On August 4th, 1975 my wife and I received the 'Keys' to our new home.....

[spanner570]

This morning my wife informed me that on this date in 1975, we moved into what turned out to be our 'Forever Home'.

I mentioned keys in the thread title. The place was a derelict and had no doors or windows to speak of! The property was surrounded by a huge overgrown hedge and was knee high in grass. Not a shrub or bush in sight.

Since then we have quietly worked on the place. Every planting of stuff, humping stones, slabs, bricks, and gravel. (Not to mention the four room extension) we did totally by ourselves. (Except the electrical work on the extension!)

It has evolved into what these pictures show. I make no excuses for posting the photos as we are both dead chuffed to see what we have managed to achieve together since the day we opened 'Our gates' and thought "Just what have we gone and bought?!"

My good friends on S.M., we both hope you like our efforts and that you will put up with this bit of short lived self indulgence. We like to think we have earned it.

Please note, we didn't aim for a 'Just so' garden. Apart from a bit of trimming, everything is allowed to grow more or less just as it pleases. Even the weeds are allowed a bit of peace!












My dad's little concrete model house.....










On the right of this picture, you can see a eucalyptus tree stump. This grew from a pot to over 40 feet high. The gales earlier this year saw it start to lean dangerously towards our bungalow. A tree surgeon removed all but what you see now. Luckily, the lower growth has started to cover the remaining portion of the trunk.



One of two 34 year old Leylandii we planted from pots. Both cut down two years ago and one is now a coffee table!












My 'Sniper' platform!











Thank you.
Ron and Justine.

[Jim R]

Hi Justine and Ron
You have created a beautiful home together. A huge labour of love but I'm sure every corner of the place has fond memories. Enjoy it - you've earned it.
Jim

[Si Benson]

Wow, what a beautiful garden. I like the natural look and the different areas you’ve created. If I ever move I think the garden space would be more important than the house itself:smiling5:

[boatman]

Very well done both of you wish we had a house like that as we rent ours all best to you both an many happy yrs to come:thumb2::thumb2::thumb2::thumb2::thumb2::thumb 2::thumb2:
chris an jen

[Guest]

Beautiful place you have there Ron and Mrs Ron :smiling3:.
I can even see the chairs and table I will be using when I pop down the road for a cup of tea.

[wonwinglo]

You have created an haven and I think it is beautiful,I hope that it continues to give you much joy & pleasure which I know it will,enjoy that glass of wine ! well done all of your hard work has paid off.

[boatman]

jon whats the idea behind the model house nr the swing chair ?
chris

[spanner570]

Thank you all for your very kind and generous posts.

My wife and I debated long and hard about posting this thread for fear the reason might be misinterpreted by some readers as in some way 'Showing off'
We can see now that the replies have been in the same tone as the thread was posted.... :thumb2:

Ralph - Any time, just p.m. me and we'll sort something out. Which reminds me. Is there still a Wednesday market in Mold?

Chris - My dad made the model house in the '60's. to go in the garden of the cozy terraced house my parents lived in. When my father passed away, I wanted something made by him for our own garden. The little house fits the bill perfectly. I always say hello when I'm close by it........

Thanks again for your comments.
Ron and Justine.

[Fernando N]

A great looking garden Justine and Ron, love it that the plants have room to grow and the various relax places with the seats ready to use.
Neat to do list too :thumb2: .

[stillp]

Very good work Ron, you and Mrs Ron can should be very proud. Thanks for showing us.
Do those red crocosmias in the 4th photo spread? We have some orange ones, which came from my great-gran's house in Pembrokeshire, and they keep popping up all over the garden!
Pete

[Guest]

Thank you all for your very kind and generous posts.

My wife and I debated long and hard about posting this thread for fear the reason might be misinterpreted by some readers as in some way 'Showing off'
We can see now that the replies have been in the same tone as the thread was posted.... :thumb2:

Ralph - Any time, just p.m. me and we'll sort something out. Which reminds me. Is there still a Wednesday market in Mold?

Chris - My dad made the model house in the '60's. to go in the garden of the cozy terraced house my parents lived in. When my father passed away, I wanted something made by him for our own garden. The little house fits the bill perfectly. I always say hello when I'm close by it........

Thanks again for your comments.
Ron and Justine.

Ron and Boss,
No showing off at all, you have both worked very hard and the home and garden are a credit to you. My SWMBO has said we will be moving into your garden poste haste...
Cheers, Mike.

[Guest]

jon whats the idea behind the model house nr the swing chair ?
chris

That is the house - just the garden needs a little bit of work....

[spanner570]

Cheers all. My wife and I are chuffed you like our garden.

Do those red crocosmias in the 4th photo spread?
Pete

Pete - The original group of these we planted ages ago. You can see them in the first photo.

How the ones you mention arrived twenty odd feet away I have no idea. Birds perhaps?

[yak face]

What a fantastic looking home and garden mate . I say home not house because you can tell its a proper home , loved , lived in and evolving with both of you over the years . Your dads concrete house reminds me of the ones at the lands end attraction , theres a whole streets worth of them , including a mini pub, all standing about 18 inches high. Cheers tony

[Gern]

A proper 'lived-in' garden. Much better than these super immaculate places where everything's been manicured to within an inch of its life!

Just one question. The camouflaged cover in pic 12. Is it one of those rotary clothes driers or something more sinister - like an extending 'scanner for your sniper platform?