I Bought a Victorian Terrace House and Nearly Regretted It – Until I Discovered Its Secret Garden!
Welcome to the Accidental Gardener...
Over the past year, I've been experiencing what some might call buyer's remorse—a feeling of regret after making a significant purchase. I guess buying property isn't the same as buying an expensive dress you never wear; there's much more to consider. As an over-thinker, you'd have thought I’d have aced this decision. Sadly, that wasn’t the case and instead, I found myself trying to desperately fall back in love with the property we bought back in February 2023, which we now call our home.
We bought a 1900s Victorian end-terrace house—two up, two down, nothing special. There's plenty like it, in fact, if you’re a city dweller like myself you may have or still do live in similar. Yet, as I walked around the house, observing how small it was and questioning our decision, I tried to hold back tears... what the f*** do I do? To avoid any form of an anxiety attack I thought it was best to ground myself in nature so I stepped out into the garden. The peonies were in bloom, purple periwinkles ran across the old stonewall, and a massive camellia plant overhung the path. At the bottom of the garden, under a large cherry blossom tree, I found a rose bush I’d never noticed. It wasn’t until this moment that I realised that out of the 26 properties we viewed in our chosen location, not one had a garden like this. For the first time ever, I felt content.
From then on, every evening and weekend, I would step into the garden, gradually noticing the different plants that bloomed with the seasons. I started to wonder about the types of flowers that were growing and the endless possibilities of what could be grown in my garden. A space not far from the city but to stand in it you would think you were out in the sticks. The idea of sitting among wild plants, knowing each of their own stories, and foraging from my own kitchen garden was a goal I knew I wanted to achieve… But where to start?
I know absolutely nothing about plants or gardening! In fact just yesterday I’m pretty sure I pulled up an expensive-to-buy ugly plant thinking it was a weed. So, let the journey begin to learn more about my urban garden, and the plants that grow indoors and out! And how I navigate growing herbs, veg and fruit as a beginner. I don’t have five acres of land or necessarily the right tools to call myself an expert gardener. It’s just me and my small terrace garden.
So, if you're interested in following me on this journey, stick around as I spill the dirt on some lessons learnt, intriguing plant facts, and a few recipes to help with your decision on what to do once you’ve managed to grow that fresh ingredient in your own garden.
Whether you're a seasoned gardener or just as clueless as me, I hope my monthly posts inspire you to find joy in the small green spaces around you, just as I have.
