Decisions, decisions

One of the really good things about Lockdown and op' recuperation has been the opportunity to be in the garden more and at all stages through the summer (well, so far through the summer anyway). It's given me the chance to think about how I can develop the back garden. One admission is that my love of plants means that the borders need to get bigger and the 'lawn' smaller. I still want grass, for the dogs as much as anything - they love to lie and sunbathe on a warm day and also, I do rather like the contrast between a green, trimmed lawn and then a bit of chaos in the borders!

The south facing border has always been a bit narrow though. It's really only a foot deep and as the plants (Phlox, Aster, Gaura, Crocosmia, Salvia and Rose 'Roald Dahl' to name but a few) mature they need more room. So, I have decided to bring it farther out by at least another foot in the autumn. Initially I thought that would allow me to invest in more perennials but actually, once I've split some existing ones eg the Phlox, the Rudbeckia from the North facing side, moved some others eg Verbena 'Bampton', there won't be a lot of extra 'new' room. I will also take the opportunity to move the existing plants away from the fence as they are all growing away from it anyway and would appreciate being out of the rain shadow it creates I'm sure.

I would like to plant another small garden tree in this border however, maybe a Rowan like Sorbus 'Joseph Rock' or Sorbus villmorinii 'Pink Pagoda'? I had thought about planting out the Cydonia oblonga that I've grown from an offshoot, but since I don't know what the rootstock it sprouted from was, that might not be a good idea - it may be too big or not known for fruiting, which would be a shame and a small garden can't really afford to give space up to 'non-performers'. I may well give it to my brother-in-law for his orchard (envious sigh at this point!) where it will have the freedom to live out its heritage. A tree on this side of the garden would be a nice balance with those already resident - it would mean 3 on the left and 2 on the right.

On the north facing side I've decided that the grass area at the back of the Bramley apple tree is a bit of a white elephant. It's a difficult area to reach with even my tiny mower and the quality of the grass is particularly poor. If I took the turf up to the Apple tree then that would allow me some flexibility with the plants on this side - Thalictrum 'Black Stocking' could be brought forward and not get so mixed up with the Buddleja alternifolia and the Bergenia might be happier and surround the tree.

I still want to keep a simplicity to the garden and keep to the 'less is more' mantra but I do want to experiment with plants too and I want to ensure that ALL residents are good for the insects and/or the birds. My long term dream is to have a birds nest in a tree or shrub that I've planted - that would be a good feeling!

Photos l to r = looking down the garden with the Bramley on the left, view of the garden from an upstairs window (Bramley just out of sight on the right), looking up the garden from the steps outside the kitchen.