I have only created two gardens from scratch, firstly here at the cottage, and secondly behind us up at the barn; which has now been sold.
Designing, and planting the barn's garden was a pleasure. We wanted a good comprehensive orchard, and plenty of open lawn space for games. There was room for a pool, and also for a veg' garden and Chicken run. It had everything one could want. There were even two ancient, and huge, Oak trees.
The two sections of garden, separated by the drive, were also very easy to maintain, and the mowing took me about 45 mins to do the whole plot. Everything else basically looked after itself, other than a bit of pruning from time to time. It was simple but impressive.
When selling, the estate agent was insistent (to the point of being extremely annoying) that I maintain the upkeep until the signing date, which, of course, I would have done anyway!
When the day came that it was 'handed-over', it looked like the above.
Now, two years later, it looks like this (I took this photo yesterday). Abandoned to weeds wilderness and brambles.
Not only that, but the other barn conversion, several metres behind OUR old barn, is much the same. Totally overgrown, scruffy, and unloved, even though both converted barns are lived-in. It really is a terrible shame, and to see both barns' gardens in such a state is devastating. They were once so beautifully preened, and user-friendly.
One can only presume that it is a result of indifference. Both newcomers seem happy to live amongst mess. The French have a very different idea about 'gardens'. We Brits are a nation of natural gardeners; it's in our blood!
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