Enter the garden

Let us enter through the back gate, the one you have to drive through.

On the left is the garage and then the ancient stone wall of the North side of the house, with the 'new wing' in front. This produces a shaded gravel area, where growing things is difficult.

On the house wall there is a newly (2nd year) planted Morello Cherry. I am thrilled with it. Our lovely helper put up a substantial support for it and it is, so far, a beautiful fan. Wonder how long that will last. Last year it had quite alot of blossom (the real sort and almost as beautiful as the one we all know and love) but no fruit actually got to ripening stage. This year, it will be covered in a short time from now. Will they set and ripen? Will I get them netted in time before the birds get them? Time will tell.

In the corner, there is an old half barrel, with a miniature conifer, an ivy from some pot collection I was given, and a rather battered and sad-looking Euonymous. On the other side of the back door, is another half barrel, with a miniature rose. Catches a lot of wind, so a difficult place. I have tried lots of things but the only one to survive is the rose. Last year I surrounded it with Petunias which was successful.

The best bit is the back door itself, which has a hanging basket either side full of small blue and white Pansies.

Then on the other side, as you entered, there is a hawthorn tree, which is the remains of the end of a Hawthorn hedge, which, after a gap, backs the rest of the entrance area, the stable that follows, and on.

Next to that is a shrub, which is growing bigger fast, I am glad to say. I think it may be a Euphobia cyparissias 'Fens Ruby'. As I planted it about 4 years ago, after a very wet and heavy snow had fallen in the Spring, and destroyed a conifer (hurrah) and much else, I should know but don't remember! Next to it is a crabapple, the same as is in the Alnwick Garden. It is an upright variety, with yellow fruit, I think it is Golden Hornet.

A couple of old Laurels, kept in check with a firm hand, lead to a Sorbus. Dammit, I've trawled through old labels but haven't found it. It is upright, and has white/pinky flowers. Under it is Euonymous japonica Americana (found the lable). It was planted to try to hide a telegraph pole instead of another conifer which bit the dust (hurrah again!)

A very old Lilac comes next, white and still flowering well, maybe because I have to prune it hard to allow cars to turn! Then there is a rather messy bit, up to the stable

As you will gather, the entrance is rather boring, but that's how it is. I could do more if it wasn't for the gales which funnel past the end of the house extension, which need to be broken.

That's it for this chat. Pleeaase come back to see the proper parts of the garden