Watty's Awakening

Watty1

greenbee said:

My garden wants dandelions, buttercups, hypericum, and creeping violets.

🤣🤣  My garden is happy with that too.     

Its been interesting seeing what comes up while I'm asking the garden.    That area needs to be simple, just a few plants, not many different ones and I have some ideas.  The lilac has to go, it might be wonderful pruned, it might not but, and although it is large, it is "bitty" and "bitty" is not required.

I also remembered that when the house was first extended I had a planting plan done by a gardener. I'm going to look for that later and see what he thought would survive there (he was a very practical gardener, stunning gardens but work with what you have rather than bring in topsoil and 'create')   Hopefully I can find that.

Cherryfudge

He sounds like a man I could work with! I'm no good at throwing things out and I'm working on restoring my topsoil rather than tipping the worst of it. He probably knows what should work in your area and conditions.

If you are going for the overall look, unity, sweeping impression and so forth, have a look at some of the gardens near you that are open to the public. Even look online to see what they've chosen to display on their website. If you pick up on common themes e.g. lots of lavender, lots of alliums, could you shamelessly steal the ideas for your garden? They must surely have chosen things that will work well in the south east, and perhaps similar soil to yours. Or if you go round a garden at some point, get chatting to the gardeners. They always seem happy to share knowledge and give ideas.

dawnybabes

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6613326/electricity-wayleave-on-inherited-property#latest

Watty can you advise this bloke ? 

Watty1

Done @dawnybabes   How nice, someone will benefit from my negotiations wisdom

Watty1

Garden plans located and actually I love what that border is supposed to look like, and, it fits with what the garden came up with.   (Very simple, drifts, gentle, no big colours)

Bit of a sad morning for me. I used to ride Charming Cob side saddle but stopped during covid and my instructors mother then died so we never got back to it.  Finally got hold of instructor, explained about CC but asked if she had a saddle that might work for Most Handsome.      She came out with 8 (this woman possibly has the UK collection as her older relatives bought them up for a pittance when people stopped using them).     She did not have one to fit at all which is the end of me riding side saddle and if she can't fit him, the no one will.  

She did find one to fit Fell Pony and Fell Pony person over the moon as Side Saddle was on her bucket list. They both had fun, and she has already booked a crash course so she can compete in July.   

I put a very brave face on, was polite, encouraging and came in and burst into tears.  It sort of was the end of that dream with CC really and I had hoped MH would take a side saddle but seemingly no.  I will take CC round the lanes for a potter later today as I can, at least still ride him which 5 months ago seemed unlikely.

KajiKita

Wonderful news about the garden plans, they have been waiting quietly for you ....

Don't give all hope just yet about the side saddle. If you really want it I have a feeling The Universe might yet help you ... Hugs for the dream being bashed in the immediate though x

My garden likes the three 'B's; brambles, bindweed and bracken. < eye roll > But it also loves clover, primulas, daisies, the odd orchid and honeysuckle, so it's not all bad

KK 

PennysIntoPounds

You obviously know much more about these things than me but keep checking things like
https://www.sidesaddleassociation.co.uk/salewantedadverts.asp
in case there's one that comes up that suits 

Cherryfudge

What a disappointment about the side saddle, I'm so sorry. I've always wanted to try riding side saddle though it would probably only be a posed picture as I can barely ride astride and haven't been on a horse in many years. It looks so graceful, and from what I've read, you have much more control than appears to the non-rider.

I really, really hope you find something.

The garden plans have turned up as though they were waiting for you! Looking forward to hearing how it all goes as it sounds idyllic.

Watty1

Thanks @PennysIntoPounds but Most Handsome has a very short back, the only side saddle that will fit him (and instructor did have one) is one for small children and my thigh is too long to come across and hook around.   I did sort of know this was a big ask before she came out.

I did wonder about asking for CC's side saddle back and just hacking him around the lanes in it.  That does remain a possibility. (She has so many she loans them out for a small fee, sort of like a library LOL)

I think this will all work out in the end just as it is meant to.   VNM said this morning why don't you get a horse just for side saddle when we move.  I have no idea what the future will hold so I shall just put this dream on the back burner for now.

Watty1

A funny thing. After I asked the garden what to do about the border I did have an idea which was to fill the border with catmint and ladies mantle both of which thrive in the soil here.  The border will eventually lead into the wild flower meadow that I am going to try to create with the help of my seeds.

However then the original plans turned up so thought i might go with that as the garden idea seemed a bit "odd"

Anyway last night, unable to sleep I flicked through my phone and a link came up to a border Alan Titchmarsh described as "perfect" so I clicked through. Now what is surprising is that I don't do garden pics on my phone, have not googled plants or anything so an odd link for the phone to throw at me but his border was just blue catmint, alchemilla mollis and a magenta geranium called "patricia".  

I was going to post a link to the pictures for the gardeners on here and I found this link which isn't what came up last night but shows the picture.

https://www.express.co.uk/life-style/garden/2067085/alan-titchmarsh-creates-perfect-garden

Once again I wonder if there really is something about universal energy!