Well I have head that schools in Auckland aren't getting back until November 15 at least, so I have.....even more time to enjoy the garden! The pelargoniums in the previous post have dried up so I gave the bush a big cut back to the wall and allowed for the yarrow that was growing underneath to come up. It had shaded out the ground and left bare soil where once was grass/lawn so now lambs ears have migrated to form a new colony. New Gardenland is being reclaimed!
The spring weather has seen lots of fresh growth, the buxus have now put out fresh shoots so everything is that limey-green new growth colour. The grapes are leafing up, and the sweet peas have given me their first vase.
I've decided to thin out some of the mondo grass edging and make a mondo grass path on the south side of the house as well. I figure it will be ok to walk on (or drive over) seeing it's pretty tough.
Then one of the hanging basket wall mangers was looking tired so I've removed the potting mix to pots and the hessian sack was rotting through so I've got to find a replacement or find plants that are ok to live hanging of railings. Spanish moss? The other two seemed ok and healthy.
I placed more thyme in pots around the terrace. The planter that is full of mint and chives needs refilling and fresh mix put in because ants are living in it.
I have a few more jobs to do. Am waiting for the camellia to finish flowering so I can prune it back..I want to prune out the under growth so its more of a tree as the plants underneath are being stifled by the bushy growth. So am being a bit Edward Scissorhands with my garden at the moment. Forget-me-nots got a chop and were tossed under the feijoa in hopes they will colonise and crowd/shade out the oxalis.
Mum killed another plant, this time a spinach she said was too old, urging me to pull it out, but she didn't see the younger shoot wanting to grow and now she's killed both. I would have cut the old shoot so the younger shoot had a chance but now both are dead as doornails and we will have no spinach. Why do I even listen to her.
Carpet roses are returning, maybe I will just cut them right back every time because I was never able to dig them all out. Tenacious plants those. In some ways, like people. Once you've dug your roots in, you are there for life.
Living in an overcrowded, diverse garden isn't for everyone. A bit like Auckland City. Some people don't appreciate diversity (in plants) and just want one kind of plant for miles. But the problem with that is...its very boring..and, if some pest (like insects) likes to eat that particular plant you've just provided a grand feast for them.
Monarch butterflies have been very happy in my garden. According to some books, they are meant to live in Canada and migrate to Mexico every northern winter. But mine just like to stay right where they are in my garden.
