I have a walled medieval garden. By medieval, I mean that is how old the walls of my garden are. Actually, it’s possible that some are older. The village dates back to the Gauls. We’re talking year 200, and supposedly it was walled even then. And the back wall of my garden is part of the ramparts of the ancient village. But given the quality of the stone work, I lean towards early medieval period.
When I first moved in, this garden was an overgrown mess. It even had a hidden pond that I only discovered after clearing some of the growth. Since then the garden has slowly been taking shape. Most of it focused on its future, so this means structure and perennials. I’d say I’m about 2/3rds there, with the most recent or current project being my prospective patio. So, time for an update?
Practising Patience
Gardens by their nature can not be rushed. It takes time for plants to establish themselves. And if we add on that with every section I wish to work on I have to dig out a lot of rubbish/trash, well, it becomes an even longer winded project.
The perimeter was established first, with various fruit trees planted along the walls, and now espaliered. Then the centre, where I built a pergola for the climbing plants planted there. And in amongst the posts, raised hugelkultur beds. These are being developed further this year as I empty my cellar of a variety of large oak beams and trim the beds with them. At the moment these planting beds are more dome like, which means soil slides down. The intent is to use the beams to build up an edge, and thus keep the soil inside. The wood is too amazing and pretty, yet not good enough to use anywhere else. It is a recycling win all around.
My Prospective Patio
And then there is the patio. Or the eventual patio I should say. It will be in a corner of my garden, the one that gets the most shade. There is a low wall there that angles across the corner, so perfect as a perimeter for the patio. But let’s get into why there is this low wall in the first place.
This corner, furthest away from everything, was where the previous owner dumped his trash, garbage, rubbish – whatever you like to call it. Now many people today do not realise that detritus collection was not always a thing. It generally came about in the 1970s/80s in westerns countries. (I’ve written all about this, in particular relation to my restoration garden, here.) Before this people had to find other means of disposing of their stuff. In the case of the previous owner of my house, he used my prospective patio area as where he dumped and sometimes burned his unwanted things.
An Archeological Dig
Fast forward to today and my desire to have a patio in this area, and this means digging. A lot of digging. We are talking a meter (3 feet) down amount of shifting of dirt and sifting through it to remove all that was buried in it digging. If you ever need confirmation of how long it takes for metals, glass and plastics to disappear in a landfill, feel free to come and assist in my very own prospective patio archeological dig.
But why dig it up at all you may ask? Why not ignore and simply build my patio over the top? Three reasons. I like me a good archeological dig. Some of the things I find are truly fun and amazing (and even get sold in my shop.) My favourite finds are hand blown marbles. Second, sometimes I find not so nice things, dangerous things, and I would rather not worry about what is under my patio. And third, I have pet ducks, and they don’t have hands, so they use their beaks, their mouths essentially, to discover what is there. Did you know a big killer of ducks is ingested metal? So, it is worth trying to clean the soil of my garden as much as possible.
The On-going Patio
My prospective patio has been an on-going project since I moved in. Each year I have found myself at various times digging in this corner. (It’s nicely shaded much of the afternoon, which helps when things get hot.) Even my neighbours have had a go – obviously they must have been bored – whilst I have been away guiding. You never realise the joy you can feel in your neighbours until you receive a photo from one (who also looks after my pets), showing herself and her mother sifting through the dirt for metal bits that might potentially harm the ducks. I am truly lucky in my neighbours generosity of spirit.
The patio has been on the list for a long time, and has finally made it to the top. (Amongst a few other things.) Much of the rest of the garden is done now, with simple tweaks and plantings here and there. The patio is now the one area that is need of real work. (Excepting the water system, privacy fence of flowers and second pergola of grape vines.)
More Hands? to Help
Since the weather has warmed up, my lovely neighbour messages me most days to ask if we can work in the garden. This tasks me with getting it done (and she knows this). So the past month has found us out there for a couple of hours at end of day digging, sifting and filling up bin bags with a variety of melted metal bits, tiny plastic bag fragments and the odd bottle for the recycling bin.
There’s no rhyme or reason to how we dig. We just pick a section and work our way down. The ducks usually come to help in the hopes of us finding a worm, which we inevitably do. The cats too like to assist with digging. Then they declare we need to pet them in payment for their assistance. You are starting to understand why this is taking so long?
Cafe du Canard
When the area is finally cleared of all the bits it contains, it will be topped up with sand and I will go on the search for old bricks. With the laying of these, a rocking chair bench is envisaged. (I have seen one and hope it stays available for sale until the patio is ready for it). A bistro table and chairs too are planned. Ideally that quintessential iron vintage French style, but are like gold here in France.
The prospective patio is planned to be my new Cafe du Canard. The place I sit and muse. Watch the antics of my pets. Write my articles on life in France and generally plan what happens next in my restoration home. I have missed not having this magical place in my life. But it also seems fitting that it should be the culmination of my garden restoration work. More or less.
More Musings
If you’ve enjoyed my update on my gardens works, you will find more in my Restoration Garden. Or gardening in general in my garden findings posts. There are also posts on the house renovation works. And posts on archeology works in general.
Enjoy what you read, consider nourishing my writings.
And you can find what I find in My Shop, amongst other vintage and antique finds from France. Simply click on an image to see more.
