Over the Garden Wall
(rather than through it)
Bryony Lewis

The recent spell of mild weather has been brilliant for tidying up our gardens and for rebuilding an old stone wall that had been buried under years’ worth of bracken and brambles.
We had a mini-task force come and stay for a week during the half term holiday – my sister’s family, my husband’s brother and three of his friends, as well as one of my best friends and her new partner. A house-full no less, but despite the overcrowded conditions and the lack of proper beds for everyone we all had a great time mucking in with the cooking and the garden as well as lots of lovely evenings with guitars and singing. The kids really loved it and there were enough of us to make sure that they got out and about to play on beaches and buy each day’s food from the local shops and market. One of the boys knocked up a puppet theatre out of some old bits of wood and some old curtains and that was the mainstay for the kids who couldn’t get enough of making puppets and acting out their own plays…
I can also tell you that there is nothing like having eight strapping men at your disposal when it comes to clearing overgrown borders of unwanted bushes, nettles and thistles, or for tackling all those vicious brambles. Even knowing that you can never be sure to get out all of the roots the “intruding” plants certainly got their comeuppance. We were able plant some more soft fruit bushes in one of the cleared areas as well as sort out a neglected strawberry bed and get it into shape for next year. A couple of old window frames were transformed into a lovely new cold frame which will be a boon for over-wintering some of my cuttings – hardy fuchsias from my Aunt’s garden in Lee, North Devon (aka Fuchsia Valley) – which will, I am assured, make a lovely natural hedge which will reach a height of six feet in two-three years and require minimal maintenance as well as being smothered in those lovely red & purple flowers well into November and possibly longer. I have some evergreen ceanothus cuttings too which I hope will take as I have a brilliant sunny spot in the front garden where they will look superb year round. My sister reckons we could create quite market for hardy fuschias around her way where one year old plants (cuttings) sell for £5-7 each… so that’s something to be thinking about. Our Aunt has to hack her hedges down every year as they grow so rampantly in Lee so maybe that could be a thought for the future, though knowing me I’d be more likely to give them away to visiting friends as a reminder of their stay with us…
It was fun rebuilding the old wall. A thorough search on both sides of it was conducted and we found most of the missing stone which we were able to fit back together like a kind of 3D jigsaw puzzle (cheating with dabs of mortar here and there), leaving just a few gaps at the top. Brother in law Simon reckons the wall will be a great place for planting and training some fruit trees so once we have some spare cash (or receive some of said trees as Christmas presents, hint hint!) we’ll be moving on that idea. Actually, giving seeds and plants to a keen gardener is a really great idea for anyone who is stuck on what to buy. I for one would be delighted to receive some herb or veggie seeds, another few lavender bushes, a rambling rose, a peach tree, a fig tree, perhaps an olive tree… in other words just about anything! Better that than toiletries I may never use, clothes I may never wear or books I have already read…
Anyway this week I have been back in London recovering from all that digging, pruning and cooking for an army… armed with a stack of seed and plant catalogues, my RHS bible, and some sketches of what I hope I can do in the vegetable garden this coming year. There is no way we’re going to get such a rotten growing year twice in a row so I am seriously optimistic that I can turn our little patch of paradise into an oasis of productivity as we’re going to have a lot less disposable income next year when London job is gone. I am both excited and nervous about giving up my last little bit of security… but if it all goes wrong I can always try and talk my way back into a job again…
When I get home next weekend it’ll be to set off to find a good rooted Christmas tree that we can plant permanently in our front garden – much better than having a cut one; and I also have my eye on a monkey puzzle tree. I can only afford a very small one but I absolutely love them and as this is where we are putting down real, long term, roots, by the time it reaches six or eight feet tall I’ll probably have grandchildren down to stay. Only one step to manage first though and that is to have a child of our own… a definite possibility once the London commute is over.
Have a lovely Christmas everyone. Ours will be spent quite quietly with a few friends who are coming down to stay, then it will be off to in laws for New Year… wishing you all a seriously cosy time with lots of good food, wine and laughter.