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Deborah Vass's avatar

Such a lovely piece to read and I am very glad you weren't tempted by painting the pavers...I had forgotten myrrhis odorata, which I had in my old garden, but somehow didn't thrive here. Thank you for the reminder that I must try again.

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Jane Davis's avatar

Dear Deborah, you are a very encouraging reader! Thank you.

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Ruth Brompton-Charlesworth's avatar

I absolutely love the look of the new golden gravel, especially with Shakespeare looking in on the party. I am more inspired now to create a similar space at the bottom of our garden, as it has the late afternoon/evening sun. My husband has been suggesting this plan for a while but I couldn’t envisage it until I saw your post. Thank you! - although my husband will only say “I told you so!”😂❤️

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stephanie pearl's avatar

How about painting the inspection cover shocking pink luminous paint for ease of finding?!

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Jane Davis's avatar

Lets discuss this in more detail when you come to visit!

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Linda Slow Growing in Scotland's avatar

We seem to be at the same stage with groundworks in an established garden. During the most recent upheaval, we got the contractor to move piled up earth away from outside our garden wall, where it had been pushing against it and weakening it. Imagine the surprise when a massive manhole cover was unearthed - turns out it relates to the main sewer from the village down to the "water treatment works". I also need an island bed renovated and there's a Toby in there...(is it called a Toby elsewhere?). It's going to be a tricky business.

I love the Myhrris odorata you've featured. I've been looking for an airy replacement for sweet woodruff under apple trees. The woodruff has turned out to be too much of a thug.

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Jane Davis's avatar

I’ve never heard the word Toby in relation to drains, no.

But I will ask Groundworks Man. He is the person who taught me that the word Navi comes from Navigator - his grandfather, and one of mine, their fathers before them, The strong rural Irish men who could handle a spade… digging out the inland waterways navigation system. Or canals as we mainly call them!

Good luck with your works, Linda!

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Linda Slow Growing in Scotland's avatar

Thank you! I remember reading about navvies when learning about the Caledonian Canal which links the west and north east coasts of Scotland. There were a few employed on that, alongside the majority of the workers who were Highlanders finding work after the Highland Clearances.

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