This week is the one year anniversary of moving into our house. And that means one year of having a proper garden! WHOOPPEEE! This post is a bit of a mishmash of photos from the year so not all of them look great. When we moved in the garden was nothing but concrete and layers of effing pebbles.
And one year later it looks like this! A couple of raised beds, some vegetables and flowers.
We’ve also got some snazzy bunting up in the shed to stop birds flying into the window.
Having our own garden means we have space to store a BBQ! We cycle to our local farm shop to buy meat – we’re not total binny wheelers, the photo below was dinner for 4.
The front was filled with woody lavender and patchy grass. It’s only a small space so Scott suggested we turn the whole thing into a flower bed. Once cleared there was more space than we thought.
It’s now a cottage garden full of wild flowers, perennials and lavender.
There are now lots of bees and hoverflies. We wanted to make this space wildlife friendly rather than just looking nice for humans. It took a while to choose the right plants but the hard work has paid off.
The birds are also making themselves at home. We have lots of house sparrows and these two are young house martins nesting in the apex of our roof. Getting birds into the garden has been really rewarding because it took months to attract them.
This week I’ve harvested lots of chillies. I’m not sure what variety the green ones are but they are hot. I nibbled the end of one and it wasn’t hot at all so snapped it open and licked the inside. Big mistake.
Late Summer has definitely arrived because the first oxeye daisy has popped up.
The fuschia have opened. I think they will keep flowering until October/November time.
Hooray for having a garden. It’s been a real team effort to get it looking nice. We built the raised beds together and Scott helped me spread the manure in the cold even though it was warm and smelly. He’s built a weather station, taken the manky old satellite dish off the side of the house and is on an everlasting mission to stop the gate from breaking. I’ve been busy planting seeds, weeding and maintaining our little plot. We both agree having BBQs, homegrown food and cheeky birds (not the busty type in bikinis, unlucky for Scott) have been the best bits. Roll on year 2.
Wow you have made some fantastic changes! I love looking back at before and after photographs. Beautiful pictures x #HDYGG
Thank you Kirsty! 🙂
Oh my what a difference, and a blast from the past as I remember it being all pebbles too!
Your crocheted bunting looks fab in the shed and with all those lovely plants it’s the purfick spot for a bbq in your garden. Big chilli envy here – thanks for sharing Gemma xxx
Ah yes, I did alot of moaning about those brother trucking pebbles!! Thanks Annie!
You’ve done so much in a year! You must be so proud. I know so many people whose gardens are just a strip of lawn 10 years after moving in.
I think it helped there wasn’t much to begin with, so we could just get going straight away 🙂
What a difference a year makes! A lot of hard work, but you’re definitely reaping the rewards now though 🙂
If by rewards you mean runner beans, then yes we are 🙂
What a fabulous transformation! I love the wild flower beds, would love to find a space for some in our garden. Congratulations on your 1 year house-versary! 🙂
I sowed some wildflower seeds in pots too and they did quite well. Good way of saving space.
happy anniversary!!! what a beautiful space you all have created. this week is one year since we moved into our rental as well 🙂
Happy house-versary to you as well then 🙂
A wonderful transformation, looks amazing, your hard work has really paid off
I’m thinking of turning our front garden into a wild flower garden, lovely to see how well it works in yours.
Those house martins are so precious, our birds have all flown the nest sadly.
I was surprised by how well all the seeds took, definitely to scatter some more next year. I think the house martins will be on their way soon 🙁
Oh Gemma, what a difference a year makes. I suppose I do understand that some have no interest or time and it looks neat etc. etc. but how weep making. You must be thrilled with how it looks now.
I am! Starting to think about else we are going to do out there next year!
Wow, I am *so* impressed with what you’ve done in a year. This weekend marks our two year anniversary of moving to our house and I am still making excuses for why the garden is a million miles away from where I want it to be!
This year has been trial and error. Some things have worked and others haven’t. I think the wild flower seeds make the front look more established than it really is 🙂
Wow, that’s been quite a year! Sending chilli sympathy too x
You have one nice garden! I am so jealous! Plants are really giving. The beauty, the harvest and attracting cute birds! So perfect! #hdygg
Oh wow you really have made a massive difference to your garden! Seriously well done – you must both be so chuffed! Lovely to see all the wildlife you have attracted. I love the crochet bunting too – I am just learning to do granny squares at the moment, so that has given me an idea to try and make some of that too! Happy 1st anniversary Gemma’s Garden! x
Oooh, do post pics of your granny squares when they are done. I’m thinking about crocheting some cushions for the garden bench next year (any excuse to get my hooks out!).
fabulous post and great to see your evolving garden images. I particularly love your cottage garden at the front – I think that is what is called curb-appeal!
please forgive my shocking spelling – I meant kerb-appeal (obviously!) x
Ah thanks Annie. I get quite a few people stop and chat to me about it. Lots of positive comments about the flowers 🙂
We have just moved into our house and are currently renovating the garden.. Its coming along nicely and its something we have waited for, for a very long time! Ive linked up in hope of inspiration! I cannot wait to get birds! Looks like your garden produces some greta food too! x
Well I hope you find lots of inspiration! I read your post today and you sound very similar to us – moving from a flat to a house and having a concrete garden to begin with. I’m sure yours will look amazing in no time 🙂
Wow, what a transformation! All that hard work has certainly paid off. 🙂