It’s been a year since I started the Mediterranean Garden and it’s really only just starting to look garden-like. We’ve all seen those renovation shows where people create impressive landscapes in 24 hours, but real life gardens are not instant. I can’t help thinking that half those expensive super-sized shrubs planted by Jax and Sy probably die within six weeks of the show ending — Jax and Sy are a fictitious couple, but substitute any trendily named competitors on The Block.
Okay then, enough sour grapes. My point is that when I first posted about the Mediterranean garden the ‘after’ shot didn’t look wildly more impressive than the ‘before’. Here’s a refresher on that.
January 2016. Here’s where we started, in a desert of weed-mat and gravel.
January 2016: After the make-over. I had planted lavender, thyme and rosemary.
Things look tidier, but it’s not exactly a massive transformation.
It was a start though. One of the things I find most exciting about gardening is watching a few small (and cheap) plants grow to fill out a border. By April, three months after planting, the garden still had lots of empty space, but things were moving in the right direction.
April 2016: The plants have started to fill out.
The good thing about using those small plants was that without a whole lot of leaves to support they could put most of their energy into root development. Growing roots in situ makes for stronger plants in the long run. Unfortunately about a week after this photo was taken the pool pump repair bloke trampled the lavender plant at lower left and it never recovered.
So now, finally we can get to the ta-dah before and after moment.
BEFORE.
AFTER: January 2017. Looking like my vision for the garden. Self sown nasturtiums fill the gap left by the deceased lavender.
January 2017: Close up of planting. I do like that combination of lavender, thyme and weathered rock.
Thank you for being patient, I hope it was worth the wait. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ve just got another 14 acres or so of wilderness to whip into shape!
patience… is for other people.
That’s right, you prefer chocolate.
(I think you mean Jan 2017?) How does your garden grow, Mary? Fantastically, thank you, especially the oregano. Thanks for the opportunity to see it again.
Yes, I do mean Jan 2017, well spotted. Have changed it.
Was so lovely to have you here and spend that time in the garden with you. The new border we made together is looking good except that the chooks dug up the jasmine while I was away in Auckland. I’ve replanted it and put some of those spare bricks around its roots to deter scratching, it didn’t look wilted or anything so I’m hoping it will survive okay. I think it counts as ‘silver bells’.
Ohhhh, how pretty!!!
I love self seeding plants. Makes me feel like Nature approves of me 💜
Nature approves! I like that. 🙂