Madeline Giles’ Garden in County Durham
You know the old adage “be careful what you wish for.” Twenty years ago I wished for and got a bigger garden; in fact a much bigger garden. I have about an acre, including a hard tennis court, now derelict and broken up.
The ground is sandy loam with thick clay about a spade’s depth or two below the surface. There is a drainage ditch along one boundary. I have struggled with this garden. In the early years I laid out a structure in shrubs and trees, and planted up with perennials and bulbs. A pond and bog garden was added several years ago. I am now concentrating on bringing the shrubs back into shape and increasing the range of plants that I grow. Being a Hardy Plant Society member encourages me to keep going.