Year 3 of the garden

This is the 3rd year I've worked on the garden. When I first started a friend told me that it will take at least 3 years before I get to the point where I can see the fruits of my labours and not to be discouraged. How right he is, it's been hard graft but yes, I've now reached the point where I can see a bit of the cottage garden feel that I was aiming for. I have to say all the hard work is really worth it when I get to sit on the bench and just enjoy the garden with a cup of coffee, taking in the peace it offers from the busy everyday life that tends to get in the way.

The corner bed

The dreaded wind swept corner where most things I plant seem to die, is finally sorted and is now a much loved area of the garden.

I've also added a new bed on the other side of the garden that has taken on really well. It has given me the space to try out some new plants.

For those who know my family, you'd have thought that this interest in the garden might have come from my grandfather who grew lots of plants, particularly bougainvilleas dotted all around the house. I remember going round with him with his homemade watering cans made from recycled milk tins with holes punched into them to create a sprinkle effect.

The truth is, it's my grandmother who awed me with her little garden, hidden at the side of the house where the kitchen window looks out on. It's a tiny little space where she planted sugar canes, pandan (screw pine) and there were also a small variety of little plants planted in all manner of recycled containers like old metal basins etc. I still remember clearly the day when she took a knife and chopped off a sugarcane, cut it into two and gave me a 'stick' to eat. That was the moment when I took real notice of her little garden full of wonder and that was when a seed was planted in me to one day own a garden and look after it as she has done hers.

The new bed