A problem area of the garden. A massive Mahonia giving an unfriendly greeting for people as they walk round the house to see the garden.

This took some digging up, after cutting it down to its base. The soil beneath was very dry, compacted and poor. It also contained an old redundant low voltage lighting cable.

Plenty of garden compost was added, Old bricks recycled to give a clearer edge at the front, and new plants added.
A trio of box plants to form balls as a frontage. These had been unhappy in their pots by the back door. They provide a visual nod to the box hedges surrounding the adjacent terrace.

Ground cover with Blues – Campanula “Filgree” as well as Pratia “Country park”. A drift of three geums “Pink Petticoats” lead up to three roses – arranged to alternate with the box- Cardinal de Richelieu, Young Lycidas, and Sir Benjamin Britten (the latter two by David Austin). Four recycled self-sown verbena bonariensis seedlings will provide vertical height and depth to the rear of the bed. Wires attached across the fence behind to allow the already established “Maid of Kent” climbing rose and a clematis to spread.
Lastly two white salvia “solar eclipse” to enhance the otherwise blue, pink and purple colour scheme.

To finish some lovely rusty iron ornaments from our lovely friends @cranbrook_iron again giving coherence to the other pieces elsewhere in the garden.