Any gardeners among us????

[Slab]

As much as I'd love to get an "expert" in, I hate to say it but I'm not throwing any more money at this project after the amount we've already spent!
We've still got a lot of plants to go in, and my wife has a good idea of where she wants everything to go... tall ones at the back etc.
Got a big barbecue going in on Sunday (weather permitting) which will sit on a concrete hard standing in front, and to the left of the shed as you look at it in the picture.
I think the wife has now admitted "defeat" on her plans to have the climbers going up the tree, and is resigned to having them on the left hand fence. Plenty of room to grow, and still close enough to the seating area to benefit from the scent.
She has now purchased a couple of packs of solar powered twinkly lights that she will adorn the tree with.
Thanks for all your ideas lads.
If you have any more, please keep 'em coming.
Rob (and Sam)
xxxx
.

Haven't read all replies but an Ivy (Hedera) can be planted further away and trained to 'creep' along the ground then up the tree. Some pretty fast growing ones that will soon have the trunk covered

 

[Smiffy]

Haven't read all replies but an Ivy (Hedera) can be planted further away and trained to 'creep' along the ground then up the tree. Some pretty fast growing ones that will soon have the trunk covered

If I mentioned "Ivy" in front of the Missus mate, I'd likely get my wotsits cut off!
We had loads of it growing over the back of the house when we first moved in and she hates it with a passion.
And trust me..... if I trained anything to creep along the ground and then up the tree, I would be guaranteed to go arse over tit.

 

[Slab]

If I mentioned "Ivy" in front of the Missus mate, I'd likely get my wotsits cut off!
We had loads of it growing over the back of the house when we first moved in and she hates it with a passion.
And trust me..... if I trained anything to creep along the ground and then up the tree, I would be guaranteed to go arse over tit.

No worries, can I suggest then that you whitewash the trunk and then paint a clematis on it with little butterflies flying round it

there's also the polygonum baldschuanicum (Russian vine/mile a minute plant) but its a pretty aggressive grower and likely to ensnare the elderly or infirm if not careful