If you had a garden what sort would it be and what would it have in it. This is in honour of Sarah re-arranging the flower show to make it look better which I believe she is doing soon 
Endless gardeny things are available and you have an open budget .
I have post my garden else where but in the spirit of ball rolling I shall post it here too, I forgot to add my garden would have numerous iolanthe perrins and some bluebells
xx
If had a garden it would just have lawn, a swimming pool and some trees and a man called Sebastian Nononsense who would whizz round on one of those little tractory things tutting. As I paddled up an down my pool whilst my Dog Bertrand remanurized dark corners of the garden and chased Squirrels. As you can see my idea of gardens is completely realistic and not at all fanciful!
Ah thank you. I love plants, flowers, gardens etc and did come back on Wednesday and googled horticulture and garden design courses!
I missed the episode on Chelsea on Wednesday night but I think Monty Don ( great name) was talking about the preventative and restorative qualities of gardens and gardening on physical and mental health. It is so true for me to get out in my little garden. If only I had all the time, a limitless budget and a couple of acres.
I try and stick to a colour palette and then buy something red.......
My garden would have lots of scent and be romantic and bee/wildlife friendly. So mock oranges, lilac, roses, lavender and lots of herbs. I'd like a natural swimming pool. So no chlorine.
Oh yes and Larry would like a large pond with and island in the middle, a duck house and a bridge. So nothing extravagant.
Then I'd like a shady garden with hostas and tree ferns etc
And a hot garden full of oranges, bronzes and peaches.
And a fruit orchard and a kitchen garden with lots of veg.
Oh Caroline, I love love love plants.............
Sarah xxxxxxx
WOW Sarah someone should give you a garden and an open budget just because you know what you're talking about and have such a wonderful imagination.
Thats it as soon as I win the lottery (which I don't do) I shall employ you as head gardener!
I think you should look at those horticulture courses, gardening et al is one of those careers on the up as most people with money don't want to garden, just throw some money at the problem
That Monty Don only seen him a couple of times but he did a programme on Nympha Gardens near Naples in Italy soooo beautiful, Id love to see that!
Okay well I'll send you a few seed packets, some Perrins, a large packet of Margaret Rutherfords and a few half grown perrenial Hinge and Bracket bushes...and you thought I knew nought about garden...tsk
XX
Thanks for playing
Caroline to crib a quote from Jerry Maguire ' you had me at hello' or should I say 'garden.' Plants are my kryptonite.
I'm sure with your artistic creative nature you would also enjoy garden design but I don't want to interrupt your cat juggling/ herding training. They won't herd themselves!
Sarah x
LoL you made me laugh out loud and you are correct madam, cat herd is a serious occupation and I shall look right into it as soon as I have finished my never ending homework!
I think its fab people like you and BOB love gardening, I havent the attentions span and its funny when you are creative people think you can do everything, thats wrong. Im a hopeless photographer and I can knit, I can however do all other creative stuff I would be a hopeless hapless gardener it requires patience planning, if I cant see the result right now Im off...with cats, out on the town.
You have to read HH Munro's tale about Tobermory the cat...so funny XX Ive been listening to it on Radio 4 extra but may have gone now.
XX
I love R4 extra. It looks like it has gone but there is another H H Munro story on there.
I can't knit - I am trying to learn but I lack patience here. Gardening can be about patience but also instant gratification, I'm sure you are learning patience rounding up those kitties.
I'm also going to take a dressmaking course. I made a dress a few weeks ago. The invisible zip was amazing but the dress had about half a metre extra of material at the neck, like a huge pouch. Not sure what I did there. Big sigh.
X
Ha Ha sounds like my sewing when I tried...its all in the dart darling...lol. I was rubbish. Im so pleased your trying all this new stuff its great! You could be a fashion designing gardener it could be a whole new discipline.
Or you could just swan about the lawn in heels one or the other.
Another thing you must must watch is 'The Game' on iplayer its fab, its all espionage and brown suits with an MD called Daddy!? Marvellous. Id love to have a house and kit it out like something from the 1940's and have a husband who dressed as if he'd stepped out of the 1940's, a chap! Fully equipped with all sort of silliness though obviously. If you see one in your garden send him over. No pipes though don't like the smell.
Hope the weather holds out for you and you have lots of fun amongst the greenery. Dont forget what Gertrude Jekyll used to say... Tea and Cake on the lawn is essential when gardening Obviously I can down homework tools and pop over for that anytime ...I can bring the cats
XX
Caroline you knit.
That reminds me of Tale of Two Cities, where the old hag was watching all the nappers rolling and was using the knots in her pattern as a secret message.. or code.
BOBx
KNiT Away with you man... it's mother who knits, persh the thought! Ahhhh No No BOB I procrastinate thats my thing XX
WOW...now remind me BOB which stately home do you live in?! You sound like you should have a team of gardeners! Sounds amazing. I would come and help of course but I have piles of homework (phew that was a close call
Still I can give endless useless advice as I do listen to Gardener Question time... of course the main of it being 'have you watered it' :-). My knowledge of old Musical Hall and Comedic Plants is as you can see from my reply to Sarah, endless, although I only know the laymans names, not the latin versions. I have tips and wrinkles like the Dick Van Dykes never grow in soil with too much clay and Les Dawsons are free standing but you probably already know all that.
Orchard, you do know you are rapidly turning into Ma and Pa Larkin in my head
XX
Thanks for playing
Mmmmm gardens- now we are talking.Love my garden.Sadly not enough time/energy to keep up with it all at the mo.
Last years project was to empty the junk out of my old greenhouse,lay a new flag on gravel base and relocate to middle of garden.Reason being that I bought a bargain glider chair from the charity shop and intended to make the old 'greenie' into a little conservatory : )
Took me until late Summer to complete the project ( slow and steady wins the race ! )
Now festooned with all manner of shiny/rustic/solar decorations and even a dogbed !Hard work but so worth it : ) Spent many happy warm Autumn evenings in my Sanctuary peacefully rocking,looking out on my garden and listening to the owls and foxes, with my dog : )
Given a limitless budget and space I would like an archway,pond,huge rabbit play area,bat boxes,hedgehog house,fruit trees,veg patch,swinging hammock,even more herbs and scented shrubs,tent,another greenhouse,summerhouse etc - so not much ! I would also be grateful for a loan of Seb Nononsense who could look good in the corner when not helping with the heavy work or making me a hot choc : ) x
LoL you made me laugh and smile! You gardeners are all so imaginative. How wonderful. I love your ideas
archway,pond,huge rabbit play area,bat boxes,hedgehog house,fruit trees,veg patch,swinging hammock,even more herbs and scented shrubs,tent,another greenhouse,summerhouse
WOW. I would never have thought of that stuff. Ill send Mr Nononsense straight over, but expect some tutting its his stock in trade and he was trained by gardeners question time!
Thanks for playing! Isnt life magical XX
Life is grand if you look in the right places : ) x
We have swing seat although we have not had the time to erect it since moving here.
All the garden is for Hazel is no rest at this time of the year as my disability stops me helping as much as I want to
BOB
Swing seats are nice...soothing that sounds great, you deserve it Bob and Hazel X
I know what you mean, Bob. We can only do as much as we can manage physically but input with ideas and planning are equally important, especially ways to make it lower maintenance and disability friendly : )
I am a big fan of pots these days. I am gradually seating flags along my border between shrubs to put smaller potted shrubs on -looks nice ,easier to maintain and I can swap pots around according to what's in flower.
Hope you can find a place for the swing seat and enjoy this weather. x
Yes my disability is a real problem, and generally I can have problems after only a short period of time it is all very depressing. Hazel is in the garden now and I have been unable to help much. Managed to build two frames for toms and peppers not forgetting cucumbers and I am flagged ??
BOB
Well,Bob, that's two more frames you now have than you had yesterday : )
Progress is progress,no matter how slow. I take frequent rest breaks between bursts of activity.I probably spend more time sitting in my garden and thinking about things I would like to do than actually doing them some of the time ! Often get sidetracked by birds,bees and butterflies and 'lose' myself awhile in the process. It is all part of the pleasure for me.Work a little,sit back,admire with drinks/refreshments then plan the next move : )
I can save a surprising amount of muscle fatigue by working differently - I last far longer sitting down to weed or dig with a trowel than standing using a hoe or fork.Not sure exactly how your disability affects you but perhaps you have developed some 'ergonomic' techniques to help with your problems ?
Angela x
Hi Bob,
I think it is always nice if you can take some of your old plants,like your bluebells, with you if you move house. I also like to collect cuttings from places I have visited/holidays.Some of them 'take' and are a nice reminder of places past.
Your garden sounds huge and a lot of work yet to do but I'm sure the satisfaction of shaping it into your perfect space will be worth it : ) x
Hello Angelite
Yes it allows us to make a statement and make our home extend into the garden. The garden is not large as such, although when we look out of the window and decide what needs doing it can be a chore.
We are firm visitors of Lidl, Aldi and Morrisons. where we get cheap plants. Morrisons quality can be good although now I am frightened to go shopping with Hazel as she would buy the places out given the chance
BOB
Bob, your garden does sound wonderful. I bet Pax enjoys it as well! We don't have a nearby Lidl/Aldi but when I go past one I always check out the plants. My neighbour gets incredibly well priced clematis etc from there. I never seem to see them.....
Will be glad when it is all set up it will take another twelve months, although we are beginning to see where we have been. Pax does his rounds every morning and seems to pick up on the night shift.
BOB
Bob,
Do you have any photos of the garden? I think you posted some last year when you had just started the work but I would love to see what you and Hazel have achieved. What is the soil/ climate like in Berwick upon Tweed? Is it wet and quite fertile?
Sarah x
The Environment Agency destroyed all out planting and would only give plants for the destroyed garden by that time we were moving out and they left all the replacements on their new patio our tenant took a fit and I asked them for the stuff to be bought up to our new address, they just took the lot away.
What they destroyed was more than the replacements so we did not get any plants, That is why we are having to buy new planting. The original garden and orchard they destroyed was over twenty years old and initially they inferred replacements could be sent up here. So as you can imagine what we lost. They took about six fruit trees out and wanted to replace only two, the replacements were modern varieties while the ones they destroyed were heritage varieties
BOB
Bob, that is awful. I know you have had a lot of problems with them. You would have thought the EA would understand the importance of taking plants/ shrubs/ trees with you or at least understood heritage varieties versus modern cultivators.
X
How fantastic! My Aunt used to live in a old cottage hospital that was a bit like that. Sounds perfect?!
XX
Hi all,
I have actually got a garden. There's a paved patio area, which is raised, then there is plain lawn. At the bottom of the garden there's are 3 trees. My garden is 1 of 4 in a row, so there's al sorts of bushes, plants, sheds and greenhouses.
It is a bit like BBC spring watch as there are: ravens, squirrels, wood pigeons, starlings, blackbirds and foxes. Recently a new addition to the Ave has added to the cacophany, with 2 dogs, a rooster and a hen run.
So if anyone wants to practice their mindfulness, come sit in my garden. There's no escaping the here and now round here!
See how I tied 2 posts strings together? Clever eh!
Take care all and enjoy the holiday weekend.
Catherine.
P.S. If you like music and laughter, check out Pitch Perfect & Pitch Perfect 2.
Someone wrote on about the meaning of life...Im sure as a gardener you could tie that in too. Did you ever see that film with Peter Sellers where he was a gardener....sooo funny X
I'd have a summer house, a gentle waterfall, a jacuzzi with a lift to get me in & out!
Have the bath in the back garden, you are welcome to use it. Pax drinks out of it and we fill our watering cans as well. If you need the jacuzzi working we can get someone to blow bubbles under water for you, Mind the dead leaves may tickle the old fancy a bit !!
BOB
Hamble you are the master creator X
Of course - I would just love to see what you have done.
I've really enjoyed reading all about everyone's fantasy - and real - gardens, it's good to think and write about things other than emotions.
Well my fantasy garden would be a lot of what we already have - arches with roses tumbling all over them, high walls with more roses - all scented of course! Lots of winter/early spring flowering shrubs like winter flowering cherry and honeysuckle, camelias, azealeas - especially the taller ones with strongly coloured and scented flowers - all to make me forget the winter before spring really sets in. Then I would have lots of scented shrubby roses with peonies and perennial geraniums underneath, all tumbling amongst each other, lilac, mock orange, clematis everywhere. Lots of blossom trees including ornamental cherry and crab apple trees, also fruit trees billowing with blossom at the same time. Oh, and I love tree peonies, bright yellow ones, also the deep maroon scented ones - and LOTS of scented pinks in tubs - and lots of hardy fuschias in tubs as well because they flower every year, and lots of Mrs Popple fuschias in the beds too. I would (have) lots of fruit bushes as well - blackcurrants, gooseberries, raspberry canes, rhubarb - all things we can pick every year with little need for care inbetween. I would have lots of seating areas to catch the sun at different times of the day, always near perfumed flowers with roses overhanging. I would have a woodland border with lots of different acer trees and rhododendrons, oh and lots of viburnum shrubs which I also love, oh and... the list goes on and on. In fact I would have all the shrubs I love, most of which we do have because when I planted up our garden it was from love of specific and not common sense or for design - and I guess that's where I would say I would have a much bigger garden!
I would have room for a large lawn - which we do not have - also an indoor heated pool and a studio in the garden - at the moment our large dining room is my art room but the light is not good so I would love an outdoor room with one wall that was all glass but with good ventilation as I can't let the cats near my paintings or prints or they climb all over them with their sharp claws or leave hairs all over them when they are wet.
The garden would be in a green suburban area rather than our inner town urban environment, and it would back onto English traditional woodland as my childhood home did, full of bluebells (now National Trust woodlands), red squirrels, jays, magpies, finches, and all the other lovely British birds.
Just to cap it all off it would be within a reasonable walking distance of the sea so I could sketch and photograph the coastline and then come home to a beer and coffee/walnut cake in the garden while I decide which images to paint and which to print. Oh yes, and I would be 10 years younger, have more energy, and my husband would be fit and well and enjoy being in the garden with me - and my children would visit frequently and bring their spouses and children, oh and... Oh! Now I am getting truly into fantasy 
We have a lovely garden and I really couldn't wish for more, all I really wish is that it was bigger so we still had space for the lawn as well as all the plants and that I had the health to maintain it at its best and money to pay for someone to help me do that.
Well - that was fun - I forgot all about being tired, and all about aching from having spent all day in OUR garden replacing a few self-seeded perennial geraniums (some are like weeds) with other plants and trimming a couple of large box balls.
Good idea Caroline, getting us all indulging our fantasies, very therapeutic!
Love, Suexxx
I think you had better start writing your 'Letter to Santa' now, Sue,
You might just get it finished in time for Christmas ! : )
Lovely to hear everyone's imagination and experiences - a really enjoyable thread inspired by Caroline's post : )
PS . If anyone finds a signpost for 'Utopia' please forward directions - Sat Nav refuses to recognise the name : )) x
Try Nirvana maybe its an Indian Sat Nav? Now Now Angelite that was a trick question you know Nirvana is inside us... well thats what the Gurus say. I suspect mine is in a LARGE chocolate cake...so I keep looking...lol. X
Right Sue here's the plan you sort out that garden and I'll come and live next door Yippeeee XXX
Yes do, then we can be mad together over the garden wall. xx
LOL ! I am picturing a modern day Bill and Ben scenario ! I could pop up unpredictably every so often during conversation ( as I do on here ! ) like ' weeeeeeeeeed' ! !
Flobbalob : )) x
That settles it Suez can be in charge of plants and all things gardeney, I shall be incharge of sandwiches and cake and you Angelite can race around in a big floppy flowery hat, wearing a lovely summer dress whilst in your best BBC voice shouting "PIMMS Anyone?" and brandishing a tennis racket. Nononsense will be tutting round the garden. And of course you know what comes next?! Next the butler will run out from the hall shouting there has been a murder! Am I just too too predictable!
X
Love it all, especially the bit about a murder since I have just been watching Morse
Excellent Ive just been watching the Vanishing Lady !
Why are murder mysteries such fun!
X
Caroline, I think it's because we can explore our fantasies of murdering people but then the murderer gets caught which reminds us we couldn't (really) get away with it...
I love all the Swedish crime noir films and series too - wonder what that says about me wish to kill people!
Suexx
Oh Sue I know you'd only kill people in a nice way, abit like that film ..Arsenic and Old lace....lol. Love that film XX
Made perfect sense to me.
Oh no, I would kill them in the most horrible and painful ways possible, really punish them - well I only want to kill people when I am feeling really hurt so why let them off so gently?
All this talk of killing - I could murder a coffee and cheese roll, think I'll do that now.
xx
LoL you are soo funny. No No I think Id like to kill them in a less torturous way but maybe with a rye smile which may make me the more unpleasant! More tea Vicar
ummm Tea break now theres a thought
XX
No No Ive had a think, I think we should join forces and become detectives or spies or both, that's much more socially acceptable but still with the adventure thrown in. I'll get the Times and look up unsolved murders Sue, you pack the biscuits, tea/coffee and big spy glass...ok.
XX
That way Suez if anyone annoys you we can just lock them up!
Ok then, I'll just get on my red brogue shoes with the white laces with tassels (an aunt of mine really did have some of those!), my posh umbrella from Harrods (just in case I need to poke someone with it!) and I'll do a Miss Marple and be the innocent seeming old lady who really has everyone sussed before they've opened their mouths.
Who will you be?
Suez don't you recognise me I'm Velma from Scoobdoo, I already have the dog! Everyone knows Great Danes are exceptionally good at sniffing out the baddies ...lol.
Miss Marple your far to glamorous for the Marple! You'll have to be Wonder Woman or someone like that. People are sure not to notice us three walking down the high street it couldn't be more perfect!
Now we just have to choose a village and wait!
XX
Who is Velma and what is Scoobdoo? (sorry about my ignorance)
You dont know ScoobyDoo?!
You have to check it out on your tube. Its a cartoon. There's me Velma who always says "my glasses my glasses" (just like me! ). Shaggy a scruffy surfer dude and the Great Dane ScoobyDoo, also Feddie and Daphne, they all solve a crime each week, which is allllways committed by the Hotel Manager...who always says " And I would have done it too if it hadn't have been for you pesky kids" It's seminal! I'm sure if Frued had been around he would have watched
xx
Oh just picked up on this post, i really miss my Allotment, too ill to keep on top of at the moment, the old boys are loving the extra space to plant in, if i dont do anything at all this year i need to give it up, that will make me very sad as i love it over there and had it over 10 yrs, i know its supposed to help but i just cant seem to get the enthusiasim going. I have picked up a few threads on here for Bob, it really seems like you guys have had a rough time, you sound on the up now and its lovely to read your positive posts, i have a postage stamp for a garden and often drag my kids to Richmond Park, Wisley and the like, they dont seem to mind though, my youngest who is 6 is developing a liking for the garden which is good. Anyway hope you allbhave a lovely BH weekend. X
Hi
Can you share an allotment? Or kind of lease it until the kids are a bit older and can help out, do you have to give it up completely, seems a shame.
I live nearish Richmond Park, take the mother up there for afternoon tea sometimes, we might be neighbours!
XX
Good morning everyone, the sun is shining but its that day again. Feeling awful and my legs feel like lead!!!!!
Hello and Happy (sunny) weekendSpring is here!
Mom wants to give us. Sis will have orphange for her birthday or a step family with the baby that ruined my life 
How do I get the right help for my postnatal depression if no GP is not willing or wanting to help me?
