I've only visited Ryton once (it's a long way from Scotland). I loved it! I remember spending much of the time we were there at the composting display. My children were very long-suffering about it. Bought their Organic Gardening encyclopedia, which I use frequently.
My goodness, the previous owner of your house was on an 'obliterate the natural world' mission. We have neighbours like that. If we were in a city I'm sure they would be happier in a flat, but up here there are no flats, so people buy the house and then destroy the garden. Or turn it into a car park, which is the same thing.
Your front garden is looking very good indeed, and you can take heart in your concrete bashing that the back will be joining it soon.
thank you, Linda. Yes, front looks happy. Mr B (as we call him) was the world's most incredibly thorough DIYer - whatever he did, it has taken me years to undo - the false ceilings that hid the victorian mouldings, the plywood boxing to hide the bannisters and marble fireplaces, the pink plastic bath to replace the cast iron one I found buried in the garden. I still haven't manage to fix the encaustic tiles in porch, partially removed so a drop-in doormat could be fitted ... bah! The 1960's eh? But let me now moan about Mr B. it's a lovely house and I'm glad to be gardening here!
Love the glorious iris, love the endeavours in the back garden, love that poem, love the glimpse into your 1970s. Awesome.
Kind dear Steph!
Thank you for this lovely post. Of course I now need a solar-powered bubble pond!
Doesn’t everyone!
I've only visited Ryton once (it's a long way from Scotland). I loved it! I remember spending much of the time we were there at the composting display. My children were very long-suffering about it. Bought their Organic Gardening encyclopedia, which I use frequently.
My goodness, the previous owner of your house was on an 'obliterate the natural world' mission. We have neighbours like that. If we were in a city I'm sure they would be happier in a flat, but up here there are no flats, so people buy the house and then destroy the garden. Or turn it into a car park, which is the same thing.
Your front garden is looking very good indeed, and you can take heart in your concrete bashing that the back will be joining it soon.
thank you, Linda. Yes, front looks happy. Mr B (as we call him) was the world's most incredibly thorough DIYer - whatever he did, it has taken me years to undo - the false ceilings that hid the victorian mouldings, the plywood boxing to hide the bannisters and marble fireplaces, the pink plastic bath to replace the cast iron one I found buried in the garden. I still haven't manage to fix the encaustic tiles in porch, partially removed so a drop-in doormat could be fitted ... bah! The 1960's eh? But let me now moan about Mr B. it's a lovely house and I'm glad to be gardening here!