December 2013

It was so lovely to come home after more than 6 weeks away on a fantastic holiday that took us around the world.  We had a house/dog sitter who was great.  Her main task was to look after our much loved pooch.  I told her not to worry too much about the garden but just make sure the shade house was watered etc.  What I didn’t factor in was the growth that would happen while we were away……oh boy!!!!  Everything has just burst into fabulous new growth – weeds included.  So once the jet-lag, the bad cough (which had re-surfaced) was lessening, the un-packing, washing and ironing etc. were done, it was time to get out into the garden and try to ‘Tame the Beast’.

I weeded one area of the front yard but decided I really needed to get the back garden, in particular the vegie garden organised.  Each day I went out into the garden for an hour, then have a rest, then have another hour outdoors pulling out weeds.  The vegie garden was a priority as I needed to get it planted up with this seasons tomatoes, snow peas, corn, kale, silver beet and beans.

Most of the weeds in the front garden are ones that are easily removed but I needed to get them out before they set any seeds and create more problems.  Another disappointment was to find the NBM line had been laid up to the house.  I wished I had been there to try to protect my garden from the idiots who had dug the trench, covering plants or as in one case leaving one plant roots up on top of the garden.  Surely they could see it was upside down??? Grrrr.  Of course being a native it is stone dead and will have to be replaced.  I’m hopeful that the other plants that had been about 2/3^rd buried will recover. 

I like to start each New Year with a tidy/clean house and the garden looking loved and organised.  The house is done.  I have a few free days between now and then to get the rest of the garden weed free and looking it’s best.  So with a few early morning starts and daylight savings I’m determined to reach my goal.

 

The Apricot tree is covered in fruit.  I had to give the roses an early summer trim.   They had been covered in flowers but there had been so much rain the finished blooms were weighing down the branches.

Lobelia had self sown all along the paths.  It looked pretty but it was also full of weeds.

The sweet peas haven't done very well, but the lobelia was trying to take over this bed as well.  I had to thin it out so that it didn't impact on the species daphne and boronias.

Before..........

After

Vegie garden before.....

After....planted with coriander, snow peas and zucchini.  I had planted the border of self sown pansies and lobelias before we left.  Ruby was keeping watch on me to make sure I didn't disappear again.

Silver beet - 'Red Legs' set up with their little tee pees to stop the jolly blackbirds from scratching them out.

I didn't recognize the foliage when this came up self sown - when we got home this snap dragon was in full bloom.  It is staying there for the moment.  In the same bed I 'deep' planted 12 tomatoes either side of  garden frame. 

One orchid had waited for our return to bloom

the species daphnes are doing really well.

This Bilbergia flowered while I was away but our sitter was kind enough to send me the photos.