My humble garden in the making

2 Feb '07 7:25 am

Dixie - you asked about the climate in Otago. I live in West Otago which is inland, but not as far inland as Alexandra which has recorded the highest and lowest temperatures in NZ. We do have definite seasons which makes gardening interesting - lovely autumn colours are a bonus. But we also don't get the sea breezes which makes places like Dunedin colder year round.
Bambi - I'm already cropping plenty from my little garden. I didn't have to buy any new potatoes for Christmas this year and have fresh peas, broccoli, lettuce, cabbage and silver beet. All healthy and NO SPRAY!
Jack - of course I angled the photo to avoid the stack of wood ready to make frames for netting and compost bins, so it isn't as 'neat' as it seems! There is something about working in your own garden which means you don't feel some tasks a bit tedious. I do find dead-heading someone else's roses for 3 hours straight very tedious, especially when that is only half the roses done! Mind you, I wouldn't grow so many roses that I would have to spend that long dead-heading!
Faith - I love your garden. It is so well organised. The reason why I will put sawdust down is that I found previously that the growing medium always seemed to spread onto the paths, mostly from birds. So I tried sawdust and found that it was a good way to go - the top layer all went back into the boxes as mulch when it rotted down and a fresh layer put on the path. You have a wonderful bean frame - too big for me though, much as I like beans and peas, I could never eat that many!
Pumkin - just waiting for your photo!
Liza - any vegetable garden you grew would be perfect, just like your main garden! I feel so virtuous eating vegetables I have grown, knowing that there is no hidden nasty chemicals in them.Thats it from me till next week. I am shifting my daughter to Christchurch for her to go to university there, this weekend.
For you Dixie - a sample of our winter weather - (but it only lasted a couple of hours).

2 Feb '07 9:02 pm

Wow, teecee! Your very own vege garden and berries and apples... how great!...free of pesticides and toxins! Thanks for sharing your wonderful garden and those others! I'm captivated by the cropped mushroom-shaped bush at the bird feeding area - how creative!
By the way, all the best to your daughter starting uni life, you must be beaming with pride, though I know you'll miss her lots! Take care!

3 Feb '07 3:14 am

Thanks for complimenting the neatness of my vege garden, in spite of the garden hose trailing through the path. I actually should get another picture because it has changed dramatically this fall and winter. We have added six foot high fencing along the fence line to the right where it used to be just board pasture fencing. This leads to an answer to Liza about wildlife and their impact on the garden. Before the tall fencing was added, I had to put up wire fencing behind the three board fence to try to keep our horses from feasting on the garden. Birds do visit the garden, but I welcome them because they do such a good job of insect removal and the slight damage they occasionally do to vegies (like tomatoes or peppers) is an acceptable exchange.

Your explanation of using sawdust in the paths shows an excellent use of materials and recycling. Very clever to use the rotted sawdust as mulch. I too like to keep my garden spray-free; however, having the pea gravel means I either have to do a lot of hand weeding of paths or use sprays (to inhibit seed sprouting)and/or herbicides in the paths. I decided the seed inhibiting sprays are the most benign method, so I do a thorough hand weeding and then spray the seed inhibitor being careful not to spray on the beds. This has to be done twice per year. Chrushed stone probably would have been a better choice, but I liked the color of pea gravel better and it is more comfortable to sit on when tending the beds or planting.

As for the pea fencing, that actually was used for growing melons one season. I had the bright idea that the melons would hang from the vines inside the trellis and would be better protected from damage from small worms that invade the fruits and spoil them before ripening. Didn't work, the worms came anyway. The next year I planted Sweet Peas on the trellis. This year I will probably use one side for cucumbers and the other for who knows what. I try to practice crop rotation to prevent soil diseases, so the trellis can be moved to another location in a couple of years.

Enough about my garden! I do tend to ramble on sometimes. Embarassed

Anyway, please share more pictures and descriptions with us as you can.

19 Feb '07 5:23 pm

Gee, I envy Moosey's retirement! I'm on day eight of a ten day stint at work - two days to go and I will have a day off - what is the bet it is either raining or too hot to garden! All I can do at the moment is water and weed a little in the vegetable garden.
First some 'before' photos:

19 Feb '07 5:33 pm

I haven't got much further since these photos were taken.

19 Feb '07 5:39 pm

I enjoy making pots for alpine plants and succulents. These are a few of them - rhodohypoxis, gentian septemfida, and various succulents.

19 Feb '07 6:15 pm

Some of the plants in my garden, or of the hundreds in pots (oh dear!) waiting patiently to be planted.

19 Feb '07 6:22 pm

It is supposed to be a scorcher tomorrow, so I am going to have to make sure the potted plants are watered well and then I'm off to take Eddie and Misty for their nightly run.
That's them at the gate, waiting...... And that is Tapanui in the photo - nestled under the Blue Mountains - see the roof tops to the left.

20 Feb '07 2:20 am

Wow, Teecee, you've made really good progress so far - it's looking fabulous already! There's a lot of work that's gone into making those beds and borders, I have no doubt. You poor thing, having to work so long when (I suspect!) you'd much rather be continuing with your project in the garden Wink

.

Love the flower pics and keep up the good work (when you can Wink

).

20 Feb '07 4:43 am

Teecee, it is amazing how much you have accomplished already. You certainly aren't afraid to tackle a big project. Keep up the good work!

Also, Eddie and Misty looked so cute peering through the gate as if to say "Mom, aren't you ready yet?"

My humble garden in the making

Thanks everyone!

My Humble Garden in the Making

More photos

Some 'during' photos

Hypertufa pots

Plants

Time to water

I second that "Wow"