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.