Hello, how are you?! It’s been all work and no play for the past couple of weeks here at acoastalplot, hence the radio silence. It’s good to be busy (freelance work tends to be like buses) but I have missed you 🙂 I’ve also found it slightly excruciating (if it’s possible to be excruciated in degrees) being indoors at my desk during some completely glorious weather; looming deadlines meant that I couldn’t down tools and head to the beach with my family at the weekend. But, hey, there’ll be other days.
The garden has had to pretty much fend for itself, so thank goodness it’s finally raining! Hoo-flipping-rah. The sky has been full of grey clouds all day but it didn’t start properly raining until early evening. It’s now bouncing off the skylights and I’m imagining the plants are cheering, especially the grass which has lost most of its green. The snails are probably cheering, too, so I expect I’ll find more destruction in the morning. I must take a photo of one of the dahlias to show you – it’s a poor dahlia skeleton. Curse those slimy creatures.
These photos were taken in the garden just after the garden safari weekend. We were still planting, moving rocks and laying paths right up to the night before, but it all went well and we had lots of lovely people through the garden, met new neighbours and locals we hadn’t met before, and chatted to fellow keen gardeners. It was lovely to be able to take a breather and to enjoy being in the garden and we even managed to visit a few inspiring gardens recommended to us. A decent amount of money was raised for the hospice and everyone declared it a success. Looking at the photos, it’s amazing how much everything has settled in and grown since they were taken. The little orchard area is now full of wildflowers, the ornamental grasses and perennials are filling out, we’ve courgettes, tomatoes and squashes growing like crazy, and enough flowers to keep me in vase material for a good while yet. I can’t wait to have time to get out there again. When it stops raining.
Have a lovely rest of the week. More anon. x
acoastalplot 
Your garden looks fantastic! I love all the variety of plants you have in there, it looks planned but also wild at the same time, which is my favorite kind of garden. It sounds like you’ve been very busy with work, which is a good thing, but I’m glad you’re making time to be outside in good weather too. Hope all else is well with you and your family.
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Planned but wild – that’s the look we’re going for 🙂
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Glad the safari went well! Your garden looks really great doesn’t it, I can see why you would have preferred to be out there rather than at your desk, but needs must and all that hey!
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Wow you’ve really done so much in the garden it looks fantastic. I’m glad of the rain too- everything very much in need of it here. Xx
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Thanks, CT. Weeds are popping out everywhere now though!
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Oh it’s gorgeous, you have been working hard, well done you. I felt exactly the same about the rain, I could almost hear the plants heaving a deep happy sigh. But yes, slugs and snails everywhere. I have a dahlia flower that looks like lace, must also take a photo. I hope your deadlines have all been met and you have a little more time now. Nice job on the garden, you really have a very good touch with planting. CJ xx
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Thank you, CJ 😊
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Your garden looks wonderful! My favourite is all the Erigeron growing out from the steps. I too was very pleased to see the rain, though I have a lot of completely flattened Ammi majus to rescue now!
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The rain did flatten a few plants but they’re perking up now. Have you vases full of ammi now?!
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Like yours it’s largely perked up again so no need to cut too much. Though a vase full of nothing but ammi does sound delightful……
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What a lovely garden you are creating. I hope that your time opens up so that you can spend more of it outside. I was tickled to see the squash on the compost. And I swear that plants send out some sort of sighs of pleasure or ecstasy when a much-needed rain comes down.
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Thank you, Brenda. This weekend is earmarked for catching up with the plants 😊
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I think we were all glad to hear that rain fall down last night. It’s good to watch your garden develop – I think you’ll have to put some before and after photos up because it all looks so settled. I love the colour pop pots. Opening up for the garden safari must be good because other people notice such different things and can make you appreciate what you have (as opposed to looking at the bits that haven’t worked or grown), Hope you’re enjoying some sunshine today.
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Taking part in the garden safari is the best kind of motivation to get on with everything, otherwise we’d still be pondering!
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Your garden has wonderful bones that will enhance the plantings as they mature. It’s a lot of work to redo or begin a garden. Not for the fainthearted. The lavender hedge is very pretty.
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Thank you, Lorrie. It’s good to have a project…
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What a beautiful, well structured garden you’re creating, Sam. The lavender hedge is stunning.
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Thank you very much, Kate. Your wonderful planting with grasses inspired us.
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That’s a lovely complement, thank you Sam!
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I am pleased the safari weekend went well, these events can help foster a good community feeling, besides raising money for good causes.
Love the Lavendar hedge.
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So right, Brian. Good all round.
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It sounds like you had a busy few weeks with work and garden. The garden is looking really really good, I love it. Hope you get some time to go to the beach now with family and dog! x
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Good to hear from you Sam and to see all these photos of your wider garden – it made it easier to get an impression of the layout of your plot…the front garden is certainly a challenge but you are making great inroads! Look forward to seeing it settle in more and mature – oh and what a great event the safari must have been. So glad you enjoyed it ☺
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I love what you are doing with the terraces. Your garden seems to be coming along even if you are busy with work. The garden safari sounds like fun!
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Your garden looked fantastic for the garden safari and you the new areas you have been developing are looking so good already! Sarah x
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