January 2nd 2002

Well the old year finished off with a minus 8.3c during the night in the back garden, this is the coldest we have recorded in the last five years, so the old foliage on plants like phlox and clematis is now well and truly brown.

It wasn't very long into the New year when Lyn mentioned to me she would like another "feature" in the front garden, when I asked what kind of feature, she said, perhaps a raised circular brick well, with water in it, and a small water lily and frog spouting water. I thought about it, and was pleased it wasn't a big project !!. So after a discussion as to where we would site the well and its size, it was off to get the materials.

Over the next couple of days any time I had spare was spent building the well, digging out the soil for the foundations and concreting them in, and then starting the brickwork. Have you ever tried laying straight bricks in a sharp curve?. I thought about it, I could cut the bricks in half, that would be easier to go round the curve, but I was concerned that it would weaken the structure, bearing in mind that there would be a lot of weight of water pushing against the sides of the well, especially the part above ground.  As a compromise I cut every other brick. At one course of bricks before the top, we fitted the butyl liner, which again wasn't easy due to the shape of the well, we had to pleat the liner up the inside of the wall. We then cut the liner off, so it would sit under the last row of bricks which were laid on their side. This last row took about five hours to lay on a damp cold day, I was glad I had finished the brickwork.
 Finished I don't think so, Lyn then wanted two small curved low walls to fill with soil to put plants in, why couldn't they be straight?.
The project is nearly complete, apart from more plants to put in and a curved wrought iron support to be made and fitted over the well to provide support for a couple more clematis to grow on.
The frog was purchased as a plain concrete item, we were able to drill a hole into its mouth and out at the base, and inserted a piece of brass tube for the water to flow through. We then painted him,  (note the baby frogs taking a ride on his back).
 

We will purchase a small water lily, and possibly a couple of fish later in the spring, to keep the frog company !. (Real fish that is.)

January 19th 2002
Yesterday we visited Wessex Rope and Packaging near Poole Dorset, and brought some 24mm manilla rope, which they will cut to any length you require. We intend to use it for a support for climbing plants in the front garden.
Our garden will be featured in the March edition of Gardens Monthly, (which used to be called Gardens Made Easy) the magazine will be on sale from February 6th.

January 26th 2002
Have been busy making a wrought iron feature to go over the top of the brick well, and also some brackets to go on some fence posts, to support the rope we purchased recently, pictures to follow, much too wet to do anything outside today, gale force winds and heavy rain all day, more forecast for tomorrow.
We are experimenting with a Growlux striplight to give our seeds a longer day length, especially with the days being so dark recently.