1993 – we move to Sanderstead.  The house and garden had been derelict and the previous tenants re-furbished the house but not the garden!  The lawn was mostly weeds, as were the borders. 

The beech hedge on the right of the picture had grown to 8ft tall.  There were no features in the garden except for lots of concrete…

Katie Loves the extra space though – 200ft by 50ft!

1996 – after taming the hedge, the garden looks bare, so we decide that a mixed border would improve the view and give me the opportunity to buy some plants!!

Digging out the heavy clay to 18 inches (45cm) and adding bags and bags of manure, compost, grit and composted bark laid the foundations.  The obelisk is a focal point and added height, it also provided a home for a climber or two!

A Japanese Maple and shrubs, including Photinia ‘Red Robin’, Spiraea ‘Goldflame’ and Pittosporum were planted to their required spacing.  This left gaps which were filled with annuals, including Californian Poppies and Echium vulgare.

LUSH!

Two years on (1999) and the border looks like it has always been there!

At the far end of the border you can see a rose arch under construction, which leads you through to another area of the garden.  The arch is covered with old roses like ‘Souvenir du Doctor Jamain’.

In the foreground is my constant companion Tiggr (yes, that is how you spell her name!), walking past some self sown Heleborus foetidus. (If you are into cats - see the page dedicated to them)