The areas nearest to the front of the house we call the ornamental beds. In 2020 at the time of the new entrance project, 20 tonnes of new topsoil came in to replace the equivalent tonnes of clay that was removed to create the two main planting areas leading from the drive to the front door, either side of a new wider curved path. In April 2021 more landscaping work was carried out to create a sweeping lawn from the front of the house to the large lawn area in front of the orchard.
From the front porch we created another winding path and step up to the upper-level path which leads to the back garden and the orchard. Having added a lot of organic matter we started planting these areas in May 2021 with shrubs and perennials. In the damp areas below the extended brick wall which retains the top level, we planted hydrangeas and arum lilies with low growing azaelias along the front of house wall. Roses too, penstemon, phlox and fuchsias, lavender to edge the path. Turf was laid in May to link in with the larger lawn areas that were at last levelled and ready for seeding.
On the other side of the path, we planted larger shrubs which will in time give some separation from the drive, viburnum, buddleias, deutzia and then with a winter focus erica carnea, roses and perennials including agapanthus and geraniums for the summer months along with potentillas in front of the white wisteria. We added a variety of bulbs in the Autumn.
It was well into summer 2021 before the third top level of the ornamental beds was ready to be planted. Here we had a pleasant surprise in finding some good topsoil! We planted a focus white ornamental prunus, laurel hedging to conceal the boundary bank and a variety of shrubs for seasonal interest, bulbs were planted again in the Autumn.
