Flowers for.............

Yesenia

Hydrangea, Blue & White Agapanthus, Statice and sprays of Abelia schumanii (pink)

Vanessa

Featuring Aeonium chocolate  with aged hydrangeas, white agapanthus, sprays of
Abelia grandiflora (white) hebe, sead heads of altromeria and  Euphorbia 

Veggie success

Yellow peppers - quite a few developing, not as delicious
  as the red but at least we are getting some this year.

Strawberries - need to get them before the snails and slugs do.

Tomato - Don Burke rated this the best tomato last year.
So far only a  few have ripened on my bush but there are plenty there. I am also growing Black Russian, Tommy Toe and a variety of Roma.

Beetroot - I wasn't going to grow them this year but an available
space changed my mind. I will try to use them whilst they are
small this season.

Egg Plant - the plants have been flowering for a while and I was
starting to think that I was not going to get the fruit but
 fortunately they are now appearing. 

Sweet Corn - I have fond memories of my grandfather
growing corn . I so hope that these will be yummy.

Leeks - coming along well, I could probably start
using them if I  needed to, or I can wait for them to get bigger.

Remaking de fence

During winter Rod and I replaced the fence between our neighbours on the eastern side and ourselves. The previous fence was constructed from permapine channel with inserts of lattice. A very vigorous McCartney rose which originated next door was encouraged to grow on the fence which over time pulled the fence down. We needed to complete the task in Winter due to the hopper ants which live in the dry stone wall and make it impossible to be any where near in the warmer seasons. 

The first job was to remove the rose. Then a temporary fence was erected about a metre in on the neighbours side so that we could work on this project without their dogs escaping. Recycled colourbond roof sheets were used with new permapine lattice. We reused some of the channel but the rest was purchased for this remake. 

Pleased with the result I now think we need to continue the colourbond creating a back drop to the garden border. You may notice that we also need to make repairs to the garden bench. Indeed it is never ending.

Ashwell Designs Glassy Art

This has been a project that has taken many hours to complete
 and uses recycled  scrap glass and 70's  plastic sphere light shades.

I love textured glass. I love the way light plays on the tiny faceted surfaces.

Add a LED light on a timer and you have an illuminated garden feature.

As with most projects that you try the first time you can often think of other ways to improve on some aspects. I have 5 more light shades and lots more ideas, just need more time. Thanks to Rod for being switched onto my project.

Courtyard

Bordered by the Laundry and Family room the Courtyard enjoys a sheltered position.

440 x 440 mm sandstone look tiles leftover from our Sitting room create a border and central inset,
surrounded by  red paving bricks . This visually acts as an anchor for the table and chairs.

A faux door crafted by Rod, complete with old key and brick doorway always attracts attention from  visitors seeing the Courtyard for the first time.  Either  side of this door two Lily Pilly's have pride of place. Trained as standard balls from tiny seedlings bought at a fete for 40 cents they have been extremely successful.

The Courtyard occupies an area that was originally a concrete tank stand. Many hours of strenuous work was carried out by hand to remove bedrock which had acted as a solid base for many, many years.

Alex's Garden

Alex's tree is a Blue Atlas Cedar - Cedrus Atlantica Glauca

Surrounding the tree are White Agapanthus with Erigeron planted at the very front. 

A resting place for Alex's deceased pets is aptly under his tree.

Alex's car parked near to Alex's Garden.

Alex's tree lived in a plastic pot for a few years before the ideal garden was created. When first planted in the garden the tree did not have one central leader, however, many years later this has not proven to be any disadvantage to the overall shape. Alex's tree is turning into quite a stately specimen.

Aly's Garden

Aly's special tree is the weeping cherry 

Aly's garden is situated adjacent to her brother Alex's garden - one day I hope that will be seen as significant

5 Japanese Maples bordered by a box hedge have proved to be the perfect replacement planting.  Previously 4 Iceberg Roses planted in the Eastern bed responded with leggy growth to the shade provided by the extended building. 

Aly and Asher have a special bond, how appropriate that he is pictured in her garden

Aly's garden is in fact the second attempt at a special garden area for her. Soon after she was born we planted a Robinia in a garden on the north side of the house. All was going well until one year parrots flew in a chewed all the flower buds off the tree. The following year they returned and chewed off not only the flower buds but all the new leaf shoots. We thought that the tree would die so watered and fertilised it well. To our delight new leaves appeared and it gained momentum until the following year and every year after that the birds returned to massacre the tree which eventually died.