(3rd blog in a series of 4)
The plant/herb shopping trip stage of Lindsay’s Garden Pond Project
We are now three quarters of the way through our joint project on my garden pond area.
Out with the dreary, weedy and uninspiring descriptors for my pond, and in with words such as enlightened, uplifting, inspiring, weed-free and eye-catching!
Lindsay's pond - step 3 complete!
Herb & plant shopping
Last Friday was the herb and plant shopping stage of my garden pond project. Our visit to Root One was what we had both been working and waiting for. Over the previous sessions, the pond area had been cleared, dug over and then replanted with fuchsia, irises, sedums and crocosmia from around the garden. In addition, a new herb area had been created below the kitchen window.
The stage was set; what we needed now were the main characters…
Cathy had created a list of plants and shrubs that would produce a natural, casual and colourful planting scheme providing year-round interest. She also had the results of my soil analysis, giving us clear direction that my soil was alkaline (much as Cathy had predicted).
Cathy Cornish showing soil sample
It would be fair to say that I am not the most discerning customer when it comes to nursery shopping. The magic of plant shopping with Cathy is that she is! She knows about the plants; she knows how they work together, where they are best suited, how to look after them and – crucially – which soil type they thrive in. We had our planting scheme to hand but, as it turned out, I was attracted to other shrubs and plants that I was not aware of beforehand. Having Cathy with me gave me the confidence to consider items outside my usual choices. She was able to guide, support and steer me in the right direction, helping me to make informed decisions about plants both on and off the shopping list.
Over a couple of very enjoyable hours, we purchased heathers, herbs, hebes, euonymus & grasses that would work perfectly with the plants already in situ. And, what’s more, we were within budget. Lovely!
Cathy Cornish setting the stage for planting
Planting
Back in the garden, Cathy spent some time carefully thinking out and placing the new plants and bulbs in and around those already there.
Using my own compost, we worked as a team removing the plants from their containers, teasing out and spreading the roots before placing them in their new home environment around the pond. Before we knew it, we had given the pond area a new lease of life and the results were tremendous!
Cathy Cornish planting after nursery shopping
Review of the day
This gardening project with Cathy has given me a new relationship and affinity with my garden. I have new skills both in gardening itself, but also in how to shop for the right plants and shrubs for the garden area I have in mind. Looking ahead, I can see that I will be looking at my garden pond area with renewed vigour and interest, as I watch it change colour and shape over the different seasons.
Together, Cathy and I have transferred and replanted existing plants and shrubs from the garden and added new ones to create an area around the pond that will look fantastic in the spring when it has matured, grown and developed. I cannot wait to see all the varieties move and change as they come and go over the coming seasons.
We could now say that “our work here is done”. From here, we can simply let Mother Nature take over as we go into the winter.
Want to know how the garden pond area looks in the spring?
This blog post is the third in a series of four, recording the progress of my garden planting scheme from start to finish. Follow this blog series to find out how Cathy makes my heart sing when I look out at the pond from the dining room table!
Read about Step 4 – Cathy’s spring visit to review progress and to advise accordingly – right here in March 2014.
In the meantime, let us know what you think about this project, and share any ideas you may have about how this area might be enhanced. Post a comment to tell us about similar projects you have completed. Cathy and I would love to hear about them.