The simplest ornament has more impact if it is raised. Keep your costs down by making your own pedestal; use a length of clay drainpipe, about a third taller than it is wide. Alternatively use some old bricks to make a pedestal. Place a paving slab on a level bed of sand; cement the pipe or place the bricks on top of it. Fix a slightly smaller slab on top with cement and finish off with your ornament; this could be a large sea shell, bird bath or whatever….
Another idea is to make your own concrete pillars, stain them terracotta and put terracotta planters atop them….
Chimney pots can also make great planters or pedestals….
And why not some sawn off tree trunks or chicken wire gabions filled with stones…
Sources:
The newly refurbished Bothy is nearing completion; a home for gardening volunteers, office and shop for the produce to come
Not much evidence of our hard work, but these stretches of soil are now ready to be planted up with fruit trees
Some of Peter’s welding work, to provide strong corners to the metal path edging
Peter cutting some edging to length with Mike looking on
‘Dud’ at work with his digger, scraping back the top of the soil in the top beds; several lumps of concrete appeared…A couple of days earlier I’d attended the Blickling ‘Mid Winter Meeting’ at the local High School. This is an opportunity for staff and volunteers to hear from Heads of department about plans for the coming season (the House reopens on 5th March). I thoroughly enjoyed this event, which had some fun, unusual and inspiring talks to get us fired up for the year to come.
Wild Tulip- pic by Stephanie Veronique
Camperdown Elm in Leamington, Ontario, Canada. Picture: jim5870
The original sport in Camperdown Park, Dundee. Picture: Peter Bourne
Primula vialli- pic by John Aspley
Blickling Hall and The Parterre looking splendid in a low winter sun
Snowdrops and Hellebores looking great in the Orangery Garden…
and sunlit Witch Hazel …A major milestone has been reached this week in the walled garden. Project Manager Mike reports that all of the metal posts (76 of them in total) have now been installed, so we now wait on wires going in and then fruit tree planting in a few weeks time.
Posts all in- 76 have been set into concrete around the walled garden. Picture Blickling Estate
Further Information:
Morning Glory and Black Eyed Susan- pic by Ellen Zillin
Hellebore- pic by Ann Stochaj
Nigel Boldero aka 'Old School Gardener'
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