Haiku Poetry  

Courtyard small my delight

Pots colour give me peace

Still tranquill, I sit alone

I want to know how you are, 

if you are progressing with 

your 'green' space,

concrete space etc. 

How is it shaping up?

Do you have a balcony at

the top of a high rise block? 

Do you have a few old

window boxes? A sad 

neglected 'space'?

 

Is it a boring, concrete space

which is crying out for some

attention? 

Is it small, rectangular?

Bit like this perhaps?     

                                                            

 

 

Just to say,

I inherited this patio but it

has to stay as it is not a priority. 

We need something soft on the 

eye to make it look attractive. 

That is why I am showing it to 

you first of all.

So let's get growing,

creating something pretty. 

(like this 

beautiful unusual tulip).

 

I have something to share with

you first. 

I recall living in a shared 

flat ages ago and had 

the best outdoor space ever. 

It was a huge balcony.

It was really great and it had lots 

of deep planters all the way along 

its length. Plus it was sheltered

there so I was really lucky. 

Better still, no-one else used it! 

 grew lettuces and herbs and

some huge sunflowers.

But looking back I had so much
and I could have created a lot more.

It was like raised beds ready to go

 and the bonus was they were 

filled with soil!

I have a strange memory of 

planting up small troughs along 

the top of the wall. 

These were planted up with 

bright orange marigolds.

That is a plant I would never grow now. 

This is part of my Garden, 

a neglected patch of grass

   and small flower bed planted 

with a few lonely bulbs. 

But you can do anything with 

a patch of turf, a space you want

to make your own

which is your very own plot.

Hidden and sheltered from

your neighbours, in a large town with back 

to back terrace houses. 

A few essential tools,

some gloves and some
beautiful plants.

 

Here is a small raised bed I have

 in a vegetable patch.

I bought the structure which 

is a bit basic but it does the job.

It is 4 pieces of treated plastic that 

all lock together to form

this square. It serves a purpose.

As my ground is not level I placed 

this raised bedin different areas and 

found  the best site for it.

My Garden is very steep and 

tricky to work with.

So I found the best site, after 

having a few trees reduced

and it now it gets plenty more 

light for growing plants.

We will work on this plot too.

So back to your 'Mini Garden' 

which is what I am here for. 

As I don't yet know what you

personally have I will paint a 

picture here and see if I can

help to guide you.

1. The concrete 'space' 

With a rectangular balcony 

we can't physically lift up the stone.

 

But you can find some real bargains 

from antique shops. 

I bought this really

neat planter which I sanded down

 and painted green.

Let's find four  or five planters 

which can be different shapes and sizes. 

This is your first challenge.      

                                                  

I found this one in
my potting shed.

Let me know how tricky it was please.

Then we can move on.

How you gettting on with 

your search for planters?

Do you prefer wooden planters? 

Barrels? Metalic?

Look in unusual places. 

Look at other peoples

planters to get some ideas. 

2. Materials/Plants

You need to buy some multi purpose 

compost to fill them with.

Buy say two 50 litre bags form a good

 Garden Centre. Let me

know when you have done this.  

Plants

Let's go for seasonal flowers/ plants 

with lots of colour.

1. Wall flowers (red/yellow/orange)

2. Heucheas 

3. Euonymous 

4. Miniature bay trees 

5. Miniature/Patio roses 

6. Herbs - Rosemary, Sage, Mint (many varieties)

7. Lavender (various types to discuss)

8. Cotton Lavender

1. Yellow wallflower

 

2.Heuchera 

(green, copper, dark red)

 

  

3. Euonymous

  

4. Miniature Bay Tree

5. Patio Rose

Please see Mini Gardens P2

 for next step.

Spring Time Leaves and Buds

"O Day after day we can't help

growing older.

Year after year spring can't help

seeming younger.

Come let's enjoy our winecup today,

Not pity the flowers fallen."

Wang Wei, On Parting with Spring

Spring Time Leaves /Buds

Take a closer look at the leaves. It is really an

attractive shurb and really comes into its own

in April. I love the ridged leaves and their definition.

It is growing on chalk which is a really tricky type

of soil to plant in successfully, but this Cornus is

clearly happy on this site of my Garden. 

This Cornus is one of a group of five Cornuses

I planted in the middle of my steep Garden. They have

all bushed out really well. It's leaves are so well defined

and are such a great contrast to the beautiful red stems.

This is an Astilbe. It has delightfully dark green leaves

and has just come into leaf again now it is spring.

It has such pretty leaves that stem from small

reddish stalks. It is low growing and so easy to

look after. 

I love the groups of threes its leaves

form in. It is planted in a deep trellis planter and is

in normal mutli purpose compost.

This Heuchera has delightfully frilly red/copper leaves

and is in happy in the sun. 

They do like being in the

shade. I love its colourful cheery leaves. 

They look

good in small groups of threes and with a mix of

colours. There are so many shades and forms. 

               

I planted this Bay and just left it to grow. It is pretty

healthy but needs some good pruning; it is not a good

shape and needs tidying up. It has been somewhat

neglected but has such a lovely presence, aroma and

lovely dark green leaves. Perfect for drying and to

cook with. Gardening and healthy cooking go hand

in hand in my opinion.

                       

I find the little buds on this Bay so encouraging.

New life and this is why it is called Spring.

This Choysia took a long time to establish itself,

mainly as it was very over shadowed but other

shrubs. It is really healthy and suddenly grew

like mad. See its tiny flower buds which will

open up to give off the most delicious scent. 

Love its shiny, glossy green and yellow leaves.

Such a cool combination of colours. They

are also pleasantly scented if you rub them in

your hands.

Just to show another variety of Heuchera here.

It has beautiful red, orange leaves and lovely

definition on the leaves. Such an easy plant to

grow in a pot or in the soil.

I love the contrasting leaf colour

on this Red Robin. It is a big shrub now

but it is perfectly possible to keep it small

in a decent sized glazed blue or green pot.

Please contact me for advice on how to

plant any of these shrubs. Can give you

lots of suggestions where to plant, soil

to plant in and site.

" I love spring anywhere, but if I could 

choose I would always greet it in a garden."
Ruth Stout

"All gardening is Landscape painting." said Alexander Pope.

Questions and Answers

   
 "Spring would not be spring without bird songs."
 Francis M Chapman

Q. Do you need advice on
     choosing shrubs?
A. 

Q. Do you love flowers but have
     no idea how to grow them?
A.

Q. Have you just moved to a flat?
     Need an attractive balcony?
A.

Q. Do you have a window
     sill needing lovely herbs?

A.

Q. Does your doorstep
     need some colour?
A.

Q Do you want to know
    about Container Planting?
A.

Q. Do you have old pots
     lying about in the shed?
A.

Q. Do you want some
     Gardening tips for Spring?
A.  


I would love to give you any suggestions on how
to plant up for Spring. Please do contact me on
my blog, leave me a comment/question and I will
give you the best advice.  


Does anyone have any questions to ask me? 
Please do contact me with any Gardening/pest
related questions. 

Don't worry it it feels a bit trivial do ask
about your plant health or how to care for it.