Last updated: 10th November, 2003
Project 1 - THE REMOVAL OF THE PATH AND FLOWERBED
 
After breaking up the path with a trusty pick-axe in one hand and 14 lb sledge hammer in the other, I then broke up the kids sand pit (sob) which has been my wife's herb garden for about the last 12 years.
  
I then hired two skips and dumped the rubble and the rubble from the secret garden project. (More of that later).

  
I dug it over and removed the manky old honeysuckle then started planning for the barbeque and patio.

Meet Connie my pussy, she can do a clever/stupid trick whereby she ends up poking herself in the eye with her tail.

  
It's now April 2003 and the barbeque is finished.

  
The next stage is to turf the area over.
 
Looking back at the house the new patio and surround are not quite finished.
  
  
Project 2 - THE SECRET GARDEN
   
This was the area behind my ponds.

  
It soon grew into this.
  
After the skips had been it looked like this.
  
This is how it looks now.  The plants have a bit of growing to do.  The light patch in the front is not a dog's grave, just pea shingle, my attempt to keep the slugs off the hostas.

See the logs on the right of the picture.  They were two apple trees I dug out to make the ponds, they are now seats.

 
 
I took this picture on 10th November so there doesn't seem much going on, but...

I have been adding plants to the secret garden all Autumn.  I've also planted over 350 bulbs so next year is going to be a real surprise.

  

Project 3 - THE TOP POND SURROUND
  
This is the top pond.  It has no fish and this picture was taken about a year ago.  It was a year old then and I still hadn't finished the edge.
 
This is the edge as it was last week.  Still not finished.
 
On Sunday 4th May 2003 I finally got around to doing something about it.  I had intended finishing this stage on Monday, but the exertions of the previous week took their toll and I couldn't bend my knee.  Hopefully the weather will stay good enough for me to complete this on Saturday.  The bricks will be hidden under the liner.
 
This is the same area as the previous picture.  I have laid the liner over the course of bricks then laid a 2 inch thick layer of cement into which I pressed 10mm gravel.

 
 

June 2003

That's the edge finished.  Next step is to install the filter then build the path.
 
Finally finished the edge in October 2003.  Moved the filter to pour into the top pond and have not finished around that yet.
 
The finished seating area.

Nice to sit out in the evening, looking over the ponds by candle light, and listening to the waterfall with a bottle of Burgundy on the table between us.
 

THE REASONS I DIDN'T FINISH THESE PROJECTS THIS YEAR.
   

Not for the squeamish!
 
 
In September I broke my finger removing a flowering blackcurrant tree which died in the Spring.

That stung a bit!
 
I had to work 3 consecutive weekends in October.
 
The weather was disgusting on the first weekend on November.  With squally showers and gale force winds.
 
I had Flu all over the weekend of 8/9th November
 
We were adopted by this little time waster who has not yet produced her litter. (10-Nov-2003)

She likes to help me in the garden by sitting in front of the wheelbarrow or asking to be stroked every time I bend over.