Our garden began like this....

5 Jun '06 10:00 pm

Here is an aerial view to give an idea of the overall area we have in gardens.The paddocks for the animals are not included.
When we arrived the whole place was overgrown with blackberry, gorse and lots of other things. Starting with the front garden, some pics showing the progress.

5 Jun '06 10:18 pm

And, as you said somewhere before, "Gardening is not just sitting in the corner saying, "Oh! How beautiful!" "

Congratulations!

6 Jun '06 6:45 am

We need 'before ' photos to see how far we have come and they are so encouraging -Wonderful vision ,Goose...It is not clear which entrance you built your stone walls and gate .Is it the gum tree area ? I love archways -they are so welcoming. I remember you posted some lovely photos of the path to your pond a while ago .How is it looking now in Autumn ?
Dixie

6 Jun '06 9:22 am

You have done a wonderful job. Excellent!

I like to see the over all layout of the gardens. It really gives a you an idea of what is involved. You have done wonders with the space. I don't know how you manage with such a big garden. Moosey is the same. Her garden seems immense. The size is bewildering to me. But I guess that time piles up and every step forward is progress.

I love the before and after shots.

Christopher

7 Jun '06 8:21 pm

When we first arrived here there were no gardens at all.There were Poplar Trees everywhere, a few Pittosporums, 2 struggling rhododenrons and a lot of fruit trees. The poor old fruit trees were (and still are) bent and leaning in funny directions caused by the horses which had the run of just about the whole place ,only an electric fence stopped them entering the house. One of the first things we did was the driveway and roundabout.The driveway runs along between the front garden and the Gum tree Garden.It seemed funny to us to have a large property and still have to reverse the car out as there was no room to turn.The garden came next and then the front poplars were taken out to make way for the wall.We took the poplars on the right hand side of the driveway out and also several other trees as the house was totally shaded and damp. The archway was put in but apart from lots of new plants and maintenance this area has not changed much since then.
Here are a few more pics, I hope you enjoy.

7 Jun '06 8:54 pm

The aerial shot helps one so much to picture things! I have one too somewhere which I must find and prepare for the forum. It is true what you say so well, Christopher: "time piles up and every step forward is progress." I remember looking at a tree last summer, and thinking: that is SO successful,I must plant another... and then realising I'll have to wait another 25 years for it to look like that! Also pics taken 20 years ago of 'really nothing' now become valuable reminders of what has been achieved. I remember carefully lining up three little trees in the viewfinder in an attempt to get a pic of 'autumn on the farm'.

We have so much to share, and I for one am finding the forum immensely valuable as a way of assessing 28 years of work - by sharing our achievements, our pride and our disappointments, I believe that the whole gardening experience becomes much more rewarding - and inspiring! I inspire myself, and I am hugely inspired by what all of you have achieved. I so often feel as though I am gardening in a vacuum here. (Not that I am; I'm just too busy to go out regularly and see other people's gardens. Thank heavens for Virtual Reality!)

Keep the pics rolling, Goose!!

7 Jun '06 9:02 pm

And you did keep them rolling! Whilst I was posting a reply, more arrived. Keep it up! (And introduce us to the dogs!) Smile

7 Jun '06 9:23 pm

The border collie was called Tweed. We got him at six weeks old and sadly he passed away two years ago aged 15. A few months later I had to take the cat to the vet and there was a picture of a border collie cross which needed a new home urgently. I thought this was meant to be so I contacted them and fell in love with " Shade". Shade is the one at the front gate. We dont think there is much Border in her but she makes a good talking point as everyone tries to guess what she is. She runs flat out everywhere like a greyhound and she is quite skinny even though she eats like a horse.We dont have any good photos of her yet but heres some favourites of Tweed .

7 Jun '06 9:47 pm

Just found this photo of Shade --- its not too bad.. Gives you an idea of how (funny) she looks. Very Happy

7 Jun '06 10:28 pm

Thanks for the intro, Goose! I know that look of dignified hurt so well from my border collie, Doubly! As for Shade -sure she's no beauty, but one can see she's bright, and has BC qualities. In fact, give her a long coat and she'll look much more like a BC - I'm terribly aware how thin Doubly is under all that pelt! My Taubie is a cross Bull Terrier - noticeably BT, but obviously odd as well, and especially when she was young, she had the strangest markings. Her tail was cut to about 8 inches, so it's neither-nor. But it is wonderfully expressive! And she is such a lovely, intelligent and eager-to-please dog that I'm certain there is BC blood there as well!

Our garden began like this....

Our garden began like this....

What a courage to proceed!

Inspiring

How proud you must be.

Front Garden part 2

Wonderful intro, Goose!

More!

Dogs

Magic of Mutts!