July – Part 2

The silver beet is struggling on.  At least it looks better since the blackbirds can’t toss the plants out of the soil any more.  Oh well time will tell how it all turns out.  The sugar snap climbing peas are still taking their time appearing fully.  I have lost some to the jolly blackbirds but what can you do????

I finally got the compost filled and so it should be ready by the middle of September.  I tested out some chicken fertilizer to see if the dog would treat it the same as she did the ‘Blood and Bone’ (what a disaster that was).  It has no smell and she was totally indifferent to it.  So I spread it onto the empty vege. garden – raked it in, and she has paid no attention to it at all.  YAY. 

I pruned the roses the last weekend in July, so hopefully we have seen the last of this year’s frosts.  Only two roses – what a joy – it took all of about half an hour.

The daphnes are out now and smell divine.  The camellias are just starting to bloom.

This is a large camellia and an azalea 'Kirin' in the front garden.  Eastern Spinebills have made it home.

The potted standard daphne at the doorway to the shade house.

the first flowers on my white daphne

Buds are forming on most of my dendrobium orchids

Daffodils made a surprise entrance into the front garden.

Lots of wrens visit the garden every day.

and this New Holland Honeyeater  sat enjoying the view for several minutes before heading off to the birdbath