We’ve moved to the house with blue windows. That’s what people call it around here. It’s very distinctive: nobody else has blue windows. They suit the house perfectly and they’re joyful. This is a house filled with colour and a garden filled with treasures.

Every day is like Christmas as I discover new things growing. Plants which I have not previously grown myself before are popping up here and there, and it’s a pleasure to discover a different plant range, including the Californian tree poppy, Romneya Coulteri, and huge Autumn crocuses which have always been eaten by squirrels in my previous gardens.

*Autumn flowering crocuses: Colchicum Speciosum*

The first few weeks have been a matter of moving in: shuffling things around, my favourite terracotta pots, paintings and furniture. It’s all about “placement”, putting things where I can see and enjoy them. The pelargoniums, the succulents, and the Summer planted pots which I bought with me.

I’ve been potting up casualties of which there have been very few, and appreciating the view from our bedroom window. One big window with a long view across the South-facing garden, plus smaller windows facing East and West with more garden views. It’s reminding me how important garden views from the house are, both upstairs and downstairs, when designing a garden.

Wildlife

It would be crazy not to mention the wildlife here. A dwelling this old is bound to be bursting with biodiversity. Not just the garden, also in the house where we keep discovering mouse traps. Birds, moles, insects, butterflies and deer. Oh, deer!

Our lurcher, Rocket, has already had a close encounter with a muntjac. In fact, two encounters. The score currently stands at Rocket - 1, Muntjac - 1. We’ve decided not to risk a further encounter, having already had a very expensive vet bill. So, deer fencing is an immediate priority. It’s probably going to be cost-effective!

Water

We’re fortunate that the house overlooks a rare and precious chalk stream, the River Burn. Rather muddy and mucky by Hampshire chalk stream standards, it’s a chalk stream nonetheless and an opportunity in the long run.

On the topic of water, we have inherited a multitude of water butts. Norfolk is the driest county in England and the previous owners conserved water fastidiously. Even after our long hot summer, the butts are very full but they’re not always accessible!

Our opportunity is the water well; currently hidden, having been covered in concrete 36 years ago. It is still to be found and explored. My father-in-law predicted there would be one. After all, what’s a farmhouse without a well?

I shall need to find an easy water solution for the vegetables. For the flower garden, my current thinking is to focus on dry and drought-tolerant planting which suits the plant pallet here and our climate. I already have firm ‘Dry Garden’ plans for the Barnyard.

Noticing

In fact, as I walk around each day, plans slowly formulate in my head: where does the light fall? where does it sparkle? what am I loving? And what have I got question marks over? For the time being, I’m just noticing and noting down ideas.

Roses

Much of my noting down is spent identifying roses. I’m grateful for those that repeat flower, which means I can still enjoy their blooms and investigate their varieties.

What would the previous owner have planted? Sadly their names escaped her when I had my petal by petal, pre purchase garden tour. As I go about my investigation, it’s invariably French names, sweet scents, strong performers whose varieties I’m discovering. I’m loving the climbing roses Étoile de Hollande, and Ghislaine de Féligonde. But there are many more which are a joy, such as Truly Loved. What a romantic name!

Fruit

And then there’s the fruit. We have our very own Apple Store.

As a friend said, “Surely you wouldn’t have an Apple Store in Norfolk?” Well, it’s not your regular Steve Jobs, iPhone kind of Apple Store. That’s in Norwich. This is the genuine article, where apples are picked and stored throughout winter.

There are also pears, damsons, crab apples, quince, plums, blackberries and figs. And boy, have we got figs. We should start a fig farm.

Fruit is in abundance, both for us and for the birds and wildlife. It’s glorious and I shall need to put my preserving head on to make the most of it.

For now, I’m looking forward to the fruit blossom in the spring. That’s going to be a sight to behold.

The Potting Shed

Not to forget the potting shed, possibly my favourite part of the garden at the moment. It’s enormous and I have filled it to the brim. Currently bursting with my collection of terracotta pots, I was lucky that Lee, our go-go-go, knowledgeable gardener whom we’ve inherited, helped me sort this space out on his first day. In fact, it was the first ‘room’ that we did sort out, probably because it was a place where I found ‘energy’.

To describe it, it’s lofty with a super size, south-facing potting bench, and windows which look out to a small terrace and the potager. The radio is already tuned to Radio 4 and my seed boxes are settled in their spot.

I think the garden we’ve inherited is magical and I can’t wait to put my mark on it. Of course, I have plans but I love it as it is already. I must make myself wait. Stay tuned.