The Eggy Garden

The Eggy Garden at the driveway-end of the water race was started in the year 2004. Big gum trees on the boundary fence were close, and I did wonder how dry things would get. So there was much initial bucketing of water onto the new plants.

It's turned into a very typical Moosey foliage garden, I'm afraid - filled with the usual assortment of Phormiums, Pittosporums, Rhododendrons, and other shrubs. No style, no finesse - and obviously no idea how large anything would grow, by the pruning and chopping of Pittosporums I've been doing this autumn!

Rules for Purchasing Plants

I used birthday money from the Moosey London Son, nicknamed 'Eggy', to buy all the plants that are in here. He does this nearly every year - what a lovely chap! So it seemed polite to name the new garden in his honour. But this time there were some strict rules as to what I spent the money on (for example, something had to be blue) - and I had to complete my purchases in ten minutes. There was a threat about buying conifers, too, if any money was left over. Eek!

Since the first planting I've added a few filler shrubs, tussock grasses, and some bare root white Iceberg roses on the edge. There's also a mass planting of Mignonette, which I didn't realise would be quite so tenacious. I think I might mean invasive...

Early Progress

These photographs show the garden's early progress, with the hybrid flaxes like Jester, and my motley collection of spare annuals (mainly raucous pink Lavateras) and roses.

The rhododendrons in the Eggy Garden have done well (a couple have had to be moved, too small to compete with the other greenery). I enjoy the dreamy summer weeding sessions in this garden - it's very sheltered, dappled with shade in mid-summer, and has water running nearby. Ambience plus!

What Happened Then?

Over the years the rhododendron Blue Wave has grown well, and the original Pittosporums have grown rather too well. These are forgiving tree-shrubs, though, and can be chopped severely to bush out again.

The Wedding Cake Viburnum has struggled away (fancy planting such a special tree where it can't easily be seen). In the summer of 2009 a Lady Hillingdon climbing rose suddenly decided to climb. And the Libertia has spread everywhere. Oops - I've forgotten what I used to call the garden, though - now it just blends in with the Willow Tree Garden.