NEXT, THE LANDSCAPE GARDENER TOOK A TURN

This is a post left over from when Loose and Leafy was a work of fiction. Later, it evolved into what it is now - a blog about the wild plants of the South Dorset Coast.

To make sense (in so far as there is sense) of these early posts, you may like to take a look at Esther in the Garden.

* * *

Well, after the leatherjackets, I had to decide what to do with the muddy patch they left behind.

I was properly working then and sometimes away for weeks trying to persuade delicatessens in Europe to sell Casterbridge Pies in their stores - so I looked in the telephone directory and found a firm of landscape gardeners, phoned to see if they would take on the task and a man soon came round. I chatted with him for a bit, showed him pictures of gardens I liked, assured him that he was the expert and that I'd leave all decisions with him - and went to France.

I don't know precisely what I thought he'd do but I certainly hoped he'd make clever use of perspective so it would all seem much bigger than it really is. And I explained that, although he'd need to choose low maintenance plants, I would like something dramatic and interesting to look out upon and I asked for a good way to hide the dustbin and the compost. In my mind's eye I was seeing . . . perhaps a nice curve in the path suggesting a shrubbery beyond . . . or the hint of an entrance to a walled vegetable garden - a tasteful variety of horticultural trompe-oeils.

So, off I went, happy with the reasonable quote I'd been given and surprised how short a time he said would be needed to complete the task.

He put down floorboards.

For tomorrows's post, click here.

For yesterday's post, click here.