Gails garden

Gails Garden.

We moved to the village of Four Gotes 11 years ago in order to expand our upholstery business and purchased what was a farmhouse and modern barn together with nearly two acres of land which we are gradually turning from cornfields and stack yards into a garden.

We plan to show you the results and our further progress on a monthly basis. We invite comments and hints from all interested gardeners and any advice from those more experienced will help us in our endeavours. As you will see, we were absolute beginners when we came here and have made many mistakes which we are still trying to overcome.

Our initial plan was to divide the field into areas to allow us as much diversity as possible. Our first project was to plant a small mixed woodland area, (on a freezing and foggy Boxing Day) followed by a wildflower meadow, both low maintenance once established. The trees are now over 30 foot high and some thinning out is required. This is underplanted with bluebells, polyanthus, violets and hostas with daffodils and shrubs on the woodland perimeter.

The wildflower meadow starts flowering in March with cowslips and wild daffodils and continues with many native species of wildflowers and grasses through till July or August when we mow and play at haymaking. It is amazing to see how many creatures have lived and nested among the grasses during this time. Fieldmice in abundance, many frogs having spawned in Spring in our small pond escape to shelter amongst the tall grasses, beetles ants and voles scurry away as the Allen scythe approaches. An occasional cutting then follows through to the end of the season.

We have planted up an awkward triangular area as an orchard with greengage, Victoria plums, James Grieve harvest apples, Crispin eating apples, Bramley cookers,a sweet cherry much loved by the birds and two varieties of pears which have since succumbed to fireblight.This is again grassed to make for easy maintenance, and surrounded by a traditional hedge of hazel, buckthorn, hawthorn and dog rose giving good protection from early frosts and strong North winds and making an ideal nesting habitat.

Next to the barn, which has been converted to our workshop and showroom, we have added a walled area for a vegetable garden with raised beds and grass paths. The idea of the walls was to keep out the hordes of marauding rabbits so we could enjoy some of the produce ourselves, but we forgot to take into account the pheasants, partridge and pigeons who all enjoy tender green shoots of sprouting broccoli, or the mice who delight in finding all the full pods of peas before we do. This area is kept organic as is the orchard.

The area to the front of the house is lawned with meandering flower borders which still need some alteration, and a wisteria covered roofed arbour leading through to a grassed area full of spring bulbs including snakeshead fritillary,scilla, striped squill, cowslips and daffodils and planted with ornamental trees and shrubs. Here is our version of a Virgin's Bower, a bench seat with a framework of posts, plastic tubing and hazel wands covered in three varieties of honeysuckle, now so thick and heavy we have had to cut a stout post from the wood to prop it up, but the birds love it for nesting.

To the rear of the house is a small lawned area for the linen line which we have surrounded with a rustic pole screen planted with climbing roses and honeysuckles. The narrow borders to the lawn are planted with spring bulbs, summer hollyhocks and nepeta and the adjoining south facing bank is a mixed planting of perennials.

To the side of the house is planted a Yew hedge in rectangular form which is now very well established. This was originally the herb garden before we realised we had so many rabbits bed and breakfasting here, so the herbs are incorporated in the vegetable garden and we are awaiting inspiration before we can start an alternative plan. Perhaps a paved Italianate garden with a water feature? Any ideas Please! and remember it needs to be low maintenance as we have limited time to spend in the garden after a full week of furniture restoration.

We hope you enjoy perusing the results of our labours over the following months and please remember, all comments and advice will be very welcome.