We had been thinking a revamp of the Wildflower Garden was inevitable. Well I had. Whilst at the heady height of summer this space looked utterly perfect, it wasn’t particularly pleasing in winter. More bare earth than butterfly and bee haven. We discussed many possibilities and then it was during a conversation about my up and coming birthday I had my moment. I waited patiently and then I pounced. “I’m struggling for a gift for your birthday darling” Mr M said “it’s all well and good you saying you’ve got everything you need, that’s not particularly helpful to those of us choosing gifts.” Now was my chance if I was ever to be presented with one. The moment I had patiently waited for. “I know, I know!” I squealed in that exciteable manner you’ve come to know “I’d like a fence please.” And that is how this story began…
Of course, this project was never going to be just Mr M painstakingly making a fence from scratch out of inexpensive wood and ‘stuff’ we had hanging around. A little painted picket fence perhaps the same shade as Belle was how I envisioned it. One with a cute little opening or perhaps a wrought iron gate swinging in the summer breeze. Only I know Mr M you see and if you reveal all your cards at once, you are often met with a sharp intake of breath followed by a lot of grumbling. Sizeable chunks, that is how you offer up your ideas to him. And perhaps a picture or two to show you have carried out your research…
Photo Credit: Geoff Hamilton’s Cottage Garden
Once I had his commitment for the fence, I addressed the relocation of the garden path suggesting this would be necessary since The Spotty One rarely used the current format and generally trampled on the pretties. A pretty path edged in the vintage terracotta tiles we already had and perhaps a sprinkle of crunchy gravel underfoot.
Taken from: Geoff Hamilton’s Cottage Garden 
And a few new plants. We would need a selection of plants, those cottage garden types. Something which offered an element of ground cover and structure in the cold bare winter months and looked breathtakingly glorious during spring and summer. We should look out for a few rusty iron supports I suggested to grow climbers up and maybe we could shift a few of our vintage collection of tubs and chimneys dotted around the garden and stored in the garage over to this new garden too. For it was indeed to be, a new garden.
I suggested we call this project The Cottage Garden. “Oh yes I can see it now,” I exclaimed rather excitedly “it will be a wonderful selection of insect friendly plants all ensconced in a painted picket fence right in front of beautiful Belle, thank you darling, what a thoughtful gift” I squealed in delight. “You are quite simply the best of them all. We should start straight away, there’s not a moment to lose. I’ll begin gathering the vintage garden ware together and you could make a start on digging over the wildflower garden when you’re ready” I added helpfully as I trotted off in search of hidden garden delights.
Mr M began showing me how the fence would work. Where posts would go and how high it would be. He talked in numbers and lengths and materials. I listened and stifled yawns appropriately. I think I managed to maintain eye contact and ooh and ahh as I should whilst inside my head, I plotted riotous colours and heavenly scents, grasses wafting in the late September breeze, you know the sort of thing.
The ramp you see below is a necessity for The Spotty One these days, he’s getting on in years bless him.
Once Mr M had measured the garden area and decided he would need to cut and sand 94 pickets for our fence, he announced I had a choice. A fence au naturel or paint it myself. So, paint it I did. I used Sadolin Superdec paint (in colour RAL 7038) as we did for Belle herself. Yet when we woke the next morning my calm state of mind was to be tested. The blue coating the ‘cheap’ wood had been preserved with, had drunk the expensive paint.
And so it was, I had to prime every picket. To be clear, that is all four sides of 94 pickets and wait patiently for each side to dry.
Only then could I reapply the expensive paint. Again to all four sides. Now there’s a day or two I will never get back.
Heavy posts were cemented in and painted…
The weed suppressant used in the Wildflower Garden was removed since Mr M needed to dig deep to accommodate the established roots of any new plants…
And lengths of railings were cut to size, sanded down, painted and finally fixed in place…
The pickets were added with the help of the M children who crawled around on their hands and knees holding spirit levels as directed whilst Mr M fixed all in place. Some pickets were painted in situ over forthcoming days since there had been a slight miscalculation initially as to the total number needed. Something to do with me extending the new garden area slightly I understand. If you try this project at home please note, painting pickets in situ is labour intensive, weather reliant and difficult. It is preferable to get the maths right at the start.
Master M was home for the weekend to help with another major project in the home. I know already what you are thinking. Of course, we went for total upheaval in both the house and garden at the same time. Doesn’t everyone? That story is however for another day.
Ah and Belle, lest we should forget Belle. Master M’s bedroom had been prettified with her contents once again and she was not looking at all her usual beautiful self. Sadly she did not resemble last summer’s beauty at all.
So, that’s a hallway with a great many fence pickets drying on a dining table needed for supper that evening (seven for a casual ‘home cooked’ supper as you do when you are not even sure where your kitchen is any more) major upheaval in a much used room in the home (which all seven people would need to access to at some point that evening) a muddy patch of earth that once was a beautiful Wildflower Garden needing an awful lot of love and attention, and Belle. Beautiful Belle looking far from it.
And that is the point at which we will leave today. The point at which my state of calm had long since passed me by. Replaced instead with rising panic and a worryingly rapid heartbeat. And the point at which Mr M had withdrawn totally into himself wishing he had kept his mouth shut and just presented me with an M&S voucher for my birthday present. And the point at which we were both thinking, this time we really had bitten off far more than we could chew. Until next week…x
This really was a team effort Karen, everyone worked very hard to create such a pretty garden around Belle x
How lucky for you to have a Mr M, I’m in total envy!! A lovely little project which I know has turned out stunning. What a team you have there! Xx
Oh that is so funny! Which bit did you snort at?! I’m glad you enjoyed the story, pace yourself, you have parts two and three to get through yet!x
I am sure Mr M would be there like a shot for you lovely friend however… I have a very long list here to complete! I am looking forward to heady summer blooms falling over the picket fence at Belle’s… stay tuned!x
Aah we need you, come home soon darling there is a paintbrush waiting with your name on it!x
Mary Katherine, there is a common theme here amongst my comments today… my strategy is being stored for future use by you lovely readers, this is good! Your groundhog is however not good. Thank goodness we don’t have them here, I’m with you and the cayenne pepper needs to be sprinkled forthwith!x
Ah Helen, over the years I have discovered to drip feed my requirements to Mr M is more preferable! Slowly slowly catch the monkey and all that… thanks for joining in and hope you enjoy next weeks installment x
Oh Helen this really did make me chuckle to myself. I’m definately going to take tips off you from now on as to how to get projects going! My tactics so far have been somewhat less subtle😂I think my hubby and Mr M would get on like a house on fire. It’s going to look incredible. Well done! Xx
Hilarious! I’m guessing most folks (even Mr. M) don’t see you coming until it’s too late! Brilliant strategy, which I will retain for future use. Chuckling over the image of your children with spirit levels, a totally upended house, yes- it’s how these projects end up for us all. But you’re certainly Doing It Right, and all the effort will be WORTH IT – for many years to come!
I returned to my country cottage last night to find a Very Large Hole going under my brand new deck (built by my husband last year) – the work of a groundhog. Be VERY grateful you do not have these in the Old Worlde…. When I suggested sprinkling cayenne pepper to discourage him, husband was horrified (extremely tender-hearted) and suggested we could just “leave it be, and put something over it when people come over”. Bear in mind you must STEP OVER THE HOLE TO ENTER OUR HOME. I snapped that solution was just White Trash, and was met with wounded silence for the rest of the evening. I need to sign up for your Husband Management course…
What a lovely project! Looking forward to coming home next to get my hands dirty and help out !
Brilliant Helen!… I’ve got so many things lined up for Mr M!….you don’t know how lucky you are to have him….( well you probably do!)….a perfect team! I just love how that picket fence is going to look next to Belle…… brimming over with cottge garden beauties… 💐 xxx
Sitting waiting at the dentist reading your great blog. Out came an enormous snort of laughter. Strange looks have ensued. Just brilliant hels. Xxx
Aaaah you know you love the challenge Mr M! Now, about this weekend…..x
Oh thank you Julie for joining in! I think many of our husbands have similar traits… they must shudder inside when we start! Good luck with your painting, I’m going to embrace the chippy look for my fence in the future… if I ever see another picket again it will be too soon! See you next week x
Oh how funny! I imagine I looked like a crazy one! Imagine if I had been wearing my ‘mad lady’ dress you love so much too, that would have given you a giggle!!! Anyway hurry home you, there’s painting to be done here!x
Well, who wants to sit and enjoy the sun, watch a bit of footie, rugby, Grand Prix ………, with a cold beer, when the alternative is to create a Cottage Garden for your beloved! Did I get mugged!?! 😳 M&S next year 😉 xx
What a weekend! One we will always remember for SURE!
An insight for your readers… Belle isn’t the only beauty behind the scenes of Whitewood and Linen…she, the author herself, is a bit of a knock out and I can say with a hand on my heart that my Mum was COVERED in paint! The same colour as her beloved Belle!!
An empty Belle looking rather sad and emerging from inside…a strange human shaped Belle coloured maniac running around the garden screeching incoherent sentences….Hahaha I can’t wait to read next week and your next instalment of this project. It’s certainly far less stressful reading it with a coffee in hand, than living it with you!! xxxx
Absolutely worth the patient waiting Helen. So funny. I think Mr M and my husband would have a lot in common. I love the “slight miscalculation in the number of pickets needed”. We have a paved area by the kitchen door which has a picket fence and I’ve been thinking about painting it white for a while. I will do it this spring when I can get a few days of guaranteed good weather. Not looking forward to it though😂.
Looking forward to part 2.
Ha Ha Ha Molly… it was a strategic game I played there! You are the second request for ‘borrowing’ Mr M today… he said no I’m sorry to say… he’s at work for a rest!! I’m so glad you enjoyed the read and really… who needs an M&S voucher when a picket fence is in the offing? Tune in next week and thank you for commenting and being here x
😆😆….revealing cards, numbers, lengths, yawns….MAINTAINING eye contact, spirit levels …..Oh Helen this did make me chuckle, it all hits very close to home!
What an absolute fabulous project and so worth it…although Mr M won’t realise that yet. This is the things dreams are made of!!!
…that would have had to have been one expensive M&S voucher so I think he chose the better option!
I would love to do this here…seriously looked into, think I made the major mistake of revealing my cards to early 🤣🤣
Tell Mr M I’ll have him to do ours when he’s finished!
As always beautifully written Helen you just speak through the page with such passion. Look forward to Part 2 (you toad!) XXX
Aah bless you lovely friend, so glad you like it. There is a crazy busy vibe going on around here at the moment and the end is now in sight. I intend to spend the Easter break gawping at my picket fence! Thanks for reading and commenting and have a wonderful week!x
Ooooh Helen this is such an exciting blog! oh my goodness, you poor thing
having to repaint those fence panels… again! I love the idea of the picket fence around Belle and it is already taking shape and oh…wow.. it looks fantastic, all painted!! I cannot wait for part 2! Keep going girl, you’re doing a fabulous job! Well, you and the M family!! X