Vija and Anna started these great posts about the view from their windows, and I thought I would add my bit. Really, in these cold, grey days of winter, it’s a bit odd that I should find the view from my window at all exciting. We have big patio windows which are unforgiving at this time of year and expose everything in the garden: the ragged border edges, uneven lawn, leaning obelisk (Storm Henk!) etc. But I can sit in my comfy chair looking out and now the leaves are all gone I can see all the way to the end fence..
…and I can Plan.
When I say I can see the end fence, this is because we took out a row of 20 ft high Leylandii trees last October. (Did we buy the house with them, I hear you ask? No, I actually planted them, one of those teeny gardening mistakes surely anyone can make..?) The idea behind getting rid of them is that it will let lots of light in, when next we have any. The stumps have been left, as I couldn’t face a stump grinder trolling through the house, so I need to Plan some sort of feature around them. (Maybe a birdbath on top of one..!)
A bonus is that for years and years I had been piling leaves and cuttings out of the way under the trees – so I am now left with some truly gorgeous compost! A little silver lining.
As I await someone to come and sort out the nasty looking fence and top it with level trellis, I can Plan which climber I will put there. I rather fancy a Banksia rose – Rosa banksia lutea, the pale yellow thornless one.
So you see, already my Plan is to sit in a rose arbour, surrounded by scent and buzzing bees, as I sip my tea from a china cup in the sun and read my gardening magazine.. (likely ignoring the Leylandii stump stuck up through the middle!)
I’ll let you know how it all goes. How is the view from YOUR window?
Kathy A
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Yes to the Banksia rose!
We had the same issue, except 1. We didn’t plant them, 2. They were much bigger than 20ft 😭 and 3. We *did* get someone to come with a stump grinder, but after a full day’s work they’d barely made a dent, the stumps were so enormous, and we made a mutual decision to give up. So we live with the rest, which have rotted away slowly, hopefully providing homes for stag beetle larvae…
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I was inspired by Kathy’s post to write a piece about the view from my window.
See below and photos attached.
Thank you to Kathy for her entertaining post about the view from her window. It inspired me to write this piece.
I, too, have a comfy seat looking out on my garden where I spend many happy hours deciding what changes need to me made in my garden (there is always something).
I am currently enjoying watching my pots of bulbs grow and begin to flower. I posted a photo on Facebook of my Harmony irises and my friend in Norfolk (who I think was rather envious) suggested I had a microclimate in my garden. It is very sheltered and faces west so maybe I do.
I have just decided to empty my rather unsightly compost bin and replace it with a smaller, more discrete one. I therefore have a large pile of compost which I am in the process of shovelling around the garden. I am expecting a spectacular display later in the year!
My Clematis Armandii under the tree is budding nicely. I planted it some years ago and was disappointed last year that I had so few flowers on it. That was until I looked out from the upstairs window and discovered that my neighbours were enjoying a beautiful display! It had put all its energy into growing to a lighter spot in the garden next door!
I find this time of year quite difficult garden-wise, especially when the weather is mild, as it is at the moment. I am having to restrain myself from going wild with the secateurs and cutting everything back. I shall wait another month before giving my clematis, roses and salvia a good hair cut. I think it is also time to give the Hibiscus Syriacus Woodbridge a trim as it has grown rather tall and thin.
I hope other people will write about their views, as Kathy suggested.
Carolyn
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