How Does (The Bottom of) Our Garden Grow?

The bottom section of our garden is given over to the growing of fruit and veg, plus an area for the chickens, and a large potting/wood shed. The previous owner had used this part of the garden for the same purpose but because he was in his 90s he hadn't been able to give the garden as much attention as it really needed. Add to that the fact that we didn't really work on the garden for about a year after we bought the house due to renovation work, when we finally moved in we were faced with a somewhat Herculean task.

This was what the bottom of the garden looked like when we bought the house in August 2010; this photo was taken from one of the attic office windows, hence the elevated angle. Can you see the Victorian red brick wall that marks our boundary? No, me either. Can you see the woodshed? You might just about be able to make out a corner of the roof just off centre, about a quarter of the way up.

Here's a view from ground level.

And again, about eight months on in April 2011, just as the building work had started.

Let's step in a little closer. Welcome to the jungle.

Albeit quite a pretty one, in a secret garden kind of way.

That's the entrance to the remains of a fruit cage to the left.

Nearly a year on (March 2012), and some huge progress had been made. 

We could actually see/get to/use the woodshed. The edges of vegetable and fruit beds are visible. And the chicken run is where the fruit cage used to be.

A couple of months on (May 2012) and several tonnes of gravel have helped in marking out the paths between the beds. DC and his trusty spade (plus ice cream bribe) have also helped.

And now, July 2013, the bottom part of the garden (I mentioned to hubby that we should call it 'the kitchen garden' because it sounds so grand...) is looking verily tip top and abundant, thanks to hubby's hard work over the last couple of years.

Runner beans, plus onions and garlic in this bed behind one of the apple trees.

Squash, courgette, beetroot, peas, carrots and probably something else that I've forgotten.

Jerusalem artichokes, rhubarb, dahlia and a rose bush in the small bed nearest the camera.

Two beds chock-full of raspberries. Enough last year to make 36 jars of jam. 

Here's hoping for the same this year.

Some of the apple trees are just visible top left of the photo.

And it looks like it's going to be a VERY good year for apples. We've got five established trees and three new ones, so we could soon be buried under a mountain of eaters and cookers.

And one final photo - I was trying to take a shot of the beautiful cedar tree, but I got photo bombed.