Sunday, October 10, 2010

Vistas

I often take photos of individual plants but haven't taken any distance shots, or vistas, of the garden for a while. One usually sees a garden as a 'landscape' rather than plants 'one at a time', so here are a few 'gardenscapes' from this morning. (The last four photos are out of order - they should have been somewhere in the middle.)

Some of the dozens of plants in pots waiting to find a permanent home. A lot of these are Silver Birches which grew up through the holes in the brick path.

I tried to get a low shot of the newest garden, but kneeling is out of the question these days.

I have very pedestrian names for the garden beds - this is the 'big' garden (because it is), or marginally better is the 'east' garden. The house belongs to our neighbour across the road.

Full marks for persistence - they keep coming up everywhere, in the hundreds.

Eremophila nivea. It has the most velvety silver leaves and the prettiest mauve flowers. An Australian native.

Cercis Forest Pansy

Next four are the 'big' garden from different angles.





Where the plastic water bottle is used to be a Camphor Laurel. We removed it recently before it reached its mature 30 metre height (it was only about 2 metres). In its place are four Chinese Lanterns, a Bridal Veil Broom, several succulents and two punnets of snapdragons. It should be a bit more colourful, if nothing else. This is the top end of the 'big' garden, near the front footpath.

This is the very top corner of that same garden. An area that is constantly being run over by neighbouring cars as they cut the corner. Yesterday a gravel truck managed to destroy a barrowload of plants so, short of building a brick wall, I planted 10 pieces of Miscanthus zebrini (a large clumping grass) around the corner. I know I will live to regret it and have to grub them out eventually - but it salved my frustration in the meantime!!!
Another Cherry Tree shot.

This is the 'top' garden - see, I have no imagination - which runs along the road next to the footpath. (Yes, Kerri, that's the Centrathus just coming into flower. Can you hear Richard gritting his teeth?)


Looking down the street.




Red-stemmed Cornus (Dogwood) in foreground is one of my favourites all year round.

This is known as the 'lounge room' garden. Yes, you guessed it!

And this is the 'deck' garden because it runs alongside the deck.

It gets better .... this is the 'clothes line' garden, because of the ubiquitous Hills Hoist in the lawn.

Vegetable garden is pretty self-explanatory!

This is the view from the deck, looking northwards over farmland.

There's that tree again!

Proof that it is the 'lounge room' garden...lol.

'Inside' view of the top garden.

This is the 'woodland' garden, mainly because it's shaded by two Sorbus (Rowan trees or 'Mountain Ash') and a large Banksia. The Acanthus in the centre is stunning at this time of year but suffers during the dry weather. The 'stick' shrub beside it is/was a beautiful red Chinese Lantern. We pruned it so hard that it may have 'gone to God', but we're hoping that He either has enough, or won't like it, and will send it back to us....lol.

The front lawn, between the 'top' garden and the 'driveway' garden.

I think I could do with some inspiration for naming gardens - a couple I didn't mention are the 'new' garden and the 'back' garden, which runs along the back fence. I feel quite depressed reading this ...... I think I'll go and make a cuppa!

16 comments:

  1. Who cares about names...they are meant to be useful with no need to by lyrical.
    Lovely photos and I see some nice shaping of plants there......much needed here.

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  2. sobs....that also reminds me I have no silver birch any more.

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  3. Beautiful garden vistas ... oh to have fabulous garden beds like these! I have to stick with plant shots because I don't have lovely vistas!

    You've made me quite green with envy ... such a lovely garden and you get to grow things like that stunning Dogwood and Cherry Tree!

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  4. Such an amazing garden you have... so very interesting... wish I could see it in person! Larry

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  5. How could you feel depressed with such a huge, beautiful garden. I bet you were mad with a truck driving over it. My garden is getting soaked with too much rain.Hope the new veggies survive.

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  6. Lucky neighbours, they get to see the view. The amount of work you must spend at it to have it in such a glorious state!

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  7. I spent a LONG time this Sunday morning just looking and looking at your gorgeous garden. I can't imagine just waking and walking through such scented splendour.

    I kept looking also, for where the charming little nook-with-a-chair is located, like a little peninsula of welcome right amongst the flowers.

    Oh, would I love to come prepare tea for your garden-tour guests!!
    Just to be a part of that wondrous place for even a moment must be such a blessing---I know that it's one of the great delights of your life.

    rachel

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  8. Hang on, I'm going to get a cuppa and join you!
    Now, I'm going for a stroll through your garden.
    Ah...what a growing delight...a true piece of Paradise you have surrounding you!
    And what wonderful variety!
    It's a beautiful mix of trees, shrubs, flowers, grasses and veggies.
    Richard would like my Centranthus..it behaves well :) I've been hoping it would spread a little quicker, but it's still 2 small clumps.
    I'd love to be close enough to be the lucky recipient of some Osteo thinnings. My few annual Osteos are in containers, but next year I'll try some in the ground. They look so bright and pretty.
    You know what I'd love to see is an arial shot. Do you think you could manage that, dear Alice?
    My garden names are very utilitarian too, and I've often wished I could come up with more poetic names, but I don't think the gardens really care :)
    They look glorious..and that's all that matters.
    Thanks so much for the vistas. Your garden is a show place of creativity. You and Richard do a wonderful job!

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  9. I dream of my garden looking like yours - somehow I don't think it ever will. You and Richard are truly "master gardeners". Lovely photos. Thank you for sharing them.

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  10. The garden is looking amazing! Very different to when we saw it last.
    The names at least, are functional.... bit like a farmer and his paddocks (back paddock, front paddock, bull paddock, 60 acres etc!)

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  11. Hi- I commented earlier on your lovely vistas... thanks for visiting my blog. In response to your question... yes we get quite cold... sometimes to
    -30 degrees, but we are basically zone 5 the last few years. I dig the brugsmansias, sometimes divide them, try to leave at least one 4' stem, and cut other stems back to the pot that I pit them in... I remove all the leaves and let them go basically dormant with one or two waterings over the winter... sometimes too dry will kill them. I keep them at 45 to 50 degrees farenheit. Smaller varieties could also be kept as a houseplant. Don't let the root ball get too dry for too long in my experience... as I say a couple waterings over the course of November- april (our winter) works well for me! Good luck, and again, your gardens are wonderful! Larry

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  12. Dear Alice..............would you like to come down south and "weed a little in the paddock" for me giggles!! I just know you could do wonders in our garden.........a week or two in Kyneton now how could that hurt!!..........Your top,bottom,large,side etc.etc. garden beds are stunning......I am ashamed to say our lawn/grass here may have to be bailed.....lol lol lol.

    Hugs Lee-Ann

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  13. I LOVE the long shots of your garden - It is HUGE - how much area do you have? Your names are very inventive - just the way I like them!

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  14. Lee-ann - I can imagine the weeds are growing apace in the paddock, and grass as well in your little town.

    Annie - it's only 1440sq metres, a bit over one third of an acre.

    Thanks, Shannon, I knew you'd relate to practical names, just like we had on the farm too.

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  15. Hi Alice. Have had an enjoyable stroll through your fabulous garden. Am knocked out that it's all contained in only one third of an acre!
    As for names... well, if it works don't change it I say. We have front yard, back yard, orchard, right down the back, neighbour's name side and other neighbour's name side ... ha ha, you get my drift!
    Beautiful rural views from your garden as well.
    Those daisies do a wonderful job filling in spots don't they. My Gazanias which I transplanted from one of our loved ones' garden do a magnificent job for my blank spots!
    Thanks for your visit to my blog Alice. Cheerio for now :D

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  16. Lovely photos again. Lets hope that the actual cherries this year are as abundant as the blossoms.

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