SHAPING UP THE TRIANGLE GARDEN

A garden bed that has been in existence for some time has been given a more refined look by adding an edging of terracotta tiles.  The tiles were originally on the roof of the Lych Gate erected in 1919 to house an honour roll for those who had served in World War 1 at the  Orley Avenue Congregational Church in Stirling.  The Church was sold, but the Lych Gate relocated to the purpose built Uniting Church at Sunset Rock.  They chose not to re-install the Australian Made (Eureka Pottery) terracotta tiles, so we were given the opportunity to purchase them.  In the centre of the garden is a weeping standard Seafoam Rose which Rod gave me for my birthday in 1993.  On each point a Rosa "The Fairy" is planted.  I started with 2 of these roses in 1989 which were planted in another garden.  I propagated several new plants when I transplanted the original bushes to the triangle garden.  The new plants were also planted around the edges of the triangle but only one new plant has survived neglect.  I am a little worried that because it is not a grafted rose it too may not perform, but time will tell.  In conjunction with the edging I have planted French lavender between The Fairy roses and an inner border of Purple Cloud agapanthus which I moved from a position where they have never flowered in the 9 years that I have had them.  There is still some concreting of the tiles to be done before the job is finished but overall the result is pleasing.

VEGGIE GARDEN

It is many years since we have had the pleasure of growing our own veggies.  Whilst our plan is to build a new garden in the full sun, a blitz on the bottom tier of our original garden (a bit shaded) has been sufficient to get us going for this season.  I added home made compost after weeding and digging the bed over.  We have beetroot, chives, parsley, yellow zucchini, capsicums, snow peas, yellow butter beans, spinach, cos lettuce, strawberries, basil and 3 different tomatoes.  To date we have harvested the lettuce, spinach, beans and chives.

A POT FULL OF HYDRANGEAS

This years display of Hydrangea in the courtyard glazed pot is a splendid healthy specimen.  It could be my pruning skills, or the slow release fertiliser or the cold wet winter that we had or a combination of all.  The morning sun can send some of the flowers droopy on a hot day but once it is shaded they return to a stunning display.  Later in the season the flowers turn green which is an added bonus and gives yet another delightful display.

INSTALLATION OF MAKERS OF GARDEN FERTILISER

Aly & I found the cutest makers of garden fertiliser ever.  Our baby bunnies are a cross between Netherland Dwarf and Long Lopped Ear Dwarf rabbits.  Aly's off white bunny is named Baxter and my bunny is named Billie.  They were both born on the 1st December and we adopted them on the very first day of this new year.  The 3 story rabbit house is back in use with an added wire enclosed run on the balcony of the cubby house. They have settled in well and Asher the cat is taking an interest in them, he is friendly most of the time however I don't think he could be trusted unsupervised.  Baxter started with one ear up and the other down.  Over the last couple of days both ears are now down.  Billie's ears are up most of the time but I haven't ruled out that they could also come down. 

XMAS FLOWERS FROM THE GARDEN

I was delighted to be able to pick my own Christmas selection of flowers again.  The red and green Alstromeria's have only just begun to flower due to the colder than normal weather we have been experiencing.  To complete my arrangement I have added Queen Anne's Lace (choosing a combination of fully out blooms and green flowers), white Agapanthus and the flowers of Sacred Bamboo.

ORIENTAL POPPIES

One of natures surprises is to spread one's own home made compost onto the garden and then be amazed when plants that you haven't seen in the garden for years appear again.  Having extended a garden bed this spring I added compost to the clay so that the Japanese Maples that are new to this garden would get the best start.  We are now enjoying several poppies of differing shades filling the garden whilst the bordering box plants are young and insignificant.

UNFORTUNATE SPLIT

An unusual spate of wet windy weather has caused havoc throughout the nation.  Our own garden has experienced 77mm of rain over the last week.  Yesterday the combination of wind and rain were just too much for our Manchurian Pear and it split at a major fork.  If not for our deck, which fortunately has not suffered, the tree would have snapped off completely.  Fearing that the wind might snap the remaining half we had to leave it overnight, planning to carry out repairs the next day if it should survive.  Relief when morning revealed the remaining portion of the tree still to be standing.  Rod set up a system of rope and pulleys to pull the fallen portion back into place.  A section of steel rod inserted at the break was to act as a hinge, to safeguard the break from separating completely.  With both Aly and Jenny pulling on the rope and then holding fast, Rod drilled 3 holes through the breaks and secured it back together with bolts and nuts.  Finding an old hessian bag (a rarity these days) it was cut into strips and wound around the break and secured with a stocking.  Finally a feed of Seasol and a good hug will hopefully see this beautiful tree pull through and delight us for many more seasons.