Lovely surprise

Lovely news vq, let us see some pictures when you get it all finished won't you?

Wonderful and what a brilliant idea. Well done you.

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Well done you, and your local council! Lovely choice of plants as well.

Isn't that a lovely thing you have done bringing a smile to their faces. Congrats to you, you wonderful lady.

That is so nice Vampire Queen. Congrats.

That's brilliant and how lovely to read of someone with good news and trying their best to make their community look better, more inviting and good for mental health.
Well done.

Vampirequeen - you are doing something which is bringing so much pleasure and cheerfulness to your neighbours whilst you are still enjoying your love of gardening. That makes you quite a special soul - thoughtful and sharing - and don’t we all need more of that in these days I ask. Bless.

Vampirequeen. You sound like a lovely person hope you get the help you need to keep the garden looking lovely and colourful.

Congratulations vampirequeen. What a heartwarming and uplifting post! I wish you a successful and happy "growing time" with all that you plant/tend. The world needs more people like you.

Oh, well done you! I've also just moved into sheltered housing accommodation with a communal garden that not many of the residents are mobile enough to visit in order to enjoy so am also trying to do my bit and inject a little life and colour.
Got to be a bit patient and wait to see what bulbs and plants come up in the Spring but it's an opportunity to spread my horticultural wings a little bit further than my new courtyard garden.

That's lovely vampirequeen, what a super thing to do!

What a lovely thing to do. I hope you and your friends enjoy your endeavors. Another example of random acts of kindness.

Just lovely and skimmia is really nice. I have one in my garden.

Well done. What a thoughtful local council too.

Vampirequeen, that is just the sort of story that we need right now. Well done you, and also to your council for giving you the grant towards plants.
As has been said, post some pictures when you can, and we shall all enjoy your efforts.

That’s brilliant, I bet you cheer up many people

The garden sounds lovely, vq. Well done, and well done to your local authority for their small grants scheme. Photos when you have them would be lovely!

What a heartwarming post, well done you Vampirequeen. Once established and growing it will be lovely.

I'm delighted here to see a little holly tree growing from nowhere. Birds started it probably because I didn't plant it, as it's right beneath a fence where a bird would sit

That's great news vampirequeen! Great. Effort on your part ?

Well done vampirequeen! Just shows, "don't ask, don't get"!

Good on you for having a go, and congratulations on such a good result!

vampire I'm so glad your local council is backing your community minded efforts. When that happens it tends to have a domino effect of other people getting involved, as well as encouraging your own efforts.

What an achievement in beginning such a worthwhile project vampirequeen, good for you. I’m delighted you have been awarded the grant. Some for you.

Congratulations... well done.
I look forward to seeing some pictures. ?

Oh kircubbin2000 what a horrible thing to do to the swans. Which council is it?

The garden isn't looking it's best atm as we've had a couple of frosts already so most things are passed their best. Basically it's a variety of bushes, perennials, summer bedding and spring bulbs in containers. I've bought most of the plants but I'm also learning how to grow from seed and cuttings. I've grown two dogwoods from cuttings which should be a good size and shape by next spring. We have a horrible, old fence that separates our garden from the private gardens behind us. The idea is to hide the fence with the bushes and fill in gaps with perennials and bedding. I'm trying to get bushes which give something in every season whether it be leaf colour, flowers or berries. Everything is in pots so can be moved around as the garden develops. I'm not very good at imagining what something will look like so it's all trial and error. I'm also going to invest in a variety of sedums and alpines like stonecrop that will grow wherever. I may be on Santa's naughty list because I've been nipping bits off sedums when I see them as I've discovered that most will regenerate from the smallest amounts. So I have selection of little plants that will be big enough to plant out next year. I've also been given plants from people on Freegle and even a lady who we were chatting to as she was gardening. When we told her what I was doing she split some plants for me. They're also growing in small pots atm.

If I manage to make something worthwhile I may ask the council if I can dig into the ground and transplant things from the pots. That should save on my water bill as I have to water everything regularly in summer. DH is now planning a water feature and a cold frame cum mini greenhouse. We've seen them online but they're expensive and DH thinks he may be able to make one for less money. Fingers crossed.