orchard and forest views

My posts on this thread have been few. I'm still unable to do a significant amount of work in the garden due to my back surgery in January. The weeds have/had taken over most of the front yard. I did manage to shift 4 of the roses and they are now beginning to bloom. I heard today about using banana skins to deter aphids so I'm going to give it a go. The roses have a bit of black spot as well so I'll be looking at treating that if the weather decides to play nice for a few more days and stay dry. we've had a very wet start to Spring here. Great for plant establishment but unfortunately also great for the weeds and blackspot on roses.

The lawn is overwhelmed with weeds. It hasn't had a good weeding for nearly a year. DH has vowed to spray it as it's so bad but it's been too wet.

Last week noting my despair he attacked the weeds in the smaller of the 2 side beds in the front and whippersnippered and weeded it. He then spread mulch over the bed.
It's looking far better at the moment.

We've planted a few more things in the front since I last posted. also had 2 loses due to the dog's frantic, "I want to eat that car" racing action along the fence line and through the garden. oops. 2 broken tiny leucadendrons. One might survive if I dig it up and pot it for a while but the other was snapped off at the base in his excitement. Both planted may 25th.

Hibiscus planted at the same time doesn't look too happy ether. Some small leaves appearing on the bottom branch but the top of it is dead. Think I need to prune it and place a large garden stake near it to discourage the dog from running over and in to it. It might be the location. A magnolia in the same spot also carked it early on.

snowdrops






avonview lavender

Our latest project is up and running. We decided since we aren't getting any younger and weeding, gardening and in DH's case whipper snippering takes a huge toll on our backs etc it was time to finally buy the spa we'd been dreaming of for the past 7 years. We picked this design out 7 years ago before we even moved here. Spa was delivered a couple of weeks ago and now the fencing is in and other fencing has been complete so that it is very private. A new house is being built across from us so it was time to hide a bit more. Still needs pavers replaced and some greenery but it's exciting to see the area coming along.
DH is keen to get a palm or 2 for some pots and I'd prefer some bamboo ( also in pots) for neat the spa so fun and games ahead as we work out some sort of compromise. In the mean time I've seen a few other lovelies that would look good in big pots on the paved areas. Need to save some $ again though first.

Now you see them.


Now you don't.







And from the end of the road at the back of our block you can't see the spa at all. Now for a bit more screening to grow past the dwarf fruit trees( not a smart idea as dog thinks we are growing tennis balls for him. sigh) and the alfresco will be private as well. I had a bit of a disaster with a couple of things planted a month or so ago that decided the coffee rock- gravel-clay combo was too difficult so I'm planting some new screen plants in the next week or so.

This is why planting is such a chore here. Currently preparing a hole for a cherry tree. Today I planted a peach and a plum midway between the silver birches and our internal fencing. Then did a bit of garden re-arranging. Moved a citrus that wasn't happy to a spot below the leech drains where a hibiscus was, but then had to find a spot for the hibiscus. You can see why, despite a big area, choosing a spot is so difficult.

Video link to lovely ironstone fun:
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10152571206210664&set=vb.542460663&type=3

well my old veggie patch is about to be resurrected. The soil there is looking lush given it's had a winter of pea straw over it. The worms have gone nuts. Better than waiting 'til i can organise and pay for dirt for my new raised bed.BUT It will be surrounded by knee /thigh high weeds. I've cleared a veggie area and am running out of steam plus want to preserve my back. Already spent time digging in rocks and clay out the back this morning putting in Lisa's purple grass and another plant. What will be will be. Already bought some seedlings to get started again so no alternative but to plant.( deliberately done to stop me continuing to procrastinate) fingers crossed I'm feeling enthused enough and my back is ok to do more weeding tomorrow as I gradually beat them back from the boundaries. Weeds are never ending so if I waited until they were all cleared Id never get it going again.pic to come when I've planted. big of turning over to do, planting and some milk bottle shields for the 11 seedlings. I picked up individual seedlings so 6 different things. I've since also added tomato seedlings and some baby spinach.



Veggie Bed to be, out the back.


Cannas mentioned in a previous post have gone wild. I've added more since then including some smaller pink ones with varigated leaves and some white/cream ones further down. They love the moisture from the leech drains as do some bog loving kangaroo paws and ( sadly) the weeds.


There would be double this number now.


Little banana palm.


Weed nightmare:


Hubby tackling the weeds around the leech drains.
Too many to hand pull.