ANZAC DAY

RIP Clyde Kemp 1919 - 2008

Pot full of prickles

This glazed black pot which sits on the stone table in the courtyard has had many different plantings . The first was a miniature bamboo. Then there was an electric pink cordyline which I shifted to a terracotta pot, fearful that this one was too shallow for the plant long term. The cactus which is proving very successful is producing new growth and filling out well, despite being trimmed by my pet rabbits. My interest in cactus and succulents is growing lately as I really start to study them in detail, appreciating the broad range of shapes and forms.

Turning Japanese

Anemone x hybrida

 A recent addition of Japanese Windflowers between the Japanese Maples are looking cheerie and fresh. I hope that once they settle in they will spread and the delightful flowers will peak out over the Buxus hedge.

Archaeological Dig

 Recently whilst Rod was moving some mounds of dirt that had been accumulated when leveling  the area for the barn he unearthed a piece of slate. When he found another and then another he remembered that we had stock piled some surplus stone a long time ago. So long ago that I had forgotten it even existed. On revealing his find, I stopped work where I was and joined him in revealing what we hope is all the lost slate. I now feel another project coming on.

Gardening with Sid

 My grandfather was a passionate gardener. After he passed away and the estate was being finalised and the house and garden were being cleared for sale, this item was given to Rod and I as we had a big property and would probably find a use for it. It is now about 25 years later and only because Rod remembered how we came to have this tool that I have embraced it as my most treasured garden implement. Not only for it's sentimental value but because I find it easier than most tools to dig holes for planting. Before my acknowledgement Rod had been using it to dig many a trench. The shaping on the end is just the thing for making a start, even in our hardened, clay soils. I like that not only have I Pop's tool, but I also have his passion.

Trenching Shovel

Sidney John Roe's Stetson 

I also have one of Pop's hats. It is well worn and probably the one he wore in the garden, not the one he would have worn for best. My appreciation of this item was immediate from when I took possession of it. It sits on a reproduction luggage rack and looks quite the part. 

The Real Deal

The green green grass of home

Mid Autumn Colours

The day the TV died.......

At 9.00am on Tuesday 2nd April 2013 Analogue TV was turned off, never to be switched back on.

On the Move

My garden keeps evolving and I am always looking for ways to improve upon things for maximum effect. 15 Terracotta pots which follow the front paving and up the first flight of steps to the carport were originally planted with Boronia megastima. A delight to the eye and nose in early September but would inevitably become sparse, leggy and unshapely specimens. Replaced once, I then decided to try something altogether different, so replanted every pot with Lime Wave - Lomandra cylindrica an evergreen fine foliage grass.

4 years later I have now decided that the die back of older growth is an unfortunate distraction, so I have transplanted the 9 plants that follow the front paving and have retained the ones either side of the steps. Lime Wave now lines one side of the path on the way to the letterbox. The fore mentioned 9 pots are now planted with Taupo Blaze - Libertia ixioides which I have propagated from a plant that I have growing in a pot on the landing. The Taupo Blaze has proven to be a great success with interesting colour changes to the sword like foliage at different times of the year. I particularly like the burnt orange colouring that marries superbly with the terracotta pots. I look forward to seeing the new plants fill the pots and cycle through the colourful displays as the seasons pass.

Brown Boronia has been a spring favorite to excite the senses.

Here the LimeWave has been clipped to remove some of the unsightly dieback.

Edging the paving and either side the steps.

LimeWave edging the path to the letterbox.

Looking in the other direction.

Asher of Ashwell

Meet Asher, he came to live at Ashwell aged 6 weeks. That was 6 years ago. He has survived a snake bite and broken pelvis (unknown cause) so he should have 7 lives remaining. 

Goodbye bland, hello interesting

Our recently finished patio area (see 20th Feb post) was needing some focal interest added to an otherwise bland wall. Scouring Ebay I found this laser cut metal wall hanging. You can see that it has already started going rusty which is all part of the plan. It has also given me an idea about some 3D metal work sculptures at ground level which I think Rod would be more than capable of making.

Granite Island

This garden area came about after purchasing the 'Love Seat' off Gumtree. Just like the lady I bought it from, I found the placement of the seat is not straight forward. You can't put it up against a wall because you need to be able to approach it from the front & back and it needs to be positioned to make the best of views in each direction. It called for a garden design to ground the seat as a rug anchors a coffee table indoors. Firstly I needed to create a level spot. Cut and fill was the order of the day. The overall shape an exaggerated eye. I then dug out a hollow on each end so that I could plant Sacred Bamboo. My thinking is that the plants will eventually give some screening to the seat and create a feeling of seclusion. So that the sacred bamboo does not escape I have lined the hollows with terracotta roof tiles. Basket Range sandstone has been used to retain the high side and also edge the lower step off point. Once the outer stones were in place I spread a concrete pad to create a base for my artwork. Using black granite I have created a circular design under the seat. My inspiration coming from the beautiful paved paths in Rhodes. Filling in between the granite I have used River Pebbles left over from our Xanthorhea garden. When I purchased the seat it was a dirty cream colour with speckles to give it a weathered look. I have painstakingly painted it Metallic Charcoal - much more pleasing to the eye. I am delighted with the finished project and proud of the proportion of the work that I undertook myself. Thanks to Rod for mixing the concrete, mortar and advising 'a bit more to be cut away here' and 'that stone needs to move a bit to the right' and 'that looks pretty level now'.

Cutting and filling a level spot

Planters lined in terracotta tiles, set into concrete

Creating the design on paper first

Numbered pieces of granite to help recreate the design in situ

A tedious paint job, but worth the time and effort.

Wiping off the excess mortar to reveal the River pebbles underneath

Scrubbing the granite and pebbles to remove residue

Nandina domestica added to planters on both ends

Not even a wobble when the seat was placed in position.

Australian Fall

The Manchurian Pear is the first of the deciduous trees to turn. The result is beautiful coloured carpet underfoot.