Thursday 17 August 2017

Me and My Bright Ideas

Between our back door and the garage is a large paved patio area, quite a sunny spot but  windy and totally useless except for the few slabs needed to make a path 'tween back door and small garage door.

Colin decided he was well enough to do the concreting for the new oil tank hard standing so I said (and after 37 years  he's used to me coming up with ideas for things he could "just" do while doing something else).......... "while you're mixing cement how about we put a couple of bits of fencing up from the side of the garage, that would give a sheltered spot in the sun for sitting out and then I could also grow lots of things in tubs around  that corner".

"Just" involved lifting two slabs, digging down deep enough for posts, concreting in the posts,cutting the slabs to fit back around the posts and fixing up the fence.

By doing a little at a time over the space of 3 weeks he has managed to get it all nearly done.
Here is work in progress and also lifting another slab that was cracked, lifting a slab from over by the wall to use where the cracked one was and then we'll use the space by the wall to put in the fig tree which will soon be too big for it's pot.
 Poor Fella, I've promised not to come up with any more ideas for a while.

(And I've had a on-line splurge to buy some interesting plants that will go in pots in the corner- all due to a spend £25 and save £5 enticement from Thompson and Morgan............they are a local company after all!)

.


 Back Soon
Sue




24 comments:

  1. That's going to look lovely!
    J x

    ReplyDelete
  2. What a fabulous idea for transforming that corner of your garden. I didn't know Thompson and Morgan was local - makes me feel better about a small seed splurge last year!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes T&M HQ is Ipswich. They used to have trial gardens and big warehouses and an open weekend each year which they had to stop as it caused traffic chaos. I'm not sure what they still have there. We went on a guided tour many years ago. I do know that they now trial more seeds in France than in the UK and their seeds are jolly expensive, but the plants are top quality

      Delete
  3. How big is your fig? We were advised to keep ours in a pot no bigger than 75cm so that it would fruit better. The victorians apparently were fond of growing their figs in Gladstone Bags!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Bought from Wilkinsons last year so not very big yet. It's roots will be restricted due to the wall footings and the rubble under the patio so I'm hoping for fruit. We had a huge fig at the smallholding, not restricted roots at all and it still gave some fruit.

      Delete
  4. Sue you sound just like me. Nice area I can see were the inspiration came from, well done Col.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Oh you have a shiny diamond there!

    ReplyDelete
  6. I wish I had a Col! I too have ideas. That is mostly where they stay - in my head! That will be lovely with all the plants, it looks good already.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I've splurged on a couple of what they call specimen plants for containers and then the rest will be cheapies

      Delete
  7. That's a great idea Sue and it's good that Col felt strong enough to get it done. Looking forward to seeing what plants you have there. Catriona

    ReplyDelete
  8. A lovely sunny corner for afternoon tea....just the job-x-

    ReplyDelete
  9. Aah...hard work but so worthwhile! x

    ReplyDelete
  10. Glad to hear you are still able to keep things moving along! The new space looks as though it is going to be a lovely cosy suntrap!

    ReplyDelete
  11. I can see this willl be a beautiful spot. you have a wonderful handyman :)

    ReplyDelete
  12. Your patio will be a beautiful spot to relax and grow interesting things to eat or just enjoy.

    God bless.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Gosh, that's looking smart. A little bit at a time soon adds up. The Fig Tree should love it there now.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Looks good! Wow! Col has done well and glad he's able to do it. It will look nice with potted plants. Enjoy!

    ReplyDelete
  15. Sue you and hubby are amazing in what you have accomplished in such a short time. What transformation. Cannot wait to see pictures.

    ReplyDelete
  16. I have 'good ideas' that I tell Alan 'we' should do. Men they are absolute stars aren't they :-)

    ReplyDelete
  17. What a wonderful little idea you just came up with!
    Lisa x

    ReplyDelete