GBBD: Guerrilla Tactics


The warm weather of the past week or so has brought real changes to VP Gardens and the rest of Chippenham. The picture shows part of the area at the end of our narrow side garden where I've planted bunches of daffodils to greet walkers coming off the public land onto our part of the estate.

At their feet you can just about make out the fresh green of the Pulmonaria my friend L gave me, which is beginning to spread itself out nicely. Peer a bit more closely and you can just about make out the pink flowers which the local bees love at this time of the year. Soon some grape hyacinths will join these flowers; for once their spreading habit is welcome and I can leave this area to look after itself.

I haven't done much more in the way of guerrilla gardening, apart from these touches plus the bank of snowdrops started across the way. To make it into a 'proper' garden would look out of place because we have the old hedgerows close by. But to my mind the area does need some enhancement to prevent it from looking too utilitarian and to soften the progression from countryside to urban estate.

So I've instinctively adopted a more Robinsonian approach and as there's plenty of shade, it's been mainly a spring enhancement. Since visiting Mount Usher last September - my first visit to a garden where Robinson's ideas are actively pursued - my mind is turning to other times of the year.


One of the plantings I particularly liked at Mount Usher is the pictured combination with Crocosmia forming a pool of colour beneath each tree. Their grassy, strap-like leaves look good when young too, so I think this is useful inspiration to bring home for late summer here.

It just so happens I have some Crocosmia 'Emberglow' planted in the wrong place in the back garden. It should be a minor job to transfer their affections to the front, where I can employ my guerrilla tactics to great(er) effect. I always thought these corms needed the bright sunshine and dry conditions of the large terrace bed, so it was good to see them working well in a woodland setting too.

Do you have any plans for guerrilla gardening this year?

Garden Bloggers' Blooms Day is hosted by Carol at May Dreams Gardens.

Comments

  1. Anna15 March 2014 at 08:54

    Now those daffies are a nice cheerful greeting VP and I do like the planting of crocosmia under a tree. Here I've plans to continue with my guerilla gardening and have a post in the pipeline. I will be lobbing more little daffies over the other side of the stream which borders our garden, to add to the ones that have already taken.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. VP15 March 2014 at 09:36

      Ooh looking forward to your post Anna :) I have plans for more daffies too - the local old people's home does a trip to see the ones I've planted, so I know how much they're appreciated.

      Delete
  2. Sue Garrett15 March 2014 at 09:20

    Any plans for guerilla bluebells?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. VP15 March 2014 at 09:37

      *slaps hand to forehead* - yes, Sue they're already there along with the snowdrops on the bank. I forgot about them!

      Delete
  3. Pauline15 March 2014 at 12:50

    Primroses and foxgloves too maybe?! How nice to know that people enjoy your efforts, keep it up!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. VP15 March 2014 at 13:01

      Sadly the primroses seem to have died out. I think it got a bit too shady for them. I transplanted some self-seeded foxgloves from the gravel path in the back garden into this area last year. Time will tell if they survived...

      Delete
  4. Flighty15 March 2014 at 14:13

    I like the crocosmia around the trees like that. Flighty xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. VP15 March 2014 at 14:34

      Fingers crossed mine will look like that one day:-)

      Delete
    2. Anonymous17 March 2014 at 19:49

      Me too!!! I have few bulbs and a new tree that I just planted in the pot, i might put the bulbs into it :)

      Delete
  5. Dorothy Borders15 March 2014 at 16:29

    I love your philosophy of guerrilla tactics. I think I've been doing that in my garden forever but just didn't know what to call it! Now it has a name. Happy Bloom Day.

    ReplyDelete
  6. CJ15 March 2014 at 21:25

    Ooh, you've got me thinking now. I have a strip of grass between the path going past our house and the road. A tree would look really nice there I think. Walnut? I can't believe I haven't thought of this before. Some people park on the grass verges around here, so a tree should be a snip. And there are lots of grass verges...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. VP16 March 2014 at 10:26

      Walnuts are fantastic trees, but they're enormous. It sounds like a smaller tree might be better for the space you've described. I hate to say it, but you'd need to be careful re health & safety too, so I'd be reluctant to plant trees on public land without involving your local council. Worth asking them though.

      Delete
    2. CJ16 March 2014 at 21:37

      I think you're right, I got a bit carried away. I would so love a walnut, but I don't have the space, so I'm anxious to put one somewhere, anywhere. Maybe I'll start smaller...

      Delete
  7. Jean Campbell16 March 2014 at 00:09

    Guerilla Gardening is a new concept to me, or is that what all my projects are? Happy Bloom Day.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. VP16 March 2014 at 10:30

      Jean - hello! It's a world-wide movement aimed at making neglected public spaces better. Here's the website if you're interested... http://www.guerrillagardening.org/ Community projects are often very similar but usually have the support/blessing of the local authorities. Guerrilla gardening projects often metamorphose into community gardening ones - a good way of ensuring the good work continues well into the future.

      Delete
  8. VP16 March 2014 at 10:20

    Welcome Dorothy! NB guerrilla gardening is outside your own garden on pieces of public land, though perhaps the tactics still apply there...

    ReplyDelete
  9. Rose16 March 2014 at 13:19

    The daffodils really make a cheerful transition from country to urban--nice touch, VP! I don't do real guerrilla gardening, unless you count the way I sneak a little more space from Husband's precious lawn each year:)

    ReplyDelete
  10. Donna@Gardens Eye View16 March 2014 at 23:14

    No plans for this type of gardening for me but I do like the use of the Crocosmia. Your little patch is quite lovely.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Unknown17 March 2014 at 02:29

    Wow, lovely photos! My guerrilla gardening this year involves edibles in our city, as well as widespread milkweed plantings for the monarchs. We're opening an urban farm in conjunction with our Farmers' Market, but we're also planning to plant as many edibles throughout the surrounding community, hoping that the local folks will take advantage of the healthy food. Crossing fingers that it works!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. VP6 April 2014 at 08:52

      Welcome Julie :-) I love the sound of your urban farm!

      Delete

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