GARDENER'S WORD - IDEAS AND TIPS

In 2009 I moved to where I live now and my small garden was a blank page, just grass and a couple of neighbours' encroaching shrubs.  I love being able to create a garden entirely of my own making with no permanent fixtures. My garden constantly changes over the years without any planning. Plants that I had years ago might not still exist and that contributes to the ever changing appearance as new plants take the place of old. Today I took a short video of my approximately 30ft x 30ft garden and I will point out below what plants are shown as it progresses with links to posts where applicable. My Garden 05 May 2026 You can hear the wind making noise on the iPhone's microphone, even though it is not strong today.  At least we can hear the birds singing too. At the beginning of the video you can see my 17 year old Ragdoll cat, Alfie, in his favourite hot spot.  Above him is one of four hanging basket planted on an east-facing wall with a Gold Edger hosta which is virtually...

I live high on the Pennines of West Yorkshire and despite the blustery wind that we so often get here, my garden is jam-packed with healthy plants including trees, shrubs, climbers, perennials and annuals.  In that small space is also a 9 x 7ft garden room, a shed, two patios (one at the top and one at the bottom of my sloping garden) and a small lawn dividing two deep borders. My garden is always a work in progress and I love that every year is different. Some plants die, others take their place such is the way of nature.  West Yorkshire garden  The above image was taken on 10 May, 2026 and no doubt will look a whole lot different by mid summer when the dahlias, the acidantheras, sweet peas, clematis, and various other things put on a display.  I have six Japanese maples right now, some very young, some a few years old. In the image there is Acer palmatum 'Katsura' at the top left and Acer shirasawanum 'Jordan' (brightly yellow at this time of year) on the right....