Well the summer is ending, certainly feels like that with the current wet weather, so the plans are underway to replant borders with new schemes and to refresh.  Some projects are still awaiting such as down by the stream.  There is so much potential that we have not got to grips with as yet. 

Early into taking the garden on we cleared back the overgrown rhododendrons and brambles so we could enjoy the stream.  The children love to play in it in the hot weather because it is fed from a natural spring at the top of Paines Hill and so has a good constant supply of fresh cold water.  This water used to supply the property via the small underground reservoir further down the road.  If we ever manage to work out how to pump it up hill successfully then we will have no watering issues in drought years.  But, that's another project!

The stream has a small waterfall as it flows down its natural path and two small islands that are planted out with some iris and other bog loving plants.  Railway sleepers act as small bridges over the stream but there is potential for many a project.

The front garden has changed slightly this year as we needed to get the foundations started for a new building.  The area around it needs more work to make the most of it.  This year we did manage to put in a large raised bed and have planted out pumpkins.  They are huge!  I'm glad they are there and not in the veg area!  Next year this bed is going to be a new strawberry bed that we can net to keep the squirrels off!  I'll need to build a new bed for next years pumpkins.

Also looking at the border in front of the house it needs more colour so there will a few changes needed.

We are also planning to dig up the border at the rear of the house and start again so the plants we use will be lower growing to make the best of the view out of the dining room window.  All the other borders in the back will get a good few plant moves and new plants introduced.

We are not yet tackled the area from the stream at the roadside going up into the garden near the bees.  There are a few ideas being mulled over.  We are going to add an additional beehive in the spring that will need to be accomodated.