Mydnyght in WA

21 Oct '07 1:34 pm

Sitting out the back studying the back lawn, the dead patch where my better half has been busy. I am sure there are better ways but he decided to use round up to kill the grass, but hopefully it prevents the weeds reappearing and allows for a good vege garden, I can't wait. He and my brother placed the limestone blocks around the edge yesterday, I hadn't realised the space was that big that he had designated, but I am sure my plants can't wait to stretch their roots further than the pots they are currently in allow.

In the meantime I am sitting enjoying my morning coffee at the outside table, contemplating the rest of my plants. My sister asked what I had growing the other day and if I had frangipanis yet.. yep and my hoya is about to flower and my orchids are only just starting to fail in flowering, and later in the day my livingstone daisies will open their bright vibrant petals and show their little faces to the sun. I might wander around and enjoy the smell of the stock growing next to them and check my newly placed bourganvillias (sp).

I was looking at Jack's photos earlier and studying the tree ferns, made me miss New Zealand with the ferns growing in the bush, mine are all in pots around the side of the house and need watered especially in summer, one of the things I find wierd about this place, but then I guess it also has advantages like the jacaranda trees and the eucalypts that are everywhere over here.. some spectacular colours and flowers.

Moosey.. Mum figured out the plant that I asked you about.. Phylica pubescens or flannel plant, I must admit I would have just buried my precious gardening cat under the tussucks (as you suggested)he adored, they were the same colour as he was and he thought they were a wonderful hidey hole where he could watch me in my garden at home.

I haven't posted much on here but have been lurking for a while reading what people are doing and planning and gathering ideas. Now since I am finished with my coffee I better go shift these plants back outside the garden area so the other half can have some room to work.. even if he suggested putting them in there.. and yeah I would be working on it myself but he wants to do this for me so I will be patient and feed him and get the beer and a hand if he wants it.

21 Oct '07 4:58 pm

Welcome Mydnyght--you have a delightfully chatty way of writing so i do hope you will write more of your new life 'over there'.Is WA Western Australia?There was a thing on TV about all the Kiwis over in Perth.
where abouts in NZ are you from?
I think I would miss the ferns too if I had to leave NZ.It sounds as if you will be able to grow all the luscious tropical plants.
Dixie.

22 Oct '07 3:09 pm

Yes WA is Western Australia, I am about 2 hours South of Perth on the coast, and while I like some things about this place having to actually water lawns and such to keep them green tends to be a foreign concept to me.

Originally I am from Otago, growing up in Dunedin and then we shifted to a small place called Sawyers Bay, although it is only 20 minutes drive if you are sticking to the speed limit to get into Dunedin city. Technically it is a rural community which produces it's own set of areas to work through when building a house and establishing a garden, mind you it also meant that Mum and I had a lot of room to play and expand a garden into, especially with Dad overseas, and once he was home it was even better as then we finally started getting fences that actually stopped lifestock for the most part, (no more miniature roses trimmed to ground level by calves taste testing.. woohooo). Sawyers Bay is in a valley that tends towards it's own microclimate within the area, although Dunedin is so hilly and idiosyncratic with it's geography that there are numerous areas similiar.

I moved over here last year permanantly to be with my fiance who disliked the distance and time apart which went with my job, and up until recently we were renting so again the garden was not really a possibility, although I have potted plants galore. Finally I am starting to get some into the ground, and hopefully by this time next week I will have dirt in the vege garden so I can plant all of the ones I have growing in my pots.. preferably before the artichokes become much larger and spikier..

22 Oct '07 5:02 pm

Me too - it's great reading your posts. I don't know Sawyers Bay, but understand that many such valleys have their own climate. I loved the calf food - how kind of you to grow roses for them! My last pet lamb was absolutely crazy about Bergenia flowers. She'd remember where they were in a garden bed, and would not be deflected or distracted.

It would be lovely if you could post some new pix from WA. Daughter of Moosey was vaguely based in Perth for a few years. You'll be able to grow the most amazing coloured things, compared to NZ!

Cheers, and happy gardening.

3 Nov '07 1:43 pm

Moosey.. am sorry to hear about B Puss.. Losing Campbell so recently I can understand the loss and feeling of missing an important part of the garden and family.

I have been intending to get back in here for a few days, but then they changed my shifts at work and my darling offsider finished my vege garden so I have been busy with that.. I have a vege garden WOOHOOO.. vegetables are sooo expensive to buy.. and who knows what they put in them.

My hand was kind of forced in that the mulch was in and it was ready for planting and then I got a phone call at work asking if I wanted him to plant the capsicums as well.. as well as what ???!!!!! My chillis as it turned out... which I hadn't intended to go in there.. ah well.

For Moosey to brighten up her day I found some other photos from around my garden to add some colour.

3 Nov '07 6:17 pm

A picture of'home' for you,Mydnyght.
My daughter and son in law have a house in Careys Bay-just along from Sawyers bay.
It is on the centre hill/ridge of this photo.I just love the area,you must miss it,though it looks as if you are busy establishing a place of your own with plantings.I enjoy all your photos.
Best wishes to you.
Dixie.

4 Nov '07 2:57 am

Hello again,Mydnyght. Hooray, your vegetable garden is planted. Who could complain about a partner who not only builds a great raised vegetable garden, but installs all the plants as well. So his planting scheme might not have exactly matched yours. Next year you can plant everything where you prefer and no ones feelings will be hurt. I hope you will reap an abundant crop.

4 Nov '07 6:51 am

Thanks so much for your B-Puss words, Mydnyght. And thanks for posting - I peered and peered at the pink daisy and couldn't see any little holes! There are advantages in not wearing ones spectacles.

I think you are living with a GP. Many of us have NGPs.
NPG = Non Gardening Partner
GP = Gardening Partner

Yippee! Have fun watching those veges grow.

4 Nov '07 10:08 pm

I guess I figure I am spoilt with my partner, he has been saying he isn't a gardening partner anymore but he has been doing a lot and while he only planted the chillis I figure anything was better than nothing and my courgettes have little baby fruit on already.. woohooo..

Dixie, Thank You so much for that picture made me smile.

Better go, just finished work and stuff to do

5 Nov '07 10:27 am

Wow, Mydnyght, I love your veggie garden! And what a lovely GP you have! Very Happy

Also loved the pic of your orchid - it's funny really, because orchids here are strictly house plants and I'd never really imagined them in hanging baskets! Shocked

Mydnyght in WA

Mydnyght in WA

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