Funny how some mornings you wake up with plans to achieve so much and at the end of the day you wonder what happened. I left home about 9.00am and took some mail around to my daughter S's house and sat and talked for a while. I said that since I was going to register her car (it's in our name but she drives it) she could bring it around home and wash it for the first time in many months and put the new Reg. sticker on. The queue at Motor Registry was so short that I didn't even have time to get comfortable in the chair - miracles still happen. I also wanted to go to the garden centre sale but got tired of trying to find a park close to the centre (I wanted to buy mulch and didn't want to have to carry it halfway home, or back to the car, whichever was closer) so decided to go tomorrow to another branch of the same nursery where parking is free and right up to the door. Met S. at the Mall so we could change her mobile phone from my name to hers, and found that we only needed to make a phone call to do it. Went home and helped S. wash and polish her car. I asked if she checked the tyres regularly. She said "Do I know how to check tyres?" So it was down to the Service Station for a lesson in checking and pumping up tyres.
S. was so pleased with her clean car, especially the windscreen and windows, her pumped up tyres and her phone in her name (and bills in her name, too), and promised to wash the car more regularly (ha. ha.) I did a bit of housework (a very little bit), then I seemed to lose about an hour. I can't remember what I did with it; I don't think I went to sleep, but I can't remember now. I went to water the plants on the deck but the water kept cutting out. Pulled the spray on the hose apart and found a tiny lizard (one of the thousands that are here) jammed inside. Didn't feel like poking at it so I blasted it out with a pressure nozzle. Finally got the plants watered and even managed to do some potting when R. went to hockey training. It was the first time the workbench (formerly someone's beloved ironing board) had been free in days so I made the most of it. Time to cook dinner, eat dinner, wash dinner dishes, and now I've just finished sewing a set of Barbie doll clothes. Of course, I failed to mention the time spent on the computer - checking blogs and emails, and the odd joke.
Oh well, perhaps I can be more organised and productive tomorrow, or the day after . . . . .
Thursday, March 31, 2005
Where did it go?
Yesterday I blogged my purchases of the day before, complete with botanical names, etc., and then it wouldn't publish and I lost it all. So I went and planted the shrubs instead and then lay awake last night thinking that I had planted them all in the wrong place and they wouldn't look any good, etc. etc. One good thing about plants, whatever you do it seldom needs to be permanent.
So the new shrubs are (minus the botanical names) - Protea 'Pink Ice'; Correa 'Winterglow'; Ceanothus 'Blue Pacific' (which I've always resisted just because everyone else had it); Banksia 'Giant Candles'; Grevillea 'Johnsonii' (we have one in another garden and it's one of my very favourite plants with its fine dark green upright leaves and deep red stems, lovely flowers too). Still to plant out are 3 Agonis flexuosa (Willow Myrtle) 'Afterdark'. These have gorgeous claret coloured leaves which change to deep burgundy in the winter. They are a bit frost tender until established so I'll pot them on and plant them out after the frosts have finished. Hopefully, they will be established enough to cope by next winter.
Now I'm off to register my daughter's car and visit the garden centre, which has 25% off everything. It would be a real shame if no-one turned up for the sale, wouldn't it? So I guess someone has to go !!!!
So the new shrubs are (minus the botanical names) - Protea 'Pink Ice'; Correa 'Winterglow'; Ceanothus 'Blue Pacific' (which I've always resisted just because everyone else had it); Banksia 'Giant Candles'; Grevillea 'Johnsonii' (we have one in another garden and it's one of my very favourite plants with its fine dark green upright leaves and deep red stems, lovely flowers too). Still to plant out are 3 Agonis flexuosa (Willow Myrtle) 'Afterdark'. These have gorgeous claret coloured leaves which change to deep burgundy in the winter. They are a bit frost tender until established so I'll pot them on and plant them out after the frosts have finished. Hopefully, they will be established enough to cope by next winter.
Now I'm off to register my daughter's car and visit the garden centre, which has 25% off everything. It would be a real shame if no-one turned up for the sale, wouldn't it? So I guess someone has to go !!!!
Tuesday, March 29, 2005
Mere comments have become a Blog.
Both Chloe and Calidore had so much 'food for thought' in their blogs today that it really got my brain rattling and I felt the need to respond with a blog.
Chloe talked of becoming more diligent in keeping a gardening journal. I think it's a great idea, and one that was impressed upon me a few weeks ago after looking through a photo album devoted entirely to the garden over the years. We have lived in this house for 30 years and, naturally, the garden still isn't finished. I know that we will never have a 'finished garden'. But just looking at the photos of the gardens over the years I was amazed at how they had changed. Not just in shape and development, but in the plants that have come and gone, many of which I had forgotten all about. I kept saying to myself "Good heavens, did we really have that growing back then" or "Haven't they grown (or not) " as the case may be. Even my plant preferences have changed so much, from annuals and a few shrubs years ago to trees, shrubs, bulbs, and especially perennials, with just a few annuals for added colour now. So back to the task of keeping a journal. It would be very interesting, as well as extremely helpful, to have a record of plants bought, received from friends, propagated or even self-sown. To see when and where they were planted, and their 'life story'. At the time of purchase and planting we always think that we'll remember the name of the plant etc., but it doesn't take long to forget and even labels fade or disappear. I'm not sure what would be the best method of keeping a journal. For those so inclined it should be possible to do so on the computer, but that's not really something that you can show or pass on to other people. Perhaps a large sketch book/scrap book may work, at least in the first instance. A more elaborate journal could be produced, as time permits, undoubtedly with a beautiful patchwork cover!!
With reference to Calidore's need to revamp her pergola garden, I had a moment of clarity regarding my front garden on Monday morning. My husband and I went for a walk around the hill behind our house, on the pretext of getting exercise but really to collect tree seeds and look at gardens. As I crossed the road and turned into our driveway and looked at the gardens overall, it suddenly occured to me that I needed to make some big changes in the garden bed with runs along the front footpath for the full width of the block. The whole block slopes down from the road and the front yard is on 3 levels. The garden near the footpath is on a higher level than the lawn (what's left of it) and the garden along the driveway is lower still. The top garden has had a variety of plants over the years, mostly groundcovers and low growing perennials and groundcovers, rarely taller than 70cm. I realised that a number of shrubs from 1-2 metres high would not only add a new dimension to that garden but to the whole front yard, and also provide a barrier to the traffic noise.
When I told my husband what I had in mind he just laughed, because that's exactly what he's been telling me for years. Once again, just wait long enough and "she'll come round"!!!
This morning we went shopping and bought6 plants, but I'll have to tell you about them tomorrow as I've been watching 'All Saints' and now I'm too tired. So, Good night, all.
Chloe talked of becoming more diligent in keeping a gardening journal. I think it's a great idea, and one that was impressed upon me a few weeks ago after looking through a photo album devoted entirely to the garden over the years. We have lived in this house for 30 years and, naturally, the garden still isn't finished. I know that we will never have a 'finished garden'. But just looking at the photos of the gardens over the years I was amazed at how they had changed. Not just in shape and development, but in the plants that have come and gone, many of which I had forgotten all about. I kept saying to myself "Good heavens, did we really have that growing back then" or "Haven't they grown (or not) " as the case may be. Even my plant preferences have changed so much, from annuals and a few shrubs years ago to trees, shrubs, bulbs, and especially perennials, with just a few annuals for added colour now. So back to the task of keeping a journal. It would be very interesting, as well as extremely helpful, to have a record of plants bought, received from friends, propagated or even self-sown. To see when and where they were planted, and their 'life story'. At the time of purchase and planting we always think that we'll remember the name of the plant etc., but it doesn't take long to forget and even labels fade or disappear. I'm not sure what would be the best method of keeping a journal. For those so inclined it should be possible to do so on the computer, but that's not really something that you can show or pass on to other people. Perhaps a large sketch book/scrap book may work, at least in the first instance. A more elaborate journal could be produced, as time permits, undoubtedly with a beautiful patchwork cover!!
With reference to Calidore's need to revamp her pergola garden, I had a moment of clarity regarding my front garden on Monday morning. My husband and I went for a walk around the hill behind our house, on the pretext of getting exercise but really to collect tree seeds and look at gardens. As I crossed the road and turned into our driveway and looked at the gardens overall, it suddenly occured to me that I needed to make some big changes in the garden bed with runs along the front footpath for the full width of the block. The whole block slopes down from the road and the front yard is on 3 levels. The garden near the footpath is on a higher level than the lawn (what's left of it) and the garden along the driveway is lower still. The top garden has had a variety of plants over the years, mostly groundcovers and low growing perennials and groundcovers, rarely taller than 70cm. I realised that a number of shrubs from 1-2 metres high would not only add a new dimension to that garden but to the whole front yard, and also provide a barrier to the traffic noise.
When I told my husband what I had in mind he just laughed, because that's exactly what he's been telling me for years. Once again, just wait long enough and "she'll come round"!!!
This morning we went shopping and bought6 plants, but I'll have to tell you about them tomorrow as I've been watching 'All Saints' and now I'm too tired. So, Good night, all.
Sunday, March 27, 2005
What, more empty pots?
That has been my husband's lament these past two days as a result of all the planting out I've been doing. He pretends that he doesn't like washing empty pots, and maybe he doesn't, but seems unable to realise that if he doesn't wash them then I will, sometime.
Dozens of geraniums, succulents, chinese lantern, chrysanthemum, a Canadian maple, and a Smoke bush "Grace" were planted out today. Goodness knows if they are where I really want them to be, but at least they're in the ground now. As for the geraniums, I'll no doubt succumb to the temptation to take cuttings so if I don't like them where they are then I can replant them elsewhere or just compost them.
Started destroying the front garden (again) by pulling out lots of alyssum, gazanias, centranthus and African daisies, partly so I can get at the couch grass but also because I'm tired of them, and some of the them look pretty tired too. However, where the dripper hose has been lying for some weeks, although only used sporadically, everything is thriving so they can stay. Another reason for pulling them out now is that I already have a couple of barrowloads to put through the mulcher so I might as well collect everything and do a proper job whilst I'm at it. Plus, I've been using so much compost lately that I'm afraid I'll run out and I need to build up the supply again.
I see the jonquils are shooting. It seems like only a few weeks since I cut down last year's leaves. I'm happy to see the flowers, even if I do find the fragrance a bit overpowering, but the leaves seem to take forever to die down. Maybe I'll just shift them to some remote corner.
R. has spent the last two days repotting 140 Canadian Maples and 60 Jacarandas. I think we need to buy a farm !!!
Dozens of geraniums, succulents, chinese lantern, chrysanthemum, a Canadian maple, and a Smoke bush "Grace" were planted out today. Goodness knows if they are where I really want them to be, but at least they're in the ground now. As for the geraniums, I'll no doubt succumb to the temptation to take cuttings so if I don't like them where they are then I can replant them elsewhere or just compost them.
Started destroying the front garden (again) by pulling out lots of alyssum, gazanias, centranthus and African daisies, partly so I can get at the couch grass but also because I'm tired of them, and some of the them look pretty tired too. However, where the dripper hose has been lying for some weeks, although only used sporadically, everything is thriving so they can stay. Another reason for pulling them out now is that I already have a couple of barrowloads to put through the mulcher so I might as well collect everything and do a proper job whilst I'm at it. Plus, I've been using so much compost lately that I'm afraid I'll run out and I need to build up the supply again.
I see the jonquils are shooting. It seems like only a few weeks since I cut down last year's leaves. I'm happy to see the flowers, even if I do find the fragrance a bit overpowering, but the leaves seem to take forever to die down. Maybe I'll just shift them to some remote corner.
R. has spent the last two days repotting 140 Canadian Maples and 60 Jacarandas. I think we need to buy a farm !!!
Saturday, March 26, 2005
Phew !!!
Perhaps I haven't worked that hard but I did achieve a few things today. The weather was so good that I would give it a score of 15 out of 10. In fact, I felt guilty every time I walked into the house because I was wasting the sunshine.
I have a garden near the loungeroom windows that I've rarely been happy with. So today I pulled out lots of self-sown African daisies. Lovely specimens they were, too, but it doesn't matter how good they are if you already have too many and don't want any more. Out they went and more compost (beautiful stuff) was worked into the soil. Pelargoniums, hebes, penstemons, variegated ajuga, shasta daisies and a yellow buddleia have finally been released from captivity in pots on the deck and hopefully they are already enjoying their new home.
One of the most rewarding plants in the garden this summer was a Limonium (Sea Lavender/Perennial Statice). It flowered non-stop for at least 6 months and rarely got a decent drink of water as it was on a sloping part of the garden where the water tended to run away. It was a mass of purple and white flowers on 30cm stems above a cluster of dark green leathery leaves. I dug it up today and broke it into 9 pieces and replanted them in 3 different areas.
Also planted out 8 blue agapanthus that have been sitting in a dish of water for months. I don't usually treat my agapanthus as badly as that, even if the ones in the garden don't flower, which they didn't this year. Today's plantings are behind a row of silver-leaved arctotis along the neighbours' driveway so I hope the two different plant types will make a lovely contrast.
My daughter took home about 10 pots of plants yesterday. She said that this was the best sort of nursery to come to as there is no checkout to pass through on the way out. I hope you had fun planting them, dear. Whilst M. was selecting plants, her wonderful husband was fixing the Links on my sidebar and adding a counter. Thank you, thank you.
More good weather forecast for tomorrow so you know where I'll be.
I have a garden near the loungeroom windows that I've rarely been happy with. So today I pulled out lots of self-sown African daisies. Lovely specimens they were, too, but it doesn't matter how good they are if you already have too many and don't want any more. Out they went and more compost (beautiful stuff) was worked into the soil. Pelargoniums, hebes, penstemons, variegated ajuga, shasta daisies and a yellow buddleia have finally been released from captivity in pots on the deck and hopefully they are already enjoying their new home.
One of the most rewarding plants in the garden this summer was a Limonium (Sea Lavender/Perennial Statice). It flowered non-stop for at least 6 months and rarely got a decent drink of water as it was on a sloping part of the garden where the water tended to run away. It was a mass of purple and white flowers on 30cm stems above a cluster of dark green leathery leaves. I dug it up today and broke it into 9 pieces and replanted them in 3 different areas.
Also planted out 8 blue agapanthus that have been sitting in a dish of water for months. I don't usually treat my agapanthus as badly as that, even if the ones in the garden don't flower, which they didn't this year. Today's plantings are behind a row of silver-leaved arctotis along the neighbours' driveway so I hope the two different plant types will make a lovely contrast.
My daughter took home about 10 pots of plants yesterday. She said that this was the best sort of nursery to come to as there is no checkout to pass through on the way out. I hope you had fun planting them, dear. Whilst M. was selecting plants, her wonderful husband was fixing the Links on my sidebar and adding a counter. Thank you, thank you.
More good weather forecast for tomorrow so you know where I'll be.
Wednesday, March 23, 2005
Such energy!
I feel positively exhausted by all of the work that Calidore has been doing. What with making sauce, mothering tadpoles, propagating roses, finding treasures in the Op. Shop, and producing dainty patchwork, I think you need a rest. But if you haven't got time, I'll have one for you.
Seriously, you've certainly been busy with a wide range of interests, so many of them creative. I'll bet that you are never bored? I always think that anyone who has an interest in creating something, whether it is gardening, cooking, sewing, writing, painting or anything that requires their ideas and skill to produce, will never really be bored and will always find life interesting. It bothers me that so many people seem to lack a creative interest.
After pulling out barrowloads of unwanted plants at the weekend and then spreading an equal number of loads of compost and working it into the ground, it was wonderful to receive half an inch of rain. Now to decide where will I put what? My usual dilemma.
Since the weekend I bought 6sq metres of tiles for the bathroom at the other house. Thought I had a real bargain as they were only half the price I expected to pay. Big mistake! They were also 2mm too small, which was important as they had to match the remaining tiles. Luckily we were able to buy the correct ones in time for the tiler to start work this morning, and also lucky that the other store refunded the money on the smaller tiles.
My son and his girlfriend left this morning for a few days travel in Victoria, through Gippsland and along the Great Ocean Road. I had to restrain myself from saying "You should try and visit this place, and that place, etc, etc." Being an ex-Victorian I still want people to see all the lovely places down there (and all the places I still miss). I'm sure they'll have a great trip.
Seriously, you've certainly been busy with a wide range of interests, so many of them creative. I'll bet that you are never bored? I always think that anyone who has an interest in creating something, whether it is gardening, cooking, sewing, writing, painting or anything that requires their ideas and skill to produce, will never really be bored and will always find life interesting. It bothers me that so many people seem to lack a creative interest.
After pulling out barrowloads of unwanted plants at the weekend and then spreading an equal number of loads of compost and working it into the ground, it was wonderful to receive half an inch of rain. Now to decide where will I put what? My usual dilemma.
Since the weekend I bought 6sq metres of tiles for the bathroom at the other house. Thought I had a real bargain as they were only half the price I expected to pay. Big mistake! They were also 2mm too small, which was important as they had to match the remaining tiles. Luckily we were able to buy the correct ones in time for the tiler to start work this morning, and also lucky that the other store refunded the money on the smaller tiles.
My son and his girlfriend left this morning for a few days travel in Victoria, through Gippsland and along the Great Ocean Road. I had to restrain myself from saying "You should try and visit this place, and that place, etc, etc." Being an ex-Victorian I still want people to see all the lovely places down there (and all the places I still miss). I'm sure they'll have a great trip.
Saturday, March 19, 2005
So much room
For ages I've been trying to find room to plant out heaps of plants that are currently longing to be released from the confines of their pots, but there seemed to be insufficient space. Today I had a proper look at the gardens and realised that large areas are covered in things like alyssum, gazanias, aquilegia and African daisies. Whilst I'm usually happy for plants to multiply of their own accord, I really must insist that I am the boss, not them. I've tried telling the couch grass that too, but it takes no notice.
I've now cleared what seems like acres of alyssum from one garden, and looking forward to composting, mulching and planting something more rewarding. It's funny how we put up with plants that we don't really want or like just because they are growing well. Sometimes they take over without us realising it.
By the time I've finished cutting back or pulling out everything I don't want, and feeding the mulcher, the compost heap will be overflowing.
I've now cleared what seems like acres of alyssum from one garden, and looking forward to composting, mulching and planting something more rewarding. It's funny how we put up with plants that we don't really want or like just because they are growing well. Sometimes they take over without us realising it.
By the time I've finished cutting back or pulling out everything I don't want, and feeding the mulcher, the compost heap will be overflowing.
Thursday, March 17, 2005
Sweet Peas for St Patrick's Day
I did it - actually planted the Sweet Peas on St Patrick's Day, said to be the optimum day for planting them in Canberra. I don't have much luck with Sweet Peas but, hopefully, I've prepared the soil and planted the seeds in the correct manner, nearly 200 of them, so at least some should strike. Many Sweet Peas are now bred without perfume due to the preference for non-perfumed flowers in hospitals. It seems such a pity to breed out that lovely fragrance, but thankfully we still have the visual beauty.
I re-read the blog I wrote earlier today and realised that my fingers and brain were definitely not connected as each seemed to be writing their own story, hence all the errors.
I re-read the blog I wrote earlier today and realised that my fingers and brain were definitely not connected as each seemed to be writing their own story, hence all the errors.
Ready, set, GO
GO out into the garden, that is! Half an inch of lovely rain overnight and a forecast of only 17 degrees, and the next few days to be in the low 20s. No hockey to interrupt gardening efforts this weekend either.
The seedlings I planted yesterday all survived the night despite me forgetting to put our snail bait. We seem to have hundreds of millipedes at the moment, more than I've seen before, so I hope they keep they hungry little jaws off the plants. I think it must have been them who ate all the beans I planted recently.
We had an early start to the day. Woke at 5.30 so that we could go and see the hot air balloons lift off near the lake, but it was too cloudy and windy for them to do so. Maybe better luck tomorrow. On the way home we did the grocery and vegie shopping and it was all home and put away before 9.00am.
Now I just have to ensure that I don't waste away the rest of the day. If I'm really disciplined I won't be in here to 'talk' to you until tonight. So have a great day,
The seedlings I planted yesterday all survived the night despite me forgetting to put our snail bait. We seem to have hundreds of millipedes at the moment, more than I've seen before, so I hope they keep they hungry little jaws off the plants. I think it must have been them who ate all the beans I planted recently.
We had an early start to the day. Woke at 5.30 so that we could go and see the hot air balloons lift off near the lake, but it was too cloudy and windy for them to do so. Maybe better luck tomorrow. On the way home we did the grocery and vegie shopping and it was all home and put away before 9.00am.
Now I just have to ensure that I don't waste away the rest of the day. If I'm really disciplined I won't be in here to 'talk' to you until tonight. So have a great day,
Wednesday, March 16, 2005
Can you hear it?
Can you hear it?
Listen carefully.
Yes, there it is, that soft pattering sound.
It's RAIN.
Not much yet, but anything is welcome after the last few hot days. The weather is so much cooler too, which helps the plants. I've just been planting out VERY late summer annuals - ageratum, dwarf cosmos, zinnias and phlox. They aren't very robust seedlings so I planted them in clumps of about 6 and watered them well with Maxicrop. I just wanted to get them out of the punnets and into the ground in the hope that we might get a brief flowering before it gets too cold.
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