A few practicalities

One of the few deficiencies of this new garden is that practicalities do not seem to have been given much consideration.

Like most people, our garden is not just a pleasant place to sit, for birds & other wildlife to visit, for plants to bloom & trees to stretch up to the skies. Our garden is also a places to put the bins & recycling boxes, the compost bin & to hang the washing out to dry.

Fortunately we had thought we might want a greenhouse, so they did incorporate a small paved area, out of sight of the kitchen window, eventually to be partly screened by the shrubbery that’s been planted, & big enough for a small greenhouse. This has now become the spot for the bins & boxes. The compost bin has been put at the far end so it can extend over the soil at the end. It’s fortunate we’ve come to the conclusion that we probably won’t want a greenhouse.

There remains the problem of the washing line. We keep scratching our heads as to where a line could go. Our first thought is from the corner of the shed to a hook on the wall. However, that may be okay now, but a magnolia has been planted not far off that line. We can’t help suspecting that when the tree gets growing the line will be going through the branches of the tree.

A second thought is to put a post in the spot just behind the semi-circular raised bed essentially filled with lavender, & go to that same hook on the house wall. The problem with that is that at the end of bed is an acacia, small at the moment but again likely to grow around the line.

Our third thought is to put a post up in the walled garden round the back. There’s a couple of hooks on the house round there to which the line could stretch. It would certainly be long enough & clear enough. However, that area gets little sun & even the wind is largely blocked out by the shed & projecting laundry room. The other disadvantage is that it is a bit further from the house in the event it turns to rain & I need to get things in quick. As our neighbour is still erecting the wall between us, we’ve decided to wait until we can see just what the effect will be on the amount of sunshine & wind in that area before deciding to put up a post.

We’re continuing to think. Meanwhile I’m putting the airer out on the patio & hoping it doesn’t blow away down the garden on its casters or over, tipping the clothes on the not-so-clean ground. We may put on loop on it which we can hook over the beams of the pergola. The other problem with using the airer is that it is impossible to stretch open the sheets which make them slow to dry as well as difficult to put on the airer.

Why all this is on my mind is that the airer is now outside, hopefully staying still enough while still being in the watery sun & gentle breeze so some things will dry.