🎼Merry Christmas to you and to you and to you .......

 

Goodbye Kate

 

Happy Birthday Jennifer

 

Always with Grace

On November 15th Auntie Grace passed away. At the age of 93 she was more than ready to leave this earth despite that she was ever so sharp and sound in mind. But the body was ever so tired. Bless you Grace - may you rest in complete peace.

One last gift of flowers to see you on your way Grace. Only one stem of each type of flower,  except for four stems of lavender - one for each of your children. Leaves of camellia, a bush from a cutting out your garden and alstroemeria another gift from your garden to mine.

 

I've wrapped it in pink tissue paper sandwiched between cellophane and tied it with purple and green ribbons. The wrappings are a bit wrinkled as they have been used before but I think this is how you would want it - it does the job and still looks beautiful.

 

Bird Eradication Through Telepathic Yelling

 

Betty has come to help me in the garden this season. She was once a mad keen gardener, like myself but ailing health has left her a bit stuffed.

 

Betty is happy just to sit and keep an eye on things for me, deterring birds and kangaroos from the veggie garden.

 

She's fitting in quite well with the rest of the family, well she hasn't said anything bad about anyone!

Perfect Purple

 

It will be all white!

 

Purple Spring Pleasures

 

Erecting a Glass House

    

A new garden installation at Ashwell. A glass house for the birds. Clever Rod with his glass cutting and welding skills - not to mention patience - made from 141 pieces of hand cut -recycled - glass (some from the original house) and a truck axle. I love it, hope the birds do too!

Travelling with Tulips

Although not an original idea by any means, our visits to Chelsea Flower Show and several RHS gardens were the source of inspiration to purchase glazed pots and order a selection of tulips. 

There should be 5 purple and 5 Flaming Flags in each pot. Unfortunately only 50% have flowered so supplier has promised to send more in February.

Posting a Message

Attention all snails - if you value you life, stay small (cute factor) and keep to posts not plants.

33 Years

In the tradition of House & Garden Anniversary presents we purchased this terracotta Chimney Pot from 'All In Good Time Antiques' of Strathalbyn (during our Anniversary get-away). It has the added interest of being shipped out from England. On the way home we dropped into Bunnings and 'Eureka' found the glazed bowl - the crowning piece. Hopefully the birds will like this ..............day spa!

Hello Spring

A cheery bunch for Jennifer. Oregon USA is such a long way away!

Farewell to the Fallen

It is hard to believe that this majestic and stately old white gum tree will stand no more.

The extreme winds on Tuesday 26th July sent this beauty to the ground, roots and all.

It came down on the neighbours fence but rests right along side this garden pyramid. 

One needs to be careful what we wish for - I have been known to want less shade, peeling bark and falling branches in this garden - the potager!

Camellia Collection

Our camellia's have grown into quite substantial bushes, some were dug out of Rod's parents garden before they sold, one was from my Grandfathers garden and one was a gift from a work colleague. 9 varieties in total, 8 of which are planted in the Camellia garden.

One mans rubbish is another mans treasure

A trip to my parents at Victor Harbor with the trailer to help them get rid of accumulated stuff resulted in lots of old tools to display in the shelf unit in my new potting area. Some of the tools probably belonged to my Grandfather - Sid.

New Embellishments for the Garden

Purchased from McLaren Vale Garden Centre

Taking 'Going potty' to a new level

Book shelf off the side of the road plus decorative features removed from family room cabinets after modifications to accomodate larger TV

A chance fit - which also fits with the William Morris quote -“If you want a golden rule that will fit everything, this is it: Have nothing in your houses that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful.” I am sure he was also talking about potting sheds!

Commercial style Aluminium framed door off Gumtree - paid $120 now installed as main entrance to workshop/ potting area.

Located in close proximity to nursery area plant stands with automatic water system.

Once again Ashwell is evolving to suit changing needs. 

Putting an end to the Black Reign

32 years of Millipede invasion every autumn is way too much. We've taken steps ........

Step 1 - Order Nematode kit from Bug Central and collect 600 live millipedes

Step 2 - Order arrives

Step 3 - read 16 page online instruction manual

Step 4 - cut 2 layers of absorbent paper for each of the 40 Petri dishes supplied

Step 5 - Place nematode gel into the middle of each dish

Step 6 - Add 8-10ml water and a sprinkle of supplied nematode food to each dish and wait 24-48

Step 7 - Add 15 live millipedes to each dish, replace lid and wait 24 -48 hour

Step 8 - Release nematode infected millipedes into the garden and wait 12 -24 months!

That Pretty Much Covers It

2013

2016

This one had us stumped for many years!

Before 

After

Cousin Itt

Cousin It (Itt) Sheoak /Casuarina glauca 

Looking quite comfortable and at home here!

Fleur de trios

Rod gave me two of these beautiful terracotta Fleur de lys ornaments to top the metal plant tripods that he fabricated for me for my birthday.

Using reinforcing rods of steel and his talent for welding these tripods will support the canes of a Boysenberry and a Tayberry which I purchased with a voucher given to me by Aly, also for my birthday.

It has taken a while to get the beds prepared ready for the tripods as we have revamped the irrigation system, doing away with the previous overhead watering. But good things come to those who wait.

Fruits of the Florist

Ornamental Quince, Camellia seed pod, Crab Apples, Ornamental Pear, Cumquat and Rose Hips