tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-84772452011-11-28T08:36:25.019+08:00<br>A good weekend is indicated by much dirt under the nails come Monday morning.Noalahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07110560595680604628noreply@blogger.comBlogger671100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8477245.post-92120223643341938642011-09-02T22:14:00.005+08:002011-09-02T23:48:13.314+08:00

I'm so pleased you asked :) If you're not from a hot dry climate then you don't need to read this post. If you are from a hot dry climate then read on and find a very water efficient garden bed design. Do you remember those pots called water well pots? Same principle applies here: Water will 'wick' up, via capillary action, from a water reservoir in the base, up through the soil to the plant

Noalahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07110560595680604628noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8477245.post-9635535125727867532011-08-31T00:06:00.004+08:002011-08-31T00:13:16.244+08:00

Before: After: Raised sleeper wicking beds for annual vegies. More info re these later.

Noalahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07110560595680604628noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8477245.post-18041369826923091732011-05-11T15:20:00.004+08:002011-05-11T15:54:50.294+08:00

I can't believe how popular the post I made, years ago, on growing potatoes in tyres is.It is the single most popular page on this blog, and searches for this topic continue to be the reason most ppl end up at my blog. Amazing!I haven't grown potatoes in tyres myself for quite a while now, but have some organic seed potatoes waiting to be put somewhere. The tyres I used previously are now holding

Noalahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07110560595680604628noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8477245.post-84414711093047267642011-01-11T17:20:00.003+08:002011-01-11T17:22:29.534+08:00

Just made a drink of the lemon cordial I made. It's not great and could do with more lemon-ness in the flavour, but it's not dreadful either.Think I will try less stevia next time and see if the lemon-ness comes through more.Have you made any cordials from home-grown produce?

Noalahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07110560595680604628noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8477245.post-83827798061134449282011-01-10T21:49:00.003+08:002011-01-10T21:56:24.270+08:00

Oh how I love Freecycle.Several times at the plant nursery I have looked for watercress so I can grown my own to add to my daily lunch-time salad, but to no avail.Lo and behold what do I see in my local Freecycle emails on the weekend - someone one suburb away has watercress that's bursting out of it's pot and she'd love to give some away, YIPEE!A few emails later, a short 5 minute drive and I am

Noalahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07110560595680604628noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8477245.post-83810558877345717432011-01-06T21:25:00.004+08:002011-01-06T21:33:30.391+08:00

Collected Kangaroo Paw seeds from my garden this afternoon - both Anigozanthos Manglesii (red and green kangaroo paw) and Anigozanthos Veridis (a smaller all green kangaroo paw).Both had flowered particularly well so I was really pleased to be able to gather some seed for future propagation and use in my used-to-be-front-lawn area.I was very fortunate to adopt a xanthorrhoea (grass tree) for free

Noalahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07110560595680604628noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8477245.post-8816816345634249052009-08-23T15:36:00.007+08:002009-08-23T16:24:39.209+08:00

I really do wish you could smell what I bought today, cos I have something yummy!Brown Boronia is a West Australian native that is very, very fragrant. People walk around the city selling bunches of it when it's in flower and you can smell them from miles away. A beautiful sweet aroma. They cleverly had some right at the front door of the Better Pets and Gardens shop I went to today - to buy cat

Noalahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07110560595680604628noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8477245.post-69797714366859159622009-08-13T22:02:00.004+08:002009-08-23T15:36:54.628+08:00

No, not me silly - the tree!Since I'm talking about trees (ie in the previous post) I thought I'd give you an update on one of the star attractions of my garden.About 18 months ago I took a big deep breath and allowed a tree care person do a major prune on my beautiful Liquidambar.I love my huge big tree. Yes it drops leaves by the ton each autumn/winter and they clog up the driveway and the

Noalahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07110560595680604628noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8477245.post-13526558337680406302009-08-12T19:52:00.007+08:002009-08-12T20:54:15.770+08:00

A few years ago I had two garden blogs; this one (which used to be called Noala's Garden Journal) and Dirt Under the Nails which was hosted on BlogCharm.BlogCharm ceased operating in January 2007 and I though all my blog posts from there were gone forever. But I had forgotten about the Way Back Machine!! This is a site where websites are archived. I've known about it and used it in the past to

Noalahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07110560595680604628noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8477245.post-88217668435572255402009-08-10T18:29:00.006+08:002009-08-10T22:08:56.200+08:00

Ever increasingly people have less room for gardens. With the explosion of the 'house behind' phenomenon across my city many people have only a small paved area for their outdoor table and chairs and that's the extent of their garden.Inner city living has also become very popular with a large number of (mostly younger) people living in apartments in the CBD or very close to it. At best they get a

Noalahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07110560595680604628noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8477245.post-41538739954461254182009-08-07T18:35:00.008+08:002009-08-08T09:23:34.898+08:00

Winter is a pretty boring time in the vegie patch as far as I'm concerned.Despite this I do have a few things growing, most of which are experiments .. ie things I've never grown before.My vegie patch is raised from ground level and made of old railway sleepers. Here's how it's looking at the moment - tomatoes in front, brussel sprouts at the back, potatoes to the left rear and then there are

Noalahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07110560595680604628noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8477245.post-52603717269401757182009-08-03T18:01:00.003+08:002009-08-03T18:28:04.311+08:00

I live in a hot dry place. We've been getting less and less rainfall each year and our winters are getting warmer and drier. The amount of water in the dams doesn't go up much during winter.As a result we've had garden watering restrictions for quite a few years now.In summer we are only permitted to turn our sprinklers on two days of the week (allotted according to your house number). If you

Noalahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07110560595680604628noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8477245.post-36326766375136107682009-08-02T21:16:00.001+08:002009-08-02T21:20:06.491+08:00

It's Sunday night and I have dirt under my nails.I guess it must have been a good weekend!Only partially though as most of the dirt under my nails is from cleaning out leaves and gunk from my gutters rather than from digging in the dirt.Some of the dirt is from planting though - some very late daffodils made it into a pot this afternoon.Welcome back, me :)

Noalahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07110560595680604628noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8477245.post-10958073850554863152007-05-13T17:45:00.000+08:002007-05-14T20:35:22.046+08:00

I have had a most wonderful mothers day with much of it having been spent in the garden - after the obligatory (and much enjoyed!) breakfast in bed and lay-in with the newspaper.First I headed over to Bunnings who had mightily pissed me off yesterday resulting in me missing their free composting workshop. Seems I didn't miss much though as mum had attended at her local store and said it wasn't

Noalahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07110560595680604628noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8477245.post-88634719039626537282007-04-08T15:14:00.000+08:002009-08-02T21:10:02.414+08:00

Here are some pics of the creation of the shade sail.Shade Sail:In case you don't recall how it looked previously here are some before pics:View from the kitchen windowView as you come down the drivewayFirst the poles went in then were left to set for at least a week. The footings are about 1m square.Then the sail came!And finally, with it set up for entertaining:I love the twist in the sail, so

Noalahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07110560595680604628noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8477245.post-66638478849405151622006-11-19T17:56:00.000+08:002009-08-02T21:07:18.353+08:00

Sheeesh, I didn't realise I hadn't posted in here since March!Later tonight I'll try upload some pics as there has been some activity over in the new entertaining area over the last couple of weeks.Shade Structure I have half a shade structure! Finally decided not to go with a Bali Hut as I thought it was too imposing, and 'hard' a structure, for the small area. So I've gone with shade sails.

Noalahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07110560595680604628noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8477245.post-1142075943717256042006-03-11T19:14:00.000+08:002009-08-02T20:57:29.545+08:00

Now that the weather has cooled down I can get back out into the garden, and oh boy, does it ever need some attention - the vege patch particularly.Today I ripped out the tomatoes, lettuce, celery and about three hours of weeds.My bad - the weeds had flowered and I could see their seeds scattered all over the ground :( means there are going to be a lot more weeds coming back :( My own fault, I

Noalahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07110560595680604628noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8477245.post-1141828969021803762006-03-08T22:41:00.000+08:002006-10-12T15:55:41.731+08:00

Apologies for the hiatus. It's been hot and not weather to be even thinking about gardening.I hope to start updating again in a few days time.

Noalahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07110560595680604628noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8477245.post-1140438329367942772006-02-20T20:25:00.000+08:002009-08-02T21:10:02.414+08:00

ladytreemaker 's Online Photo Album - Q, R & STonight uploaded the few S plants that I have:Strawberry patch (the slaters get most of them!)Strelizia - also known as the Bird of Paradise (see below)Sweet Pea - first time I've grown these was last year, beautiful colours.

Noalahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07110560595680604628noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8477245.post-1139319204066828352006-02-07T21:33:00.000+08:002009-08-02T21:10:02.414+08:00

ladytreemaker 's Online Photo Album - Q, R, STonight added the R plants:Rocket (a herb)Rose (Eiffel Tower, and a sun-burnt red one name unknown)RununculaThe rununcula pics are my favourite. This particular one is really dark burgundy, almost brownish. I love the architecture of the petals.Do you like it?

Noalahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07110560595680604628noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8477245.post-1139056591763040782006-02-04T20:36:00.000+08:002009-08-02T21:10:02.415+08:00

ladytreemaker 's Online Photo Album - MNOPUploaded the P plants tonight:PansyPetuniaPhilodendron Monstera DeliciosaPoppiesYou'll need to click through to the next page to see them all (link is near the top right of the album page).I really like a lot of these pics, but if I had to choose a favourite it would be this one:

Noalahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07110560595680604628noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8477245.post-1138631541819817442006-01-30T22:32:00.000+08:002009-08-02T21:10:02.415+08:00

ladytreemaker 's Online Photo Album - MNO & PTonight added two O plants:-Orchid - Cymbidium, greenOrchid - Slipper.The slipper orchid flowers were so shiny. It hasn't flowered again since I was given it but the plant seems to be doing fine, so I'll just wait:

Noalahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07110560595680604628noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8477245.post-1138517804615544902006-01-29T14:45:00.000+08:002009-08-03T18:01:17.415+08:00

Cut out the top of the avocado treeI am waiting until Thunderbolt is here to do thisas I don't like using the chainsaw when I'm alone. This is something I do about every two years, to stop the tree from getting too tall and out of control.Sadly there are fruit on the branches I'll be cutting out, but there's quite a lot of fruit on the lower branches too. I know it means less fruit at the next

Noalahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07110560595680604628noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8477245.post-1138517109124118812006-01-29T14:32:00.000+08:002009-08-02T21:10:02.415+08:00

Ladytreemakers Photo Album - MNO & POh, I also added the Chinese Tallow to the 'C' album.At the moment there is just M and N plants in here, more will be added later.Mango - tree and fruit, I like that new growth on the tree (ie leaves) is dark red.NasturtiumNative Violet - another of my most favourite flowers (so much so here's the pic below)Nectarine - in blossom, and with fruit.Native Violet:

Noalahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07110560595680604628noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8477245.post-1138021899963509212006-01-23T21:11:00.000+08:002009-08-02T21:10:02.416+08:00

ladytreemaker 's Online Photo Album - IJKLHad to put L in with this lot to make the 10 folders stretch for the whole alphabet.Added:LavenderLeucospernum (often mistaken for a protea)LilyorchidLiquidamber

Noalahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07110560595680604628noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8477245.post-1137919483008034672006-01-22T16:44:00.000+08:002009-08-02T21:10:02.416+08:00

ladytreemaker 's Online Photo Album - IJKAdded:Iris (white, bud only)JonquilKing Protea (can't believe I grew this!)

Noalahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07110560595680604628noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8477245.post-1137918253259097582006-01-22T16:22:00.000+08:002006-10-12T15:55:41.107+08:00

Now - when I'm almost half way through - I find out my on-line image host (where the A to Z of plants lives) only allows me to make 10 folders.I'm not complaining about the retriction, just that there was no way to find that out before I started making them grrrrrrI'll combine them so there will be two letters in each folder, will take me a while to go back to each post and update the links

Noalahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07110560595680604628noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8477245.post-1137908379387054542006-01-22T13:33:00.000+08:002006-10-12T15:55:41.048+08:00

Realised I didn't post a pic of the water lily that finally did its thing and flowered (after 6 years!).I didn't get a pic of the flower open :( it was white with a yellow centre, and only lasted a few days. The sly thing was opening during the day when I was at work then closing by the time I got home, so I had thought it hadn't opened yet!Here tis:

Noalahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07110560595680604628noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8477245.post-1137313164216767592006-01-15T16:15:00.000+08:002006-10-12T15:55:40.983+08:00

Here are the pics of the Crinum in flower - the plant has split itself into two as well, flower on one, bud on the other plant:Closeup view of the flower:

Noalahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07110560595680604628noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8477245.post-1137214787140120962006-01-14T12:59:00.000+08:002009-08-02T21:10:02.416+08:00

ladytreemaker 's Online Photo Album - HAdded the H folder to the plant photo album:Hippeastrum (pink and white)Hyacinth

Noalahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07110560595680604628noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8477245.post-1136891278615995442006-01-10T19:07:00.000+08:002009-08-02T21:10:02.416+08:00

ladytreemaker 's Online Photo Album - GAdded the G plants:Gardenia (flower pic and also pics showing how harsh a pruning these can take)GerbraGladioli

Noalahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07110560595680604628noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8477245.post-1136792674208973122006-01-09T15:44:00.000+08:002006-10-12T15:55:40.801+08:00

When I was at the zoo the other day I noticed all their Crinums were in flower, so figured mine wasn't going to muster up the effort to do likewise.I was wrong! It has split itself into two plants AND each plant has a bud!!!!!!!!!!Pics will be forthcoming."

Noalahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07110560595680604628noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8477245.post-1136727507502013352006-01-08T20:44:00.000+08:002009-08-02T21:07:18.353+08:00

Over --------------->> there in the sidebar is a section of links to posts about the development of my entertaining area.The plants have been in for a year now, so I thought some updated pics were in order.The paving has become stained due to the bore water. The path of white-ish stones has become stained from various things that drop from the tree - mostly it's the dead flowers from the tree

Noalahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07110560595680604628noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8477245.post-1136286149442398932006-01-03T19:02:00.000+08:002009-08-02T21:10:02.417+08:00

ladytreemaker 's Online Photo Album -Added one sole entry to E:Eiffel Tower Rose(so called as it is long-stemmed)

Noalahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07110560595680604628noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8477245.post-1136096250159635292006-01-01T14:17:00.000+08:002009-08-02T21:10:02.417+08:00

ladytreemaker 's Online Photo Album - DOK, so I've had a few days off, but am back to updating the photo album of plants. Just now added the D plants:DaffodilDaisyDietes BicolourDietes IriodesDay Lily - yellow and organge ruffled.

Noalahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07110560595680604628noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8477245.post-1135858439098795602005-12-29T20:13:00.000+08:002009-08-02T21:10:02.417+08:00

ladytreemaker 's Online Photo Album - C This is good - it's making me organise my un-named photos on my computer. Added the C album tonight. It includes: Camelia Canna (red) Cape Gooseberry Celery Cherry Tomato Clivia (organge) Coriander Crinum (common name Spider Lily) Enjoy the pics!

Noalahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07110560595680604628noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8477245.post-1135782195083778552005-12-28T23:00:00.000+08:002009-08-02T21:10:02.418+08:00

A to Z Plant Photo AlbumI don't have many plants that begin with B it seems.Added to the album pics of:BabianaBlack Pansy (gotta see it to believe it!)Black Kangaroo Paw (I know its an anigozanthus, but many would look for this instead)Also been adding photos to old posts regarding the entertaining area. Methinks I will have to change the side bar link for it .. perhaps a heading and the various

Noalahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07110560595680604628noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8477245.post-1135693247171862922005-12-27T22:20:00.000+08:002009-08-02T21:10:02.418+08:00

A to Z Plant Photo AlbumAdded to the photo album:AgapanthusAgonis Flexuosa (Pepper Tree)Alstroemeria (Pricess Lily, Peruvian Lily)Alyssum (Sweet William)Anigozanthus (Kangaroo Paw - Black/Green)Arum LilyAvocadoAzaleaAzola (floating water plant)

Noalahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07110560595680604628noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8477245.post-1135690756670022702005-12-27T21:33:00.000+08:002006-10-12T15:55:40.397+08:00

If you look over there ---------> in the sidebar under Links you'll see that I've been re-organizing some things.I was running out of room on the server for my main web site, so I've moved a lot of the gardening stuff (ie mostly photos) from there to other places.The A to Z pic of plants in my garden will be added to as time allows.There will be more posts on the Entertainment Area Development,

Noalahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07110560595680604628noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8477245.post-1134385160683442132005-12-12T18:59:00.000+08:002006-10-12T15:55:40.107+08:00

After about 6 years of variously nurturing, neglecting, nurturung, having given up on ..I finally have a flower coming on my water lily!!!!!!!!!! So far it's just a bud poking it's head through the water, I have no idea how long it's going to take to open nor how long it will stay open for. There will, of course, be pics!

Noalahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07110560595680604628noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8477245.post-1133012652701973982005-11-26T21:44:00.000+08:002009-08-03T18:01:17.416+08:00

Very pleased I am that I forced myself out in the weird afternoon weather and planted: 2 types of lettuce 1 type of cucumber 1 type of squash (yellow) 1 capsicum plant All after having tilled over the soil and added blood & bone and NPK blue. Why so pleased? Cos tonight we were blessed with rain :) Glad I didn't leave it until tomorrow. Tomorrow is get the lawn beetle day!

Noalahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07110560595680604628noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8477245.post-1132229783272371822005-11-17T20:16:00.000+08:002009-08-02T21:06:05.321+08:00

I Love my Council Depot Having been to the local fair recently I found out I can get free mulch from my council. Today being 'day off', and the council depot only open from 8-3 on weekdays meant that today was mulch day. So I grabbed Thunderbolt three shovels, a rake and garden gloves and off we went - have to provide own trailer and own labour. Had backed up the trailer to the mulch pile (

Noalahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07110560595680604628noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8477245.post-1130649702358841872005-10-30T13:21:00.000+08:002006-10-12T15:55:39.942+08:00

A few weeks ago I put fertiliser on the gardenias, camelias and azaleas. Now 4 of the 8 gardenias have heaps of yellow leaves :( Why only the four? I've used that fertiliser on them before and used the same one on all the plants - so why only those four? I don't get it. Dietes are flowering again! I'm really liking these plants, flowers about every two weeks.

Noalahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07110560595680604628noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8477245.post-1128846640879504732005-10-09T16:30:00.000+08:002009-08-03T18:01:17.416+08:00

Pepper Trees - noticed from the upstairs window today that one of them is covered in flowers!!!!!!!!!! Chinese Tallow and Liquidambar are both 'in leaf'. Liquidambar is also in 'seed' so have many seedy thingys littering up the place - it's almost as bad as when it looses its' leaves but worse - cos when these seed thingys get wet they stain the paving and stone path :( Peach - is in flower,

Noalahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07110560595680604628noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8477245.post-1128735875360366862005-10-08T09:41:00.000+08:002009-08-02T21:13:29.153+08:00

It's an absolute corker of a Spring day today!!I have to work out how to get rid of the weeds in the vege patch.The problem is the bird netting that I put on the ground to stop the cats from using the patch as their toilet - it stops me from being able to dig/pull/scratch out the weeds that have now grown.I think I'll try spraying them, but will have to block off the vege plants to do so,

Noalahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07110560595680604628noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8477245.post-1127742438473579572005-09-26T21:42:00.000+08:002009-08-02T21:13:29.154+08:00

Azaleas - all flowered reasonably well except one plant,didn't have even one.Dietes - are in about their fifth blooms, they're great! Seed heads have formed so I'll be eagerly awating to harvest them.Was a Good Girl today and made fruit fly bait for the nectarine tree and also took off a bucketful of immature fruit.Camelia - finished, was happy with the flowers.Gardenias - are looking slightly

Noalahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07110560595680604628noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8477245.post-1127638834666267972005-09-25T16:53:00.000+08:002009-08-03T18:01:17.416+08:00

I have lavished such attention on my lawn today that I'm sure it will die of fright.Involving about 5 hours of work on the front lawn I:* aerated it by hand, with a garden fork (I do not have a small lawn, and fully expect my arms to drop off when I get out of bed tomorrow morning)* pulled out the worst of the flat weeds - there were lots of them* raked up said flat weeds* mowed the lawn*

Noalahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07110560595680604628noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8477245.post-1125489169928140842005-08-31T19:30:00.000+08:002006-10-12T15:55:39.650+08:00

I pruned the leucospernum last year with trepidation .. would it survive?It did indeed survive and put on new growth where I had pruned it. I was very cautious and only took one years' growth off. It is about to flower at the moment, not as prolifically as before, but flowering nonetheless.When this flowering season has ended I intend to prune it again, though this time it will be a harder prune

Noalahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07110560595680604628noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8477245.post-1125223027679692882005-08-28T17:49:00.000+08:002009-08-02T21:13:29.154+08:00

A common cry throughout Australia for the last few years I guess.Having planted the vege patch last week with rain forecast for Wednesday night the rain never really happened, so I watered it Saturday morning - of course it rained Saturday night and today! Ah well, it's all still alive and growing and that's all that really matters.Snail pellets were definately a good idea and I gave them some

Noalahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07110560595680604628noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8477245.post-1124628209115329732005-08-21T20:35:00.000+08:002009-08-02T21:13:29.154+08:00

10 days to go until it's Spring, and we had a great taste today of what is to come.Inspired by the great weather I've had a busy day; I'm sure I'll be paying for it with aches and pains tomorrow!I dug over three garden beds and planted:*celery seedlings - I don't think I've ever tried to grow this before, will have to start buying milk in cartons for the blanching process.*cherry tomatoes (

Noalahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07110560595680604628noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8477245.post-1124548676038280632005-08-20T22:29:00.000+08:002009-08-03T18:01:17.417+08:00

Camelia - second lot of flowers out, still more to come.Azaleas - Charity (lightest pink, behind the big tree) flowering well, Snowflake flowering too but not as well.Dietes iriodes - some have set seed!! They will definately be harvested and sown.Gardenias - no flowers nor sighting of buds :(Clivia - mamma certainly flowered. The flower stalk is short but it's a great flash or orange in the

Noalahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07110560595680604628noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8477245.post-1122301826372963832005-07-25T22:18:00.000+08:002009-08-03T18:01:17.417+08:00

The first camelia flower opened today. The plant has had buds ever since I bought it (back in January I think). They (the buds) went quite brownish on the outside and I thought they were going to die, but today I am rewarded with a flower, and the others will surely open now too.The dietes iriodies are on their second lot of flowers :) ... so two lots of white flowers at the moment.The gardenias

Noalahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07110560595680604628noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8477245.post-1106728225333762452005-01-27T08:40:00.001+08:002006-10-12T15:55:39.353+08:00

When I had the dingo I had Tony dig up the front porch garden as well. It was congested with roots from the tree and I couldn't dig in it by hand. Annuals I had put in there never made it, I guess they couldn't compete with the roots. Today I planted my aspelnum (birds nest fern) in there, as well as divided up some of the existing gerberas and planted the extras along the front. I know it's

Noalahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07110560595680604628noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8477245.post-1106727920371896702005-01-27T08:40:00.000+08:002006-10-12T15:55:39.276+08:00

Noalahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07110560595680604628noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8477245.post-1106727860964315042005-01-21T17:18:00.000+08:002009-08-02T21:07:18.353+08:00

The plants haven't done too badly. We had a 40 degree day on Monday. The gardenias have all dropped leaves, which I expected as I hadn't been looking after them particularly well since the dingo day. The azaleas seem quite happy. Oh, I forgot something else I planted on Sunday - put in my clivia, one between the gardenias and the camelia, and the baby it had made near the tree trunk. The

Noalahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07110560595680604628noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8477245.post-1106727504168113712005-01-16T17:10:00.000+08:002009-08-02T21:07:18.354+08:00

On Friday night the kids and Pas came over and thought I'd done well. Pas and I discussed the seating area a bit.I decided to put the stones down anyway. It looks great! Put them around the jarrah rounds and up at the sitting area, and a little way into where I had moved the ferns to (behind the tree).It looks so good, I'm glad I bit the bullet and did it. Didn't compact the ground at all - just

Noalahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07110560595680604628noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8477245.post-1106726584311003672005-01-15T14:52:00.000+08:002009-08-02T21:07:18.354+08:00

I bit the bullet after being so disheartened yesterday and decided to go ahead and put some plants in.Partly because I will be back at work as of Monday, and the plants (in pots) aren't doing well where they are at the moment. I forget to water them every now and then, and that will only increase once I return to work.Also because I didn't want the holidays to be gone and not much having happened

Noalahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07110560595680604628noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8477245.post-1105577857311046042005-01-13T08:42:00.000+08:002009-08-02T21:07:18.354+08:00

I feel as though I spent a long time out there yesterday, but the amount of progress belies that fact. Grrr to tree stumps, grrrr to hidden underground remains of long gone and unknown fences. I got about 3/4 of the edging in and managed to place the 4 jarrah stepping stones - though they're not placed as I'd really like them thanks to the above. The section for the swing chair looks dreadful,

Noalahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07110560595680604628noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8477245.post-1105439443476188462005-01-11T18:24:00.000+08:002009-08-02T21:07:18.354+08:00

Dingo day has been and gone and proclaimed a sucess.The area is a lot flatter, including where the path and bench seat are to go. They are next on the hit list as I figure it is best to do hard structures first.Today I layed out the hose in the approximation of what I want:Purchased half a trailer load of quartz stone (white-ish colour), half a trailer load of cheap mulch. Unloading by myself was

Noalahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07110560595680604628noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8477245.post-1104920564580463002005-01-05T18:19:00.000+08:002009-08-02T21:07:18.354+08:00

Tomorrow is Dingo Day.I've hired a dingo so I can make the area more level, then I can finally start putting plants in the ground, think about doing the path myself and putting in some retic. I'm rather excited.Moved the fish bone ferns today. Put them over behind the monsteras. I don't see any point putting camelias back there cos no one will ever see them, so I filled it up with the displaced

Noalahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07110560595680604628noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8477245.post-1100361087677632382004-11-13T23:51:00.000+08:002009-08-02T21:13:46.603+08:00

:: Waldecks :: The people who know gardens best. The link is to the Garden Design page of Waldecks' web site. I have recently utilised this service; I picked up my garden plan today! Having looked around a little this was the cheapest 'reputable' garden design fee I came across. With the plan in my hand I'm quite happy with the fee ($159.50). I wanted a garden design person to have a look at

Noalahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07110560595680604628noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8477245.post-1135603518097411822004-10-26T20:20:00.000+08:002009-08-02T20:57:29.545+08:00

I'd read/heard about this lots of times and finally gave it a go.You need:About 10 sheets of newspaper2-3 tyresSeed potatoes, or ones from the pantryStraw (about $5.00 for a bale)It started when I had to have a tyre on the car replaced - wondering whether they would give me some tyres for free, and they did! So head on down to your local tyre place if you don't have any laying around.Instructions

Noalahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07110560595680604628noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8477245.post-1096584745501940902004-10-01T06:49:00.000+08:002009-08-03T18:01:17.417+08:00

..for the long weekend, well kinda. Lawn Have put on raincheck a petrol mower, little electric one just can't cut it anymore Roses Bought two standard minature roses last night, one apricot one red. Hope to get them planted this weekend. Avocado Heaps of flowers coming Mango Also flowering Tomatoes Have my first actual tomatoes, some plants doing better than others, some in flower others not

Noalahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07110560595680604628noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8477245.post-1096175444292046782004-09-26T13:02:00.000+08:002009-08-03T18:01:17.417+08:00

Have been thinking for a while of having a garden blog, like a garden diary to write down when I've done what, and projects I'm thinking of .. so now I have one. Today - 26 September 2004 Gardenias Repotted the gardenias that have been very sickly with damn mealy bug. Gave them a re-furbish type prune (ie very savage). Be interesting to see if they come back, doesn't matter really if they don't.

Noalahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07110560595680604628noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8477245.post-1135607158026115282004-01-17T22:18:00.000+08:002009-08-02T21:07:43.219+08:00

(click on the pics for a bigger picture)Start with one large pot of Fish Bone fern - trick number one was to get the fern out of the pot without breaking it! Much straining of muscles and sweat later....Remove ferns into separate plantlets - hmm that's a lot of fern!Plant ferns into ground and hope like hell they live! There's no reticulation where they are now planted, but this fern is very

Noalahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07110560595680604628noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8477245.post-1135608818632354032004-01-08T22:39:00.000+08:002009-08-02T21:41:18.493+08:00

(click on the pics for a larger pic)Start with one soak well kit:Select a site:Objective: remove pile of lawn clippings, remove sand, install soak well:Result - not much of a hole due to too many tree roots! Time to call a Jim.Jim sucessfully installs the soak well:Now all that is required is some cement handywork at the drain(Time passes ...)Handywork on the drain done - not by yours truely

Noalahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07110560595680604628noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8477245.post-1135605700274600142004-01-07T21:47:00.000+08:002009-08-02T21:07:43.220+08:00

Outdoor 'Beautification' Project.(Click on any of the pics to get a bigger picture)It was a long time 'dream'/goal to change the ugliest part of my garden into an outdoor entertaining area. Whilst the 'grand plan' that used to exist has been trimmed down considerably (due to changes in my life) I have made a small beginning.This has been a plot of typical Perth grey sand for quite a while, other

Noalahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07110560595680604628noreply@blogger.com0