Middle Garden Path
Middle Path is always being reclaimed from weeds and self-seeders, widened, and moved. In the early days Nicotianas and cherry red peonies were dominant plants near its edge.
But then the big pink rhododendron grew - and grew... And so Middle Path had to be moved again and again - no way was I going to prune such a beautiful shrub!
Middle Path in Spring 2004
In 2004 I tried out roses and a rose arch - oops. Not enough sun. Then the peonies were shifted out in the winter of 2006 - they had a brighter, better garden to go to. And still the beautiful pink rhododendron grew - and grew...
Middle Path in Spring 2008
By 2007 I accepted that the whole feeling of Middle Garden had changed from a sunny, open border into a woodland. I planted foliage plants in the gaps and shifted out anything that needed to see the sun.
Nicotianas
Nicotianas (Llansdorffii and Sylvestris) still self-seed in here, but a cute little purple leafed euphorbia now does better - it produces many welcome seedlings. The photograph below is from the Moosey Archives, and was taken in the year 1999, early in Middle Path's long life. Back then the path was littered with huge self-sown Nicotianas, and some red Canna lilies can be seen, on the left.
middle path in summer 1999
Middle Path forms part of a well-trodden route from the house through to the Hazelnut Orchard, crossing the water at Middle Bridge.