My very windy garden
These three photo's show what the garden was like when I first
moved in, and the following photo's show how it has changed since then .
This garden has amazing views but has to deal with strong winds gusting up the
valley from the sea. Blocking the view is not an option and care has to be taken with the roots of certain plants because of the septic tank.The constant winter winds can also cause major problems with the plants, so it is quite a problem. This year 2021 I have planted lots of Phormium tenax around the garden with more bamboos and Giant Echiums to create some wind free spots which will allow me to plant other species that cannot survive this outdoor wind tunnel. .
An early photo of the garden showing the views . As the garden is surrounded by the countryside it was decided to allow the grass edges to grow long with wild flowers and a hammock.
A selection of bamboos in large tubs to be moved around to create screens and new designs. The bamboos have to be clumped together during the winter to protect them.
2021 The flowers are coming through the living room window. The Yellow false ginger flowers are highly scented in the evening in order to attract moths.
This is a late summer display with the small yellow perennial sun flowers in the background. The bees love these.
The blue tits and the newly arrived chiff chaffs like to use the Cannas and the flower stalks of the Phormiums as viewing spots or hunting perches as they both fly at the window afterwards and grab flies. The chiff chaff maybe a willow warbler as they are identical apart from their legs, one has brownish legs the other browny pink - I can't make my mind up. Whatever it is, it can hover like a humming bird just before it grabs the fly.
This is a photo' from upstairs 2021,
the winding narrow pathways can just about be seen.At different times of the day the leaves are lit up from the early or late sun.There are a few ridgid plants but most of the plants move in the breezes.
The front garden with a selection of perennials blending in with the wildflowers growing along the hedgerows.
2021 late summer, many of the flowering Giant Echiums have finished and been removed. There are roughly about 25 that will be flowering next year. Planting fairly tightly in groups of three helps them
survive the strong winds. Many New Zealand flax have been planted all over the garden to give the other plants some protection but it will be a couple of years before they get big enough.Bamboos, Phormiums and Giant Echiums have also been planted together as an informal hedge, each giving the others some support from the east and west winds. At some point it will just bamboos and Phormiums, but Giant Echiums like to self seed and add something unplanned to the garden.
The side of the property 2018 also has a selection of Phormiums and bamboos.
An aerial view2019 showing the distinctive leaf shapes of the giant Echiums and the New Zealand Flax (Phorminm tenax)
The flower of the false ginger plant is just about to open. It starts as a spear like shape, and slowly opens to create many tubes for the individula flowers to grow down. It is worth planting right by the window so that the amazing proceedure can be watched up close.
Last year 2017 quite a few of the older bamboos were divided and planted into smaller tubs creating another eight plants. This year they will be planted into larger tubs.
2017 Some Phormiums have been planted in the garden and some are in tubs while the design develops.
A spreading hardy geranium with a bright vibrant flower. It can be trained over other plants or up bamboo structures.
Spot the fly catcher, who has learnt to get nectar from the flowers of the New Zealand Flax (Phormium tenax), In return it usually gets an orange head which then pollinates the next flower.I have only ever seen blue tits do this as well, but lots of birds in the southern hemisphere pollinate these flowers The rain has washed the orange pollen off.
The old table is being held together by the Lichen. This fungi is a sign that there is no air pollution.There are still enough gaps for the coffee mugs.
Apple and cherry blossom, with across the farm fields and down the valley towards the sea.
Spot the bee
I have estimated that there are 30,000 small individual flowers on all the Giant Echiums and the bees arrive at 6am and can still be found at 9.30pm. The clever ones have now biult a nest in the bottom corner of the garden in the ground. Large medium and small bees all seem to be living together. I now also have a pair of chiff chaffs in the garden
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