For the last couple of weeks I’ve been trying to paint our fence, I say trying, in that every time I had a free day off it rained! Very frustrating when we’ve had so many dry sunny days recently!! Yesterday I decided to go for it, there was a light shower late morning but I got away with it! The fence was put up by our neighbours as part of their new labour free garden, it’s six foot tall at the shortest bit, but with the terracing in our garden it must be at least 9′ in places, quite a dominant feature, so I thought long and hard about colour. This is what it looked like last week…
I’ve now painted most of the long stretch (apart from the bit I couldn’t reach, even balanced precariously on a ladder! ) It needs a second coat and I’ve also decided to paint the railway sleepers at the bottom as well. I painted it ‘Willow Green’ and I’m really pleased with it, the fence just disappears into the background now, especially when you are in the garden. It will disappear even more once I’ve covered it with roses, clematis and honeysuckle! Ideally I’d like to paint the back fence too but it might have to wait til next year!
As predicted my magnolia tree is looking amazing, I love this tree, it is just covered with dainty white blossoms.
The pond garden is shooting up, I think the Solomon’s Seal has grown 10-12″ this week, erythroniums have come into flower, hostas are starting to unfurl their leaves, iris and crocosmia leaves are appearing too, together with more than a few weeds for good measure!
My OH was busy yesterday building the compost heap, it’s starting to take shape, not bad considering all the wood is recycled from around the garden. We’ve just got to work out some kind of door system for the front.
Down the drive the forsythia and the flowering blackcurrant are covered in flowers, I have to admit to a love hate relationship with the blackcurrant, it looks very pretty at the moment, even at dusk it was still buzzing with bumble bees, so it’s an important early supply of nectar for them…I just hate the smell, I think it smells like catpee!!
Next to the blackcurrant is a beautiful camellia, pure white flowers formed in a perfect rosette. It never goes mad with flowers, as a bush it is so understated it is easy to miss, but it is beautiful. I keep wondering about trying to move it as I’m not convinced how happy it is there, maybe in the autumn.
On
facebook last week a photo from about 7 years ago of Helen and Rosie sitting in the arbour popped up, I called it ‘Two blondes together’.
Helen wanted an updated version. As Rosie is now too old to climb on the arbour I suggested they sat on the steps…
I then persuaded Zac and Lucy (my mums dog who now lives with us) to join them…
…’and then there were three!’
thecraftycreek 
The new fence colour is a huge improvement, isn’t it? It was such a glaring pale colour before, but this is lovely. Well done!
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Thanks Kate, I’m really pleased with the green.
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Good choice of fence colour. The magnolia is gorgeous. I noticed it as the Header first. What a delightful garden you created and would get so much joy sitting or working in it.
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Thank you, I do love sitting and enjoying my garden 🙂
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What a lovely garden you have. That fence looks much nicer now.
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Thank you, it was so dominating before, I’m happy with it now!
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Great pick on the fence color! Are you thinking the same for the back, eventually. It really does blend in very nicely. I think we will hit the garden this morning. We have finally had three nice days in a row her, so things have greened up incredibly this weekend. 😍
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Thanks Kathy, I’m am planning to paint the back fence too, I’ll see how big the roses are by the time I’ve finished the second coat on the side fence, it might have to wait til autumn 🙂
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I love your posts…so many great ideas besides being a spectacular back yard space. Willow Green perfect! Me too, it smells like cat pee. I just put in a camellia, the white is stunning. Helen and Rosie melted my heart – so precious!
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Thank you, I do like camellias, I’ve got three now, luckily they like my soil!
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Lovely pics of Helen & Rosie – they look like they’re best of friends. The garden looks fabulous too, what a difference a bit of sunshine makes
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Thanks Jane, they are as thick as thieves 🙂
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What a gorgeous garden you have there! what species of Magnolia is your tree; i am on the search for a small flowering tree for my front garden area–and I love those white flowers…hugs, Julierose
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Thanks Julie, it’s a magnolia stellata, mine is about 15 years old, so they are very slow growing 🙂
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That looks like a very pleasant place to enjoy a day, thank you for sharing. 🌸
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