I Dream of Jeannie, Garden Version
Just merveilleux, really. Most of the work was done by yesterday afternoon.
And before I knew it, it looked like this:
I was planning a round wrought iron bench around the walnut tree, but I’m changing my mind. Keeping it simple means less work. I think I’m just going to focus on planting the entire border outline of the lawn- in my much loved maximalist style. If anyone in the Tarn or Carcassonne area needs a landscaper/gardener, I highly recommend Olivier Guy. The process could not have gone more smoothly. He really knows what he’s doing, he’s young and creative, and determined to get it right.
My Mazamet 
Time to whip your hose out Mr. M.
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We have automatic sprinklers 😛
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Sounds like you should see the doc. 😉
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Are you the person who does the puns for channel 4?
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I don’t know, I don’t watch telly.
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Wow…..
Excuse me while I pick my jaw off the ground. 😀 That is beautiful, Pinky. Congratulations!
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Thanks! Now comes the part I’m scared of, choosing the ornamentals. One badly chosen colour can turn an elegant garden into something that’s not very nice at all…
Yesterday the gardener gave us two pink hydrangeas which I’ve been panicking about ever since. Everything in the dappled shaded spots is white or purple.
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Pink is not my favourite colour but perhaps you could plant them in pots at the front? Maybe on either side of the front entrance so they’re not so noticeable?
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90% preparation, 10% final product. Looks beautiful.
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We’ll see… At this precise moment I’m not feeling very confident.
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Now you have your stage….looking forward to the planting!
What’s in the tub?
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Which tub?
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The one in the photograph on the edge of the drive.
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That’s a gigantic terracotta pot that the last owners left behind. I planted polygala myrtifolia in it, but I think I’m going to replace it with a bigger and a bit more architectural plant.
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Ahhh the magical instant gratification of new sod, there’s nothing like it.
Have you ever laid sod? Anybody? I did when we were quite young on a new home we built. I forget the details but it ended up that my husband and I had to lay sod in a small section of the yard, the landscaper had done the rest. Wait, I think the landscaper ran out of sod and then we could never get him back again so we ordered the sod and we laid it. NEVER again! Laying sod is hot, heavy, dirty work.
I bet you can’t take your eyes of of that gorgeous grass can you? Do you just stare out the window at it, then go outside and touch it, LOL? I was thinking, there seems to be a pretty good section that is open without overhanging trees, would make a nice badmitton court. I love badmittion a whole lot of fun with less physical exertion than tennis. My husband and I both have pro badmitten raquets, although it has been years since we played. We just don’t have the yard for it on our current property. Hard to tell by only seeing a pic if it’s feasible, but it would be great to play badmitten on that luscious lawn.
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It’s incredibly heavy. They began the day carrying one plaque at a time each but by noon it was two men per plaque. We bought 1000 m2 (10700 square feet) of turf/sod, so imagine how exhausted they were by the end of the day!
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Looks terrific so far, and I’m sure you will pick the perfect mix of scents and colors.
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fingers crossed 🙂
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The lawn looks lovely, & I expect it’s perfectly level. What is the attractive shrub in the bottom picture, the one with some reddish leaves on it?
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I’m in love with that shrub too. We’ve got four of them, but only the one that gets more sunlight has its leaves turn red. It’s called oakleaf hydrangea (quercifolia). The flowers start out white then turn a very muted dusty pink. And the flowers last ages. And it doesn’t need any special care 🙂
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Thanks – & looking up the details it could be perfect for our exposed north facing garden with heavy clayish soil.
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Turf’s Up! or down, or in. Either way, your insta-lawn is gorgeous! Congrats.
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It’s a good start 🙂 I think I found a solution for the shaded areas under the camellias today… if that works, then we’re getting somewhere!
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