I love my garden

[Purplepixii]

it might not be as big as I would like, or as rural, but it's full of nature.

There's always at least one bird on the feeders. If not on the feeders the birds are washing in the pond waterfall.

Then there's the bees. Have got loads so far this year and it's just as well - the Chilean Potato Plant has gone a bit mental and has more flowers than I could possibly count. Should keep the bees busy for a good while yet.

As well as the birds, the pond attracts frogs (most on one check was 8 of the cute little things!) We've just bought them a frog house to live in - hope they take to it.

We have the early signs of aphids on some of our plants but instead of pesticides we've just bought a "ladybird mansion" (posh house for a bug!) and we're getting a delivery of Ladybird lavae next week

Last night was the best - 2 Hedgehogs "getting it on" for a good few hours (phew!) They have a their own house in a secluded part of the border. I put a full bowl of food down for them every night and they clear it - I can see this getting expensive if the hoglets come visiting!

Around 7pm this evening across the road I saw a young-looking Fox running down the road. I admit to being somewhat suprised to see it in daylight but what a sight!!

I might not live in my ideal house with my ideal garden but I do love what I've got! How about you?

[Kayleigh]

Your garden sounds great Purplepixii..Why don't you post some pics of it on the members garden thread.
I have a toad/frog house I made last year, there is something nesting in it with twigs poking out of the entrance..I think it my Wood Mice

[Purplepixii]

aww Wood Mice are cute!! I'll be happy so long as they share and play nicely with my frogs

I've just looked at the members' gardens thread - I'll try to take some pics over the next few days (weather permitting) and post them on the thread.

Pixii

[Jez]

I'm so glad your happy Sarah!

[Stewy]

I love your garden too, can we come around for a BBQ?

[Jez]

Did someone say BBQ at pixii's i'm up!

[dottie30]

a natural way to get rid of Aphids is to use water and eucalyptus oil.Your garden sounds beautiful

[Digifrog]

Originally Posted by Purplepixii

it might not be as big as I would like, or as rural, but it's full of nature.

There's always at least one bird on the feeders. If not on the feeders the birds are washing in the pond waterfall.

Then there's the bees. Have got loads so far this year and it's just as well - the Chilean Potato Plant has gone a bit mental and has more flowers than I could possibly count. Should keep the bees busy for a good while yet.

As well as the birds, the pond attracts frogs (most on one check was 8 of the cute little things!) We've just bought them a frog house to live in - hope they take to it.

We have the early signs of aphids on some of our plants but instead of pesticides we've just bought a "ladybird mansion" (posh house for a bug!) and we're getting a delivery of Ladybird lavae next week

Last night was the best - 2 Hedgehogs "getting it on" for a good few hours (phew!) They have a their own house in a secluded part of the border. I put a full bowl of food down for them every night and they clear it - I can see this getting expensive if the hoglets come visiting!

Around 7pm this evening across the road I saw a young-looking Fox running down the road. I admit to being somewhat suprised to see it in daylight but what a sight!!

I might not live in my ideal house with my ideal garden but I do love what I've got! How about you?

Commendations Miss.

It seems these days, probably due to absent landlords or the 'can't be bothered with maintainence' attitude, that most garden spaces end up being gravelled, or a plain simple, dare I say, 'boring' lawn space.

I, like yourself, have a small (& I mean small) urban garden. I have done all I can to attract animals to it, especially frogs & newts. It's actually surprising what has made their home there. You build it, they will come!

I have let grass grow around the edges with a generous border, planted with lavender & lavendula, ferns, a couple of acers & funnily enough, a generous splatter of stinging nettles.

I built a small pond (c.120 ltr) for the frog that I found in my garden and low and behold more came and are now quite happy in the pond, or in the long grassy generous borders.

All sorts of animals have blessed me with their presence and I am happy to do it for them. It's all about giving back to nature what so many take away from, with their 'selfish' ideas of what a garden should be.

Needless to say I have a one foot wide path leading to a 4ft sq. piece of lawn all just for me.

If you want a low maintainence garden, dont gravel it, let it go wild & leave a small space for your bottom on the lawn & some small decking for your garden table and chairs. Give the rest back to frogs (they sure need it) & nature.

Oh, & build a pond. 1 in 10 gardens have a pond (out of those, a good percentage probably have 'non indigenous' fish, bah!). I personally would like to see 1 in 4 gardens in the UK have a pond; with no fish!

Scott

x

[annes]

I imagine how beautiful your garden is. But for the pest that attacks your garden. To control them use the garlic spray. And aphids can’t stand bananas. Just lay the peels on the ground under your plants, and aphids will keep their distance. And also they don’t like color yellow, hang something yellow straps on your plants.

[galanthus]

I too adore my garden, as purplepixi says mine is not as large as I would like, geographically it's quite rural as our small town is in midst of loads of valleys, forests, fields and mountains, however, it's surrounded by walls so wouldn't ever get a Fox in

I too have a frog-filled pond and the birds love splashing around the waterfall bit, they line up lol. Birdfeeders are constantly full of bullfinches, goldfinches and the usuals and bees of all shape and size are in abundance over my flowers etc. I have several berry-bearing trees and shrubs and overall the garden is insect city, which I love.

We have a summerhouse raised at the end of the garden to catch the last evening's sunshine and lots of seating next to my beautiful pond.

It's the place I most love to be Must get a pic of garden today and pop it on the other thread.

[shei111]

Sounds lovely sarah enjoy it shei

[shei111]

Originally Posted by galanthus

I too adore my garden, as purplepixi says mine is not as large as I would like, geographically it's quite rural as our small town is in midst of loads of valleys, forests, fields and mountains, however, it's surrounded by walls so wouldn't ever get a Fox in

I too have a frog-filled pond and the birds love splashing around the waterfall bit, they line up lol. Birdfeeders are constantly full of bullfinches, goldfinches and the usuals and bees of all shape and size are in abundance over my flowers etc. I have several berry-bearing trees and shrubs and overall the garden is insect city, which I love.

We have a summerhouse raised at the end of the garden to catch the last evening's sunshine and lots of seating next to my beautiful pond.

It's the place I most love to be Must get a pic of garden today and pop it on the other thread.

Hello galanthus, im in love with my garden too I just love life and wildlife, my grandsons over to stay tonight and I have promised him we will spend a night asleep in the summerhouse, well its got a 2 piece suite ,radio ,tv, heater ,fan,carpet, all we need for a night out, wake up to birds on the feeders and the pond gurgling cant ask for much more can you, eh a night on the tiles cant wait, shei

[cat72uk]

cool have a good camp

[tufftie]

..and I'm another one that loves my garden It has so much potential and will look really good soon..i hope! There's tons of wildlife - I can just sit and watch for hours...and hours....and hours....!!!

Sorry, forgot to say - your garden sounds lovely!!!

[shei111]

Originally Posted by tufftie

..and I'm another one that loves my garden It has so much potential and will look really good soon..i hope! There's tons of wildlife - I can just sit and watch for hours...and hours....and hours....!!!

Sorry, forgot to say - your garden sounds lovely!!!

Good for you I sit for hours too never get bored just need a cup of tea, or if its evening a can lager go down nice. shei.

[nightshade]

I always admire people with a positive (and sometimes hopeful) attitude to a small space I have seen the baking tray approach, the tiered trough approach the raised beds, and the squeezed everything reasonable into a small garden
It is the desire and determination to help wildlife that leaves me feeling choked, Good for you Purplepixie and all the other determined people that make the best (sometimes even more) of what they have to work with;
Hurrah for you all

[bigwig]

Sounds lovely

Our garden is not very large and definately not as rural as I'd like ( we get a lot of noise from the Severn Bridge, its very invasive and can drown out the sound of the fountains ). We only really got the garden going this year once the 6ft wall and fence had been built back in May/June. I think we've done very well in such a short space of time and I have lots of ideas for next year. So far we have 3 small ponds. Always got birds ; sparrows, starlings, blackbirds, robins, chaffinches, magpies, wood pigeons and sometimes jackdaws. I do encourage them in with a ready supply of food and water.Sometimes get a Hedgehog , but not every night. There are squirrels nearby, but they don't seem to like our garden . Hoping to get some frogs next year.

[goosey]

Originally Posted by bigwig

Sounds lovely

Our garden is not very large and definately not as rural as I'd like ( we get a lot of noise from the Severn Bridge, its very invasive and can drown out the sound of the fountains ). We only really got the garden going this year once the 6ft wall and fence had been built back in May/June. I think we've done very well in such a short space of time and I have lots of ideas for next year. So far we have 3 small ponds. Always got birds ; sparrows, starlings, blackbirds, robins, chaffinches, magpies, wood pigeons and sometimes jackdaws. I do encourage them in with a ready supply of food and water.Sometimes get a Hedgehog , but not every night. There are squirrels nearby, but they don't seem to like our garden . Hoping to get some frogs next year.

Hi bigwig please don't despair with your garden it sound so full of potential. Having climbers cover your wall and fecing will also help soften the noise. You have Hedgehogs which must be wonderful and the squirrels may become regulars once they discover your bird food. Also proper ponds, I hope you get your frogs. Your garden maybe noisy but, just be so proud of yourself of what you are attracting and plan all your planting so you have 12 months food supply for insects and birds. I have a tiny enclosed yard in town, on a main road under a Schiphol flight path with no possobility of frogs, squirrels or Hedgehogs but I get a huge amount of pleasure from what I can attract which is amazing really be way of insects and birds I have 30+ sparrows in the pyracantha at his very moment.

[shei111]

Originally Posted by bigwig

Sounds lovely

Our garden is not very large and definately not as rural as I'd like ( we get a lot of noise from the Severn Bridge, its very invasive and can drown out the sound of the fountains ). We only really got the garden going this year once the 6ft wall and fence had been built back in May/June. I think we've done very well in such a short space of time and I have lots of ideas for next year. So far we have 3 small ponds. Always got birds ; sparrows, starlings, blackbirds, robins, chaffinches, magpies, wood pigeons and sometimes jackdaws. I do encourage them in with a ready supply of food and water.Sometimes get a Hedgehog , but not every night. There are squirrels nearby, but they don't seem to like our garden . Hoping to get some frogs next year.

It sounds to me as if you have a nice garden and that youve got it round to your way enjoy it. shei

[bigwig]

Originally Posted by shei111

It sounds to me as if you have a nice garden and that youve got it round to your way enjoy it. shei

Hi It looks considerably better than when we started, but there is still lots to do and now the summer is almost over it will have to wait till next year. I have to say that had I had more money available I could have done more, but setting up the ponds cost quite alot and I didn't realise that plants were so expensive I wish now that that I had taken a before and after photo as the bit we have done is almost unrecognisable. I have plenty of ideas for next year, though. Might even be really adventurous and put in a larger pond with a waterfall effect.

[birding dave]

I don't do gardening, as I live on the edge of a National Park, so I have a huge wild garden on my doorstep.

[shei111]

Originally Posted by bigwig

Hi It looks considerably better than when we started, but there is still lots to do and now the summer is almost over it will have to wait till next year. I have to say that had I had more money available I could have done more, but setting up the ponds cost quite alot and I didn't realise that plants were so expensive I wish now that that I had taken a before and after photo as the bit we have done is almost unrecognisable. I have plenty of ideas for next year, though. Might even be really adventurous and put in a larger pond with a waterfall effect.

Yes weve got a pond its been set up since may 07 so lovely, im going to keep that one and hubby is going to get a digger in and dig himself a bigger pond in the autumn, probaly 12X 15 or similiar, like you say everything is expensive but you do get hours of enjoyment watching it, if you went to the pub everynight and smoked that would mount up to a decent size pond pretty quick with nothing to show for it, well thats the way I look at things shei.

[bigwig]

Originally Posted by shei111

Yes weve got a pond its been set up since may 07 so lovely, im going to keep that one and hubby is going to get a digger in and dig himself a bigger pond in the autumn, probaly 12X 15 or similiar, like you say everything is expensive but you do get hours of enjoyment watching it, if you went to the pub everynight and smoked that would mount up to a decent size pond pretty quick with nothing to show for it, well thats the way I look at things shei.

Fortunately smoking and pubs are not amongst my vices , but you are indeed correct in what you say. I didn't know that you could set up a pond in autumn, thought it had to be done in Spring/ early summer ? I am a complete novice when it comes to pond keeping, so excuse me if I've said something silly I have been doing some research on internet though and this forum has given me some very good advice

I have 3 small ponds, 2 are for the snails and anything else that decides to move in and do not have fish. The 3rd we are going to add 2-3 small fish. Two of the ponds we have are the terraced kind ( the ones with a wooden surround ) and the 3rd is just a plastic tub sunk into what used to be a rockery. I wish now that I had not bought them as they are somewhat small, although they do look very ornamental and rustic in the garden. They have lights and fountains, so look very pretty at night. The snails certainly like them .

I realise now that I have made a few wrong choices along the way and with hindsight I could have done things differently and probably cheaper, but. like you say the ponds do give me a lot of pleasure. I love peering in every day to see what is going on - its like a little mini ecosystem .