Eibhlin, which one is the mystery plant?
You seem to have a seedling of a very large tree, near the end of the set of photos - I can't remember if its chestnut or sycamore, more likely sycamore.
If this is the case, you might want to move it some distance from the house!
Marie

I am soooooo jealous!!!! Well done!

This is gorgeous, I really love the cross,

beautiful work.

your garden is really lovely! my sweetpeas still havent flowered:( i love the cross, is it based on a st. bridgets cross? its so original!
well done
junkista

mystery plant
 

Hi Marie, yes the plant is the one with leaves like a sycamore. My sister came to visit and she thought it was a broad leaved ivy as the leaves are quite shiny. I will let it grow for a year or two and hike it out again if it gets too big or I don't like it. It's definitely not a sycamore as I have a little seedling of one of those and I am trying to decide if and where to plant it as I know they get huge.

garden
 

What a great job your doing im soon to start my blank canvas .........you have inspired me thank you

This is a great time to start as the growth is slowing down. Try to get all the structural stuff in place and don't discard anything--we made flower beds with rocks we dug up and old pieces of wood for edging(joined together with old hinges and various pieces of metal). Good time also for putting in bulbs for next spring--always a good investment as they divide and multiply and come back every year. Watch out for bargains in garden centres. I got a load of potbound herbs in woodies for 20c each , once they got a good watering and were put in the ground they were fine. Also plants that have finished flowering and/or have been cut back eg, hydrangea, pinks, senetti etc. Buy them cheap, pop them in the ground, and they will have all winter to rest and recover before flowering again. Happy gardening, Eibhlin.