Thread: My garden - An introduction.

I was a salesmen's wet-dream.

I had lived in a one storey townhouse in Kata for seven years. You know the type, 20 mtr x 5 mtr block with shared walls. The garden was 5 mtr x 5 mtr and was paved. Had a few pot plants and even a palm tree.
Then, the neighbours from hell moved in next door. All fifteen of them, in a one bedroom townhouse!
Kids crying and screaming, the sound of the mortar and pestle going non-stop, the arguments.
Time to move.

I had just sold a small piece of land that I had held for about ten years and I managed to find a mug to buy the townhouse, so, I had a fair wodge of cash to blow.
Got in touch with a friend of a friend who had the inside track on land for sale that wasn't advertised in the media (Thais lose face if everybody knows that they have to sell their land).

I wanted to build my dream-house and I was determined to have a "real" garden; one that you could walk around in. I figured a ½ rai should be enough.

So off we went looking at ½ rai plots. Then he showed me a 1 rai plot.
Oh yes! This was much better. Bigger garden, more room all round.

After looking at several 1 rai plots, he pulled the same trick on me and showed me a 1½ rai plot, which I ended up buying.

The end result is that after building my dream home, I've been left with a garden that is nearly 1¼ rai in size. Far too big to take care of easily.
Because there was no way to water the bloody thing by hand every day, I had to splash out on a reticulation system (pun unintended).

After putting down the grass and the big-stuff, time to put in the flowers.

Now, here comes the lesson I learned the hard way and it took two years for the penny to drop.

I used to rush around the nurseries buying dozens of flowering plants that I liked the look of. I planted them and pampered them.
They would invariably die within weeks, or, snuff it during the dry season.

It seems that there are only three types of plant here in Thailand.
Those that die eventually, no matter how much TLC you devote to them.
Those that do well even if you neglect them.
Those that thrive and multiply no matter what you do. Even if you decide to rip them up and throw them away, you'll find new plants popping up all over the garden in unwanted places.

So, now, all plants that I put into the ground must be drought proof and they are all common plants that you see all over the island. They're common because they can survive the dry season and neglect.

It cost me thousands of baht to learn that simple lesson.

Your garden sounds great, do you have any photos of your masterpiece?

Do share them.

Be interested to see some pics also, thats a big garden, I have a 1/2 rai and it takes too much time for me and girlfriend to take care off.
Agree about plants, there appear to be a lot that flower once - then die, I am tending towards the "Croton" type which are hardy and look good, though have to spray for flies.
I have a lot to learn!
Cheers

Thanks for sharing your story. Will keep it in mind when I begin landscaping. Native stuff grows best for a reason. I don't suppose I'll be planting any of those those dainty New England flower boxes with the whispy, paper-thin petals.

Actually, most of the stuff isn't native.
Most of the ornamental palms you see here in Thailand are actually native to Australia. ie, Carpentaria palms, fox-tail palms and fish-tail palms.
Royal palms are native to Bolivia.

Allamanda, or, the Golden Trumpet plant is native to the USA. yet all these plants are very common in gardens here. All are hardy and drought-proof.

What I advise, is look around and see what other people have planted and if they are doing well, then buy the same plants. There are dozens and dozens of suitable plants you can use. Just be suspiscious of using pot-plants to plant in the garden.

How do you do that "This thread is useless without pics" thing with the smilies?

:this: :thread: :is: :useless: :without: ics:




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Edit. Well that didn't fucking work...

Alright already, I'll try and get some pics.
Will have to interogate the missus as to where she has hidden the digital camera.

Sheeesh, such a hard time, especially after I gave you a green thingy!

Originally Posted by Sir Burr

Alright already, I'll try and get some pics.

Hurrah!

I am getting bored sitting in front of the 'putor waiting for the pics, I think I shall go have a "Happy ending" massage.

It's on a new thread mate.
Get out a little, exercise your mouse.
They had free beer and cheese on Burr's garden thread earlier.
Damn, looks like you missed it.

No one told me the party had moved, I have been waiting here with a bottle of Rawsons retreat and a block of ol bitey wondering where the hell everybody was, bugger it, will drink it myself.