Trying to find my Mojo!!

I haven't really done any work in the garden for ages, no idea why, just not inspired. So having finished my daughters lap quilt I thought it was time to go out and find it, my 'mojo', that is.! So at the weekend we went all the way to Poole to visit a Facebook, Hardy Tropical friend.

His potting shed reminded me of my grandpa's tool shed, full of old wooden handled tools, it also made me realise what a wally I was having my potting bench in the greenhouse taking up precious room. So after I have sorted the flowerbed I intend to change, I will be hitting the shed!!!

I loved his garden, it had an island of plants, well actually 2 islands of plants, in the middle. Something I have always wanted but as our garden has 'evolved' this can't happen.

He also uses brush, type fencing which hides the fence panels, a nice touch.

I love his rock borders to. What I did forget to get was a photo of his 3 tortoise's.

This beautiful canna stood at least 8 ft tall.

This Salvia was also extremely tall and everything about it, flowers, foliage everything had the most amazing smell.

His greenhouse was amazing, but I was pleased to hear like all good greenhouse owners he wished he had built a bigger one!

I love the mix of colour and different shaped leaves in this pic

Just stunning

He built the pegola himself. This is what I would like down by the pond, I might even paint it red!!

So today I tackled the flower bed, the only one left in my garden, I have decided that I shall put a good mix of flowers and tropicals, but I intend to use hardy plants with tropical leaves and fill with annuals, just as Mike has done above in his garden. I have relied too much on plants that need to be brought in at the end of each year, then put out again the following year.

So these are the before pics

and here we have the first stage done.

I have planted my fig, melanthus major, and my scheflera. I have a loquat coming. Pink China and the Galo-watchymecall it one (Colocasia)are also in. I had a few left over cannas which I popped in, well you never know we may have an indian summer!!!
This bed has not been touched for years so was full of bindweed, so at least now I can see it and spray it as soon as it shows its ugly leaves!!!

So next year there will be lots of large leaved annuals.
I am totally broken, I ache in places I haven't ached for ages, but, the Pilates must be paying off as my back is fine.