Blasted garden.

[maxi-model]

So, I suppose this is a good point to start. The title could describe the toll the past and recent summer's droughts and hot weather that has had on my garden. Or just me cussing ! Never mind so much heat there was little motivation to run antything, just test new battery conversions. That and I lost a fantastic part time gardener (ex' Legoland !) earlier in the year who helped me keep things under control. He had a devastating health diagnosis that ended his ability to carry on his work. I can only express my deepest sympathies there to him and his family. I myself have been dealing with my own health issues the past year that have impacted on my time and ability to manage and operate my line. What to do ? I'm qiute a practical and pragmatic soul. First some pictures that clearly show the level of tree and shrubs loss. I have added 3 pics at the end that show, and hopefully tally up, how things looked 15 odd years ago. Click on thumbnails to enlarge.



I was advised, by my prospective new gardner, the first step is to bring in a local tree specialist to remove the deadwood and that which is already too badly compromised. The new gardener is willing to take on a garden with a railway and carry out further work to get the remaining foliage into a more manageable form. Also to look at replanting some areas with more drought tolerant varieties. Yes, there are quite a few water hungry conifers around. That prostrate conifer has spread a bit too far too. However, I have to admit my line is now too large and complicated for easy operation and maintainace. And for any gardener to work around with ease. A bit of radical surgery will be carried out over the Autumn and Winter. I'll do it in stages, section by section so there is always a workable line at each stage. Below is schematic of my line, that which is red will be pruned, the green bit is what will be left to run on. A single loop with simple sidings a a wye for a bit of fun. Hopefully by spring I will have something workable I can enjoy again.


It's not all doom and gloom. I'll keep you posted as I and the gardener get on over the next few months, if you are interested. Or maybe I'll post whatever, it's good therapy Could even be a guide to others how to help manage one's decline into older age and still enjoy your hobby. The transition from live to dead rail and battery/rc operation was the start 5 years ago. Let's see how this progresses. There could even be a few LGB R5 points, flexi track, track clamps and Clippard air point motors appearing for sale here soon

 

[DickyC]

Confers have such shallow root systems so just can reach the groundwater depths, I only lost one this year.

 

[Paul M]

Sorry to hear of your problems, hopefully things will improve over the winter

 

[dunnyrail]

So, I suppose this is a good point to start. The title could describe the toll the past and recent summer's droughts and hot weather that has had on my garden. Or just me cussing ! Never mind so much heat there was little motivation to run antything, just test new battery conversions. That and I lost a fantastic part time gardener (ex' Legoland !) earlier in the year who helped me keep things under control. He had a devastating health diagnosis that ended his ability to carry on his work. I can only express my deepest sympathies there to him and his family. I myself have been dealing with my own health issues the past year that have impacted on my time and ability to manage and operate my line. What to do ? I'm qiute a practical and pragmatic soul. First some pictures that clearly show the level of tree and shrubs loss. I have added 3 pics at the end that show, and hopefully tally up, how things looked 15 odd years ago. Click on thumbnails to enlarge.

View attachment 361562View attachment 361563View attachment 361564View attachment 361565View attachment 361566View attachment 361567View attachment 361570View attachment 361568

I was advised, by my prospective new gardner, the first step is to bring in a local tree specialist to remove the deadwood and that which is already too badly compromised. The new gardener is willing to take on a garden with a railway and carry out further work to get the remaining foliage into a more manageable form. Also to look at replanting some areas with more drought tolerant varieties. Yes, there are quite a few water hungry conifers around. That prostrate conifer has spread a bit too far too. However, I have to admit my line is now too large and complicated for easy operation and maintainace. And for any gardener to work around with ease. A bit of radical surgery will be carried out over the Autumn and Winter. I'll do it in stages, section by section so there is always a workable line at each stage. Below is schematic of my line, that which is red will be pruned, the green bit is what will be left to run on. A single loop with simple sidings a a wye for a bit of fun. Hopefully by spring I will have something workable I can enjoy again.

View attachment 361571
It's not all doom and gloom. I'll keep you posted as I and the gardener get on over the next few months, if you are interested. Or maybe I'll post whatever, it's good therapy Could even be a guide to others how to help manage one's decline into older age and still enjoy your hobby. The transition from live to dead rail and battery/rc operation was the start 5 years ago. Let's see how this progresses. There could even be a few LGB R5 points, flexi track, track clamps and Clippard air point motors appearing for sale here soon

Sad to be loosing part of a railway but sometimes less is more. As for my plants, lost a few this year, all the pot plants gone and awaiting clearing out, sifting soil to get stuff out then wonder what to do with the soil. Possibly some making better to help level the lawn. A couple of other plants suffered badly in the rockeries, 2 conifers gone but another just major loss of leaf coming back.

 

[maxi-model]

Sorry to hear of your problems, hopefully things will improve over the winter

Thank you for you commiserations Paul but that's life. Perhaps it has got me round to doing something, re-evaluating things and as a result it will reinvigorate my interest. Still love looking at and working on the models. But then I am more a collector than operator, hence one of the reasons for the need for a rationalisation. Life moves on.

 

[viaEstrecha]

Sad to be loosing part of a railway but sometimes less is more. As for my plants, lost a few this year, all the pot plants gone and awaiting clearing out, sifting soil to get stuff out then wonder what to do with the soil. Possibly some making better to help level the lawn. A couple of other plants suffered badly in the rockeries, 2 conifers gone but another just major loss of leaf coming back.

I'm trying to look on the positive side as I see my live-in gardener pulling up expired heathers and small shrubs (she earns her keep), by making a nursery shopping list of different, more resilient, plants for next Spring. Also still continuing to butter up the local nursery owner for mate's rates, but that's a bigger challenge.

 

[duncan1_9_8_4]

It's been a bad summer for gardens, we had a few casualties too. Good to hear that you'll adapt the railway to your needs, rather than give it all up. I'm sure it'll look just a scenic given a bit of time to grow.