Although not in my dotage yet (only just turned 60!) I am already thinking of ways to simplify my garden so I can enjoy it in the years to come. For example,not too many pots,hanging baskets that need constant watering,paths that are even and easy to maintain,are there tripping hazards etc. When I plant something now there is a little voice in the back of my head saying "Will you be able to prune,divide,cut back etc or is it easy for someone else to do it for me?" I am doing some of my 85 year old Mums garden and I can see how things could have been improved earlier on. Luckily my daughter loves gardening and I hope to enlist her help in another 25 years or so!!
“Every day is ordinary, until it isn't.” - Bernard Cornwell-Death of Kings
You and l are around the same age @madpenguin, and l have also had little changes at the back of my mind. This is especially because l have been helping OH with his 89 year old mother's garden, in places it's a death trap. I am torn between sympathy for her and exasperation at how hard it is to get her to agree to anything. Ironically, the bits l have been allowed to do, she really likes. I'm hoping that when she sees the sort of things my friend is coming up with, it might help.
I think you're right madpenguin. I'm the same age as you, and I'm still constructing stuff and planting and planning, even though I won't be staying in this house/garden for ever, but it crosses my mind now and again that the next garden will have to be simpler. I'll find it hard not to build things though - I've always done it, and often get more of a kick out of that than the plants.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Sorry I have not replied to Fairy girl, Mad penguin, AnniD and Paul. No planning or even looking out of the window and moaning at what needs to be done this weekend - terrible cold, so have been feeling sorry for myself and eating far too many things with chocolate in!! I have never done much mulching, but from your comments, I will be doing this much more. Talking of age Mad penguin and Anni D, I beat you all at 63, but I still feel in my twenties, full of vigour but putting it into action hmmm, and the outcome I envisaged doesn't come out as planned, ie slumped over the spade, gazing despondently at the perennial that will NOT split!! A cuppa and more chocolate imbibing and I often do achieve the desired result though!! Paul, how I wish you could come and help me! You must be very good as your books are so full for the next two years, I think I would be wearing a pith helmet and would be carrying a machete by then. Thank you for your comments. Lovely day here, as my cold is still lingering I think a chair outside, more cuppas and a bit of planning is in order this afternoon. Enjoy the rest of the day everyone, and thank you all for being so kind and helpful. Your new friend, Janey
A cup of tea and some chocolate can cure almost anything Janey....
Contemplate it all over winter, and perhaps in spring you could get a 'chap' for a day or two to do some simple building/altering and then you can just maintain, and have a few things that you like and are easy for you. I'm sure they wouldn't be as good as Paul [ ] but it would be worth getting a few things in place for next summer so that you can enjoy the garden rather being down about it
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
use mulch on your beds, cuts down on weeding and watering.
reduce the size of your lawn if you have one, turn it over to beds and mulch
use perennials rather than annuals, reduces the work planting and removing them every year.
grow shrubs, ones with little pruning but that give you colour and texture/size in the garden.
get a good gardener in - and check they know what they are doing - there are a lot of people out there saying they're gardeners, but actually all they know how to do is cut grass and butcher plants with a hedge cutter! (ask questions that only a good gardener would know - when to prune so and so, when/where best to plant so and so etc. if they get it wrong don't use them!)
Chocolate is an absolute necessity @Janey, l have a stash in the cupboard for emergencies. I have a lot of emergencies. Treehugger is right about getting a "proper gardener" in - one of our neighbours who is in his eighties used to have this guy who turned up in a battered van, slashed away at the shrubs in a way that made me wince. He turned up year after year, until eventually he pushed his luck too far by quoting a ridiculous price and that was the last we saw of him. Our neighbour now has 2 young guys who cut the grass and tidy round and l can tell that they know what they're doing.
I'm still making errors after thirty+ years working with plants ; my work colleague and I are both early 60s and doing the work of thirty year olds ! It's only when I get up in the morning I feel my age !!
Yes , we are booked up for the 'forseeable' shall we say ; just hope my limbs hold out !!
Incidentally , I have a fairly broad knowledge of plants , but please don't ask me about fruit & vegetables (!) .........No idea at all ; I leave that to the experts !
A cup of tea and some chocolate can cure almost anything Janey....
Contemplate it all over winter, and perhaps in spring you could get a 'chap' for a day or two to do some simple building/altering and then you can just maintain, and have a few things that you like and are easy for you. I'm sure they wouldn't be as good as Paul [ ] but it would be worth getting a few things in place for next summer so that you can enjoy the garden rather being down about it
Not at all Paul - I was just having a little joke. Apologies if you thought I was being sarcastic. I think the fact that you have work for such a long time ahead, shows that people are very happy with the work you do. I can understand the aches and pains though - I feel like that getting up every day too, even when I haven't been up a couple of hills the previous day!
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
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For example,not too many pots,hanging baskets that need constant watering,paths that are even and easy to maintain,are there tripping hazards etc.
When I plant something now there is a little voice in the back of my head saying "Will you be able to prune,divide,cut back etc or is it easy for someone else to do it for me?"
I am doing some of my 85 year old Mums garden and I can see how things could have been improved earlier on.
Luckily my daughter loves gardening and I hope to enlist her help in another 25 years or so!!
I'll find it hard not to build things though - I've always done it, and often get more of a kick out of that than the plants.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Contemplate it all over winter, and perhaps in spring you could get a 'chap' for a day or two to do some simple building/altering and then you can just maintain, and have a few things that you like and are easy for you.
I'm sure they wouldn't be as good as Paul [
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
I have a lot of emergencies.
Treehugger is right about getting a "proper gardener" in - one of our neighbours who is in his eighties used to have this guy who turned up in a battered van, slashed away at the shrubs in a way that made me wince. He turned up year after year, until eventually he pushed his luck too far by quoting a ridiculous price and that was the last we saw of him. Our neighbour now has 2 young guys who cut the grass and tidy round and l can tell that they know what they're doing.
Apologies if you thought I was being sarcastic.
I think the fact that you have work for such a long time ahead, shows that people are very happy with the work you do.
I can understand the aches and pains though - I feel like that getting up every day too, even when I haven't been up a couple of hills the previous day!
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...