Frisbee Lawn Gardens Tour

The Frisbee Lawn is a large, flat circular paddock surrounded by a fence. It has its own narrow border, backed by deciduous trees. You'll see lots of New Zealand shrubs in this border. Close by are the Stables Garden, a garden around the Garage, and a little garden built around the dog kennels.

If you like throwing frisbees (or tennis balls) for dogs then the Frisbee Lawn is the perfect spot. There are comfortable garden benches on which to sit and daydream. A tall gum tree towers overhead, with mature Cordylines growing underneath.

Enjoy your visit to the Frisbee Lawn and its group of garden areas, but take care not to trip over any stray tennis balls! The dogs often leave them on the grass to trip up the unwary.

Introducing the Frisbee Lawn GardensIntroducing the Frisbee Lawn Gardens...
In the early days I dug a narrow border ringing the Frisbee Lawn. In went rough rejects - Salvias, Dahlias, Senecios, and the like. I moved Irises into the sunny dry edge. I added a few New Zealand shrubs in other places and hey presto! The border was full. Easy to begin with, though the Dahlias didn't thrive...
Frisbee Gardens ImagesFrisbee Gardens Images...
The different areas which I've lumped together and called 'The Frisbee Lawn Gardens' have totally different looks and moods, depending on their location with respect to the irrigation. Here are some of my recent images.
Dogs on the Frisbee LawnDogs on the Frisbee Lawn...
All the dogs that have lived at Mooseys (or have visited) have spent quality play-time on the Frisbee Lawn. Whether retrieving sticks and tennis balls, playing with a football, or just doing roly-polies down the slope, this is a Dog's Playground...
The Frisbee LawnThe Frisbee Lawn...
Yippee! Here's a proper photograph of this old established piece of paddock grass. The Frisbee Lawn manages to look good until summer. Then the ambience goes definitely downhill (no irrigation). It's been some years since the grass blades felt the gentle whirr of a frisbee...
A Frisbee Dog!A Frisbee Dog!...
Yippee! The Frisbee Lawn, named right at the beginning of my garden's history, now has an actual dog who loves to chase her frisbee. Welcome to Winnie the black and white Border Collie, who joined our family late in 2014. Finally the lawn has a Frisbee Dog.
Behind the StablesBehind the Stables...
The area behind the Stables was initially difficult to garden. Next-door's huge pine plantation was close by, and there was almost no sun. My first plantings were red Cordylines, Pittosporums to block out next-door, some Phormiums by the water's edge, and Camellias in the shade along the back wall of the Stables. And of course I tried some roses, out in the open, just in case they liked it...
Not working so well...Not working so well......
The Frisbee Lawn Gardens are not working so well any more. Actually they're quite disappointing. I look at the early photographs, full of dripping roses, healthy shrubs and grasses, perennials glowing with mid-summer colour, beautiful irises flowering in late spring. Humph. So what's changed? What's gone wrong?
Birthday Garden MuralBirthday Garden Mural...
Some years ago I dug and planted a Birthday Rose Garden for Daughter of Moosey. Then, rather than worry about posting birthday presents overseas, I simply bought her new roses each year. Then time zoomed past in my garden, faster than the speediest sparrow, busier than the buzziest bumble bee...
Camellias behind the GarageCamellias behind the Garage...
Along the back of the garage wall are some Camellias, which have grown beautifully large. I look forward to their flowering each spring.
BambooBamboo...
Some years ago my plantsman friend gave me a couple of pots of bamboo varieties that he'd grown. He assured me they were non-invasive. Of course I believed him - he was so much more learned and wise than me. And so I planted them with an eye to enjoying their leafy vegetation.
Lilac RhododendronLilac Rhododendron...
Along the back of the garage is a small artistic garden, full of oddments. My pride and joy in mid-spring is a happy lilac rhododendron, growing in the company of Hebes and a juvenile green Cordyline.
Rockery by Dog KennelRockery by Dog Kennel...
The rockery by the old dog kennel was one of my early attempted artistic gardening efforts. The kennel itself is an heirloom, and the small pseudo-rockery next to it actually had some conifers planted amongst the craggy rocks. Note the use of 'pseudo'...
Spiky Pink DahliasSpiky Pink Dahlias...
Clumps of dahlias were dug out of a friend's father's garden. He was always so proud of his dahlias. Would I like them? Yes please. Would I look after them properly? Hmm...
Introducing the Allotment GardenIntroducing the Allotment Garden...
I've always been fascinated by Allotment gardens. On holiday in Britain I've peeped over their fences when travelling on trains walking or around the streets. I love the long strips of garden and the rows of plants and vegetables. I've called my latest garden project the Allotment garden in memory.
The Allotment Garden Changes...The Allotment Garden Changes......
OK, so the Allotment Garden might have started off with a genuine allotment plan - vegetables! Tomatoes, beans, peas, courgettes, and potatoes would all grow happily in this newly created, sunny garden. But it was simply too far away from the kitchen, and I couldn't resist popping in roses and perennials. But things have changed...
DogDog's Lavender Garden...
Three dog kennels sit at the top of the Frisbee Lawn. Each has a sleeping compartment and a run, and I've planted a small Lavender Garden around the edges. Just what every good dog wants and needs...
Adirondack Garden SeatAdirondack Garden Seat...
I'm a great fan of Adirondack garden seats, particularly wooden ones. Then I can choose whether to let them naturally weather, or paint them an exciting colour. They are super comfortable, and their shape demands that the gardener stays put and rests awhile.
Early Birthday Rose GardenEarly Birthday Rose Garden...
The Birthday Rose Garden was a special birthday present for daughter of Moosey, and I created it back in the year 2006. It was a loving, living present - but I suspect was also an excuse to buy some new roses.
Cabbage Trees (Cordylines)Cabbage Trees (Cordylines)...
A strong symbol of a New Zealand garden is the spikey Cabbage Tree, or Cordyline. I have an original trio of these messy tree-plants growing at the very top of the Frisbee Lawn, underneath a large Eucalypt tree. But there's more...
Birthday Garden SeatsBirthday Garden Seats...
Lucky Daughter of Moosey! For her birthday in the year 2010 she was given some old cane garden furniture - two seats and a little table. They went with her Birthday Rose Garden (2005-2008) and her Birthday Garden Mural (2009)...
Bishop of Llandaff DahliaBishop of Llandaff Dahlia...
I inherited too many red dahlias in my garden - often they've been dug out and dumped by a fence-line, where they've continued to grow. One of the few dahlias I've bought in is the Bishop of Llandaff. I must admit to some garden snobbery here...
Irrigating The Frisbee LawnIrrigating The Frisbee Lawn...
This picture was taken during a quite serious (for us) summer drought. Non-Gardening Partner has brought in one of the paddock irrigators to get some water on the Frisbee Lawn. You can read his irrigation page for all the technical details.
BirdbathBirdbath...
The only official Moosey birdbath lives in the garden area between the Stables and the water race. But would any bird be foolish enough to use it with five house cats in residence?
Roses in the Allotment GardenRoses in the Allotment Garden...
An Allotment Garden should be a narrow strip of fertile land, with rows of sensible vegetables, companion flowers like marigolds, and maybe some sweet peas climbing on a home-made trellis. So why did I start filling it up with roses? Oops...
Early Stables Rose GardenEarly Stables Rose Garden...
The Stables garden was dug around a hitching rail for horses. I left the post and rail in place and decided to grow some climbing roses along it. My first choice was the pink climber Bantry Bay.
Blobby ConiferBlobby Conifer...
his conifer was planted on the edge of the Frisbee Lawn when we first arrived. It's been given 'the treatment' by the hedge trimmer, to try and contain its bulk without doing too much damage...
Solanum laxumSolanum laxum...
Solanum laxum, commonly known as potato vine, is an evergreen vine in the family Solanaceae. It's a common ornamental garden plant, though an adjective to bear in mind is 'vigorous'. Gardeners with random attitudes to pruning and poor memories need to be wary.
Garden Lawn Rose ArchGarden Lawn Rose Arch...
The entrance to the Frisbee Lawn was one of the first places to get a rose arch. And for many years this worked really well, with a lovely white Iceberg rose trailing over the archway.
Early Stables Garden GrassesEarly Stables Garden Grasses...
The Stables Garden began life as a small collection of roses and irises, dug around a hitching rail. The it seriously expanded, and I filled the new spaces with beautiful ornamental New Zealand grasses.
Safari Sunset LeucadendronSafari Sunset Leucadendron...
The evocative name Safari Sunset suits this Leucadendron well. The colour of the spring growth is quite brilliant, and it's a strong growing shrub. How hardy? Of that I'm not so sure...
Yellow IrisYellow Iris...
In late October and November the irises in the Moosey garden delight with their huge flowers. Strangely there are few photographs of these beautiful plants - until now that is...
Pink Nerine BulbsPink Nerine Bulbs...
The Stables Garden is one border where I can grow Nerines well. Their bulbs sit half above the ground, and get sun-baked in summer.
Early Stables Garden & DogEarly Stables Garden & Dog...
The Stables Garden started life as a fun small garden. For the first years its planting schemes changed, rather than its shape and size. By the year 2004 there was a good balance between foliage plants, perennials and roses. But these were early days...
Narrow Shrub BorderNarrow Shrub Border...
There's a narrow border around the edge of the Frisbee lawn which hugs the old sheep netting fence. It's hardly ever been widened, unusual for one of my garden areas. My favorite New Zealand shrubs, variegated golden Corokias, are planted here...
Cat On A LawnmowerCat On A Lawnmower...
Sifter the big tabby cat would pose for the camera whenever required to, so many of my early garden photographs feature him. He was discovered here sitting on the lawnmower keeping the seat warm.
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