THE TIDRIDGE WEBSITE

MAUREEN AND JOHN'S GARDEN

EARLY DAYS IN THE GARDEN FROM 1964 TO MAY BE 2000

This is what the front of the home looked like when we moved in, in December 1963. Note the sun shades on both windows. At the front there was a wooden sidewalk from the back door to the back gate. The walk was replaced by cement blocks and they remain to this day. In the second picture you will notice a hedge [cotoneaster] , left side and a tree by the garage. The hedge was picked to help create the side hedges. The tree just went...I thought it was a pear tree and pruned it accordingly. It was not a pear tree! The third picture probably our third or fourth summer...as there were shrubs some sort in both the borders. The slim dude shall be nameless...the hedge is shown in its full glory.

It would seem there was specific effort to take garden pictures...however, here is a shot of the single garage, the vegetable garden just a-growing complete with a structure for runner beans. Like the third picture. Liz is watering plants in a border against the Murphies fence. The fence encircles the entire back yard.

Here the ground appears to have been left fallow, whoever the dude on his knees is planted carnation cuttings. None took. Second picture[ shows shrubs against the back wall. Steve in the front yard, Both of the tress have long gone. The young lady in the sombrero is ignoring the highly cultivated garden behind her.

More sombreros, more garden in the background. My Dad, with me in front of my greenhouse. It was small and ugly but produced some good plants. In ended its life as a shabby looking storage shed. I cannot believe we really allowed this place. Steve in front of my second greenhouse, 10x15 and again it worked. It too came to a sad end...nuff sed.

The sunshades are gone...the lone fir tree was removed and in fact was replaced with four seedlings in honour of Arbour day. Steve's, the remaining tree, finished up in the same spot [almost] as the tree in the picture. Sarah and Trish's were planted either side of the front sidewalk, Liz's in the bottom right hand corner of the front yard. The girls' trees remained for several years but were finally removed...Steve takes some abuse as his tree is the remaining one. The hedge along the south side of the property has grown. The green house remained for a while and both pictures show the garden

The birch tree [with Sarah] was planted as a sapling 6' tall and with a trunk an inch in diameter. It is still growing strong, with a trunk over a foot in diameter, it is kept pruned and in good shape.Liz is the painter, and as you can see the hedge along the back of the property has grown. More lawn was sown and the 'back' garden is being established.

Two shots of the garden showing the boxes..... Winter......

General improvements over the years...a new garage, patio,,,and the boxes in their full glory!

Arbours have been added... and people.

And a wedding and the odd family gathering....

2012 Garden [I think]

Pictures 1 through 5 show what the garden looks like after an average winter. Not much sign of life, one wonders if there will be anything left to grow.

1.	2.	3.	4.	5.
Pictures 6 though 10 winter is going, the snow has gone, then it snows again, brown grass and then , more of the white stuff..

6.	7.	8.	9.	10.
Pictures 6-10 What do you know.. Grape Hyacith, a tulip, two purchased pots and a cactus...and electic mix...

11.	12.	13.	14.	15.
Pictures 11-12 The border under the kitchen window, with Hen and Chicks, Dusty Miller and Clematis. 13-14 Border under garage window. 15 A really stubborn Bleeding Heart that comes back year after year... a welcome sight.

16.	17.	18.	19.	20.
Pictures 16-19 Bedding plants, this must have been when enthusiasm was high. What a lot of work to grow and maintain. The Carangana looks good! Picture 20 Green grass, neatly trimmed hedge and the promise of steaks or hambergers or hotdogs.

21.	22.	23.	24.	25.
Pictures 21-22 Our memorial garden to Eliza. The rose tree florishes. 23 shows the general area. 24. Shows a contuning effort to growm something, anything in the bed at the southwest corner the rear yard. 25 Just inside the front gate: A whate rose and delphiniums.

26.	27.	28.	29.	30.
Pictures 27-30 show roses in various parts of the garden the the exception of the rose in 30 [waiting to bloom]

31.	32.	33.	34.	35.
Pic. 31 Rose on south wall of garage, 32 mostly of the Arctic Birch, which grows 'wildly' eahc year, 33 A view showing the well-covered arbour, 34 Another arbour [lopsided] [must fix that]. 35 Bloomng rose and a bird bath.

36.	37.	38.	39.	40.
Pica. 36 & 37 The keepers of the garden, Maureen and John with great granddaughter Felicity. 38 & 39 Grandaugher Rachael with neice Felicty.40. The rose on the garage south wall.

41.	42.	43.	44.	45.
Picas. 41-45 Pictures of various parts of the garden.

46.	47.	48.	49.	50.
Pics 46 & 47 shows at least three varieties of lilies. They are hard to beat for colour. 48 A general view of the back yard. 49 Were are now recognized as a historical home..at least we can display the plaque. 50 ANother rose...

51.	52.	53.	54.	55.
Pics. 51 & 52 show the two Clematis on the east wall...lovely flowers, short flowering season. 53 What happens if you don't tie up Delphiniums. 54 Lovely Dahlia. 55 Shasta Daisies, a new variety.

56.	57.	58.	59.	60.
Pics. 56 & 57 More lilies, the first ones wil,l and are dying out. The yellow one, not sure what has happened to it. 58 & 59 Waiting for the second crop of roses. 60 Arbour with handing basket.

61.	62.	63.	64.	65.
Pics 61 & 62 of the south border. This border only gets afternoon sun, but does quite nicely. Pics.. 63 & 64 nice looking borders, particularly the day lilies. 65 Kitchen border with Hen & Chicks.

66.	67.	68.	68.	69.
Pic 66 side border at front of house, Good secelection of plants. Pic. 67-69 Front borders and 69 view of home from the road.

70.
Pic. Garage and hedge. Seems to me if you don't keep up the back of your property, what's the point of bothering with the rest of it. Just a thought!

e-mail : Care to comment?
John Tidridge