Our Featured Grower this week is Kay Maynard (@brook_cottage_), who shared with us her gardening journey. Having started gardening a few years ago, in this blog post, Kay recounts how she is a huge fan of trees, how she loves to garden for wildlife, and some of the lessons she has learnt along the way. She also tells us why she loves the rustic look when it comes to gardening, and reminds us how gardening is about nurturing and creating a space that is personal to each individual.
Early days
Kay tells us how she started gardening about four years ago. Having moved into their home 10 years ago, the front garden was a concrete jungle and the back and side garden was a sea of grass. The new house needed renovating, so the garden was neglected for quite a few years. Yet, Kay says, “thankfully I did plant a magnolia, ceanothus, two apple trees and two evergreen trees in the first few years, which I’m so grateful for, as they’re well established now and make a huge difference to the garden.”
A huge fan of trees
A huge fan of trees, Kay has planted as many as she can squeeze into the space available. She plants them mainly as they benefit the local wildlife but also for the height and structure they give. Kay goes on to say, “I especially love fruit trees. We have plum, cherry, fig, pear, peach, apple and crab apple trees. I can’t resist them!!! I love seeing birds feeding off them. I purposely leave some of the produce, especially the crab apples, for the birds to feed on. There’s only so much crabapple jelly you can consume!!!”
Learning as she goes along
As a novice gardener, Kay says she is learning as she goes along. “I have a very eclectic mix of plants. I like the rustic look and like to grow herbs, flowers and vegetables alongside each other. One of my favourite combinations is my beautiful fennel grown side by side with one of my roses. Fennel is one of my favourite plants. I love the scent, the structure it gives and who doesn’t love a self seeder?”
Having started her garden from nothing, Kay says, self seeding plants and plants that can be easily divided are very attractive to her.
Kay also shares that she tries to garden as economically as she can, learning new things as she goes along.
Gardening for wildlife
Kay loves gardening for wildlife. She says, “I try my best to make our garden as wildlife friendly as I can. We created a wildlife pond in the back garden a few years ago, which is now a hive of activity. We’re delighted to say that we now have frogs residing with us! We have a fish pond in the side garden. A vintage water tank in the front garden and little rain catchers dotted around the flower beds for the birds”.
There are also plenty of birds nesting in their garden, including robins and great tits. “We have nesting boxes going all along the back fence, which the great tits use. The robin choses to nest in our garden shed window box! We added some lovely coir nests this year to our evergreen trees. We’re hopeful they will soon have some tenants,” Kay adds.
She goes on to explain that she leaves small piles of rustic logs for insects. “When I cut back our willow I will leave it alongside the fence for insects to set up home in! I try help insects as much as I can, I leave all the leaves that drop in our flower beds to mulch down and help shelter insects. I always try to plant as many bee-friendly plants as I can. I have quite a few butterfly friendly plants dotted around. I try to grow plants with berries for the birds to feed on in the winter. I find wild ivy great for them, so I have grown it all along the side fence, although having said that, they feast on our blackberry, blueberry, raspberry and strawberry plants. It’s quite a rustic garden, so it does seem to attract a lot of local wildlife.”
Using coir products and gardening sustainably
Kay also shared with us her experiences of using coir products and gardening sustainably. “I try and garden as sustainably as I can, so I use natural products as much as possible. I find it’s a perfect start for our seedlings. I love the CoirCoins, just add water and seeds and wait for the magic to happen!”
She goes on to add, “we have coir hanging baskets which not only look great but are a great natural growing container. My favourites are the coir pots. I have a few problem areas in our garden, where the soil just isn’t the best, making it tricky to get some plants to take once planted out, I now plant the coir pots and then plant them in the ground, they get the best start and as the pots are biodegradable I don’t need to worry about them once planted. It’s working well for me.”
The social media gardening community
She often takes inspiration from gardening books, blogs, magazines. She is also grateful to the social media gardening community. Kay adds, “if I’m stuck I have a few go to gardeners on Instagram, who have so much knowledge and experience, they’re always so helpful with what are probably ridiculous questions, sorry Dawn ”
A sense of wellbeing
For Kay, gardening is her happy place. “Gardening for me gives me a sense of well being. It’s my happy place, there is nothing I love more than seeing the sausages and ragdolls darting around the garden whilst I’m happily pottering. I have a very laid back attitude to gardening. I try to sow as many seeds directly out as I can, divide plants, propagate as much as I can and then stand back and see what works. In the first couple of years, I was constantly moving plants as I had planted them in the wrong place. You live and learn, I don’t move half as many plants now!!! I don’t do structured flower beds, straight lines or order. I like the rustic look so that’s what I’m going with!
Tips for other gardeners
Sharing some tips and suggestions, Kay says, her main piece of advice would be to not overthink it, “if you make a mistake or if you don’t like what you have done, just change it or move it!”. As she very well reminds us, “gardening for me is about nurturing and creating a space that is personal for you. Try and enjoy the process, because it will work for you in the end, it may take you a few attempts, but you will get there!”
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