Finally, the part of our property that we have mostly ignored, or if not at least neglected all these years is going to get a makeover - our tiny front garden (or driveway being as it is fully paved).
You would think that we would have prioritised this part of the property being the first one to be seen the moment anyone arrives to visit us and the garden but nope that wasn't the case. Since we moved in here it largely served as an area to store or even dump materials to be used for the back garden. The back garden has always been and will always be our main priority being a relatively large area for planting as well as being private. The front garden however is tiny, exposed, and functional for parking a car, not the sort of place for hanging around for all of the above reasons. So as we developed the back the front got side lined.
Work in progress and not a pretty sight
But the time has come that the front garden receives some much needed attention. It may not be the biggest of spaces but it is the 'face' of our property after all and is the one that gives the first impression, curb appeal if you may call it.The thing is when it comes to front gardens there is almost always a need for conformity to adhere to that will be sympathetic to the type and age of the house and its immediate surroundings. More often than not these are the first considerations over ones creativity and sense of individuality. Unlike the more private 'back' where you'll have more free reigns to do practically whatever you want within reason. Be too creative, wacky, or individual to the front garden and face of the house and you risk devaluing your property.
But before I continue, let me tell about a front garden that I have always admired ever since I've seen a photo of it online many years ago (and fortunately Ian of Pampas2palms featured on one of his blog posts just a few months ago). Once upon a time, Chelsea Flower Show used to have a dedicated category for the design of small front gardens and one of the ones that were built for that category was this garden:
Photo by Ian Cooke of Pampas2palms
I love it! It is fun, quirky, very unusual, and above all it is a pond (as most of you would have deduced by now, I love ponds!!) situated in an area you wouldn't normally associate a pond to be located. Whimsical and totally impractical but I love it nevertheless. I wouldn't mind having something very similar in the future, not in the front of the house of course. But I imagine it in front of a garden outbuilding, a contemporary one, the sort that is marketed as a home office. Something for the future garden (when and where, who knows...).So when I arrived home yesterday this was the sight that greeted me and I was immediately reminded of the picture above.
Instead of a pond the entire has been dug up in preparation for the base of what will be a little porch at the front. The existing front door will be replaced by something more simple and appropriate as a secondary front door, as well as the ugly kingfisher stained glass panel. A new front door will be installed on to the porch.
Ironically, with the building of the new porch would mean the ripping out of the existing wooden storm porch which is an original feature that has been there since the house was built mid 1930's.
Conservatory at the back, a porch for the front, all part of the current house renovation. Once the porch is finished we can then decide what else to do at the front and what planting scheme to go for. At the moment the plan is to reinstate metal railings on both sides of the front garden as it was originally several decades ago. And from there perhaps have small raised beds, a thin hedge, or even large pots with specimen plants. Should we go for more traditional planting or grow succulents on raised beds as it's an ideal spot for them with it being south facing, milder, and sheltered? Small space it may be but there are still plenty of options to go for.
The Dusty Miller that bit the dust. It makes me laugh whenever I see the two hanging baskets of dead plants at the front of the house (and the fact that the builders have opted to keep them there till the last minute).
Work has started and will continue in the following days to come. The front garden makeover is long overdue and so glad it's finally happening.Mark :-)