Most expensive thing in your garden?

[Plocket]

That is a beautiful patio set David. I'd love a decent wooden set but we are doing ok with our green plastic ASDA set at the moment. One day I want to invest in one of those picnic tables that opens up to be a bench. We saw them at Tatton and they are marvelous.

[veggardener]

Thank you Plocket!

Not a very good pic I'm afraid, some of it is in half-shade (took it this morning) - it gives the basic idea though.

It's made of teak so it should last for a while, given an annual treatment of teak oil.

Btw, I bought it from Byrkley GC; they have some interesting end of season offers at the mo.

[veggardener]

Sorry Plocket! I didn't comment on your 'Tatton picnic table'.
I'm not sure I've seen one of those.

[Deleted]

The most expensive thing in my garden is my pond - and I can't take it with me when we move

[Plocket]

I've been trying to link to their website David but there seems to be a problem. Here's a scan of the leaflet though which should give you an idea:

[Plocket]

Aw Rita - that's such a shame. <hug>

[veggardener]

plocket said:

I've been trying to link to their website David but there seems to be a problem. Here's a scan of the leaflet though which should give you an idea:

Ah! That's a neat idea - I've never seen anything like that in my travels.

[Plocket]

It's pretty good isn't it? Margi and I were really impressed especially as it unfolds so easily - you could do it with one finger! They weren't rediculously expensive - I think including delivery it would cost us about £150. I wish their website worked!

[veggardener]

Plocket

If you do manage to locate the website or have any more info I would be interested, - not for me, but my son.

[toonia]

I'm afraid to say we've been spending without counting. In fact, it would be interesting one day to tot it all up. I'm sure everybody's garden is worth more than they think. We've bought a greenhouse, the materials to build the pond -we did most of it ourselves but had a man with a digger to make the hole to start us off. Then we're having hard landscaping done now which is frighteningly expensive, mainly because we wanted to use real stone in keeping with the house. Then when you think how much you spend on compost, pots, feeds etc before you even get to plants!
The money all came from 5 late parents (there's a step in there to make 5)and none of them ever saw it but we do have plants from their gardens which are the priceless things. I can honestly say I'd rather have kept the parents longer but enjoying spending what they left is the best tribute I can pay them.

[oldmoleskins]

plocket said:

The arch is beautiful, but I'd put clems up it!!!!!

The wellingtonia sounds lovely Oldmoleskins - any chance of a photo? Another tree I'm keen on is the tulip tree - mum and dad have one and I'd grow one from seed if I had room for a tree in my garden

Well. my track record in posting pics has lead to some strange outcomes, but:



should display it. Otherwise, luckily, I know someone who can fix these things for me.
It's about 2m across at 1.2m above ground (forestry sizes trees as dbh - diameter at breast height, but that's a bit arbitary, depends on the height, depends on the breasts) and, I guess, 32 to 34m high. The brown patches are scorch from the exceptional summer we've had, but, I'm told, nor terminal. Phew!

OM

[Plocket]

Sure thing David - nag me if I forget though

Oldmoleskins that is a beautiful tree. Thank you.

[Deleted]

The wife and kids are definitely THE moooost expensive thing that exist in my garden!

Aside from them it would be my greenhouse. The delivery guy handed over the receipt to my Dad, who looked at it and came over all funny with a sudden shortness of breath. When I told my brother of this worrying episode he said "you should have gone for an even bigger one"

As for plants - I'm a real cheapskate (I grow from seed where poss). I only have 3 that cost more than a tenner, with my grapevine topping the scales at £17.99

[Deleted]

Hi CC - stumbled across this, as I do on most threads here ( until I figure it out !!!) Gather you are imminently (sp!) to be a father again - good luck!!! And you escaped from under patio to far side - do I have black holes ? I too, grow from seed a lot and best friend is a cheque book gardener - her garden looks better but I think I get more satisfaction!!!
Best wishes to you and family - take care - PA

[Deleted]

Sorry, most expensive thing in my garden is a Daphne Odora, that I transplanted 3 times, before reading that they hate roo disurbance - will persevere with it - and no black monsters at the top of this!!!!!!

[Deleted]

hence no time to spell check !!!!

[Deleted]

Hi All,

Its interesting to hear everyone talking about enjoying spending money and having so few regrets ( greenhouses in wind tunnels excepted).

I am a real cheapskate and have most of my pricey things as presents, but as I have to watch my pennies I trend to dream for ages and then plunge.
The 2 biggest ''lumps'' of money have been to the mini digger man. Firstly to dig a drainage trench all around the main central part of our small garden. ..filled with the usual ..blue pipe and chippings to stop the puddles in the grass. Second the same man and machine to remove a horrendous rockery made with the remnants of walls when our cottage was being ''done up'' before we bought it. This has been converted into a tiny patio area ( Margi I sympathise with the wind tunnel, thats where our new impossible to use patio is).But it wasn't a waste of money as its no longer an eyesore.
Now I am waiting for my small shrubs to bulk out and become windbreaks.
Tho other expenses are the pots rather than the plants.

Wx

[Spruance]

Well the most expensive things in my garden are the two Alton Cedarwood greenhouses, with the southern boundary fence a close third.

£1000 did seem a lot of pay for the larger of the two greenhouses, but I could afford it at the time so thought.. Why worry? Also the cedarwood GH's look better than the aluminium ones, and retain the heat better than aluminium.

As for plants, I am a total scrooge, and always look out the for the bargains at the GC, especially plants that look as though they would split - two for the price of one.

[chickadeedeedee]

plocket said:

Ooooh I love Redwoods. How long have you had it ChickaDDD?

Sorry. I just saw this question. The Dawn Redwood (Metasequoia glyptostroboides) was planted in 1998 at 6 ft. tall and is now ... ~~maybe~~... 25-30 ft. tall.

We also have a Giant Redwood planted in 2001.

3DChick

[oldmoleskins]

3DChick,
I know the Giants are famously long-lived, but do you happen to know the growth rate? I ask, because we have one, it's still a baby at 150 years old (about 100 feet) but what I'd like to know is - how tall at say 10,20,30 years?

We have a photo of our garden dated around 1875. There is a tall tree in the foreground where the redwood is now. They weren't brought into the UK before 1850. Get the picture?

As a secondary, I know the Victorians were capable of most things that cheap labour and steam shipping could handle - is there any US reference to how big these fashionable exports to the Old Country were when they were shipped??

OM

[chickadeedeedee]

Hi OM.

They are an awesome tree aren't they? I am not sure of the average growth rates. Our Giant Redwood grows about 1.5 to 2 ft. / year. I am sure the rate would vary with weather conditions as well as soil conditions. Ohio isn't really its natural habitat either.

As for your shipping question, I'll try to find out for you.

Have you posted a photograph of your garden? Hint. Hint. :-)

C3D

[obelixx]

After much thought I have to conclude the most expensive thing in my garden is me.

I'm the one with the ideas, the wish lists and the plantaholic tendencies closely associated with an obelisk fetish, need for somewhere comfy to sit and eat or chat, a BBQ to cook on, pots for hostas and ericaceous treasures, trellises for all the roses and clematis, the guineau fowl sculpture collection........................... not to mention the small fortune spent on feeding the local birds.

[oldmoleskins]

excuse the leapfrog, Obelixx...

C3D, there's a pic - or should be, there was - back on page three. If you can find out anything for me, I'd be grateful...

OM

[chickadeedeedee]

Oh the bird feeding cost does add up doesn't it? Plus if you want to attract a wider variety of birds you need to invest in different seed mixes or the mealworms or grape jelly or nectar or nut mixes or suet .... LOL!

Thanks OM! I miss that massive tree you have. Now I wonder if our little guy should be moved. He is too close to the fence (in a few decades). :-)

Still trying to find some information for you.

Kindest regards.

C3D

[chickadeedeedee]

Here is an interesting site for all you wanted to know about Redwoods.

www.redwoodworld.co.uk/links.htm

[Deleted]

Most expensive must be the outside bar (built by OH and son for son's 21st) 15' x 18'

Plant wise Leopard tree survived 1st winter origanal tree died year 2, grew again from the bottom and has survived last 2 winters OH choped down the origanal dead tree last weekend.
xchris

[Plocket]

Hia No1puddin! Nice to see you here!!!

The bar sounds cool but I feel rather sorry for the leopard tree!

[Deleted]

It must be the paving in our courtyard - it's a listed property and the conservation officer had the choice of three sample slabs. She picked the most expensive of course which cost us a few thousand pounds but it does look good.

[magrich]

plocket............I must ask, where did you get a bargain replacement for your acer? I had a beauty , but for some reason (god only knows) it died last year. it had been quitw content for 4 years.
It was one of the most expensive plants I have ever bought too.

[Plocket]

Hi Magrich! It was an offer from GW Magazine - I just had to pay for the postage. They are incredibly expensive and like you I lost one, so I got the "free" replacement.