God reminded me that I shouldn't let a small setback get me down, after the mowing of the hydrangeas, and stolen sheep pellets, plus the car crashing into the retaining wall (thought that intersection was meant to be an improvement on the roundabout??) because Ecomatters got back to me about applying for $500 funding for St Giles church garden and even could give us free native plants next year..hallelujah!
We also could have a rainwater harvest system installed and Compost Collective would be happy to teach composting and worm farming when we have our vege garden underway. The BOM (board of managers) discussed the church garden plans and are considering planting suggestions so its all good.
For a bit of a breather I made tracks to Henderson Baptist to find one of our church flower beds looking a bit neglected, so with helper Joanne managed to tidy, weed and prune, and now it has been watered with new compost mulch and looking much better. The polys and begonia should spring back again hopefully, the spider plants in hanging baskets were trimmed and were hanging on, tough plants they are, doing much better than any annuals. We found another bed out the front that was empty but won't do any planting till autumn/winter as its getting dry and rather late to prepare another bed now.
On home front am continuing to watering gauras workmate John helped me plant, digging through tough maple tree roots, have moved a stepping stone to my new rose/salvia/olive bed, which I can see from my bedroom window, as would like a view other than the neighbour's driveway. I am hoping to find a lavender 'grosso' to plant there as it's a wonderful compact variety that has long stems of flower spikes and doesn't grow all leggy. I have done a makeover of the two verandahs, one we call the deck, as it's wood, and the other is the terrace, as it's concrete. The deck doesn't have any plants except for what's growing below it, but the terrace has lots of pots and a deck chair and am hoping to find an outdoor rug to make the space more inviting.
It's been so hot and at work we are still planting...just put in a new display bed today...the run up to Christmas is hectic and I find myself now being asked to water a Christmas tree everyday, amongst all the tinsel and fake wreaths and baubles. T'is the season...!
One of our temps asked us workers what we did on the weekend, he was horrified when both of us answered 'gardening' thinking that would be the last thing we would want to do on our days off, but it can't be helped. Many people also ask where I am going for the holidays and I just say I'm staying home, I have actually never in my whole life spent Christmas away from home. Besides where else would I go?? Where else would I rather be? Maybe its the people that 'go away' for the holidays that don't really have a home to go to!
Tuesday, 12 December 2017
Saturday, 9 December 2017
Giving up on gardening?
I have days when I think maybe I will just give up gardening since people are going to mow over hydrangeas, say they going to help and then pike out on you, or put weedmat in places where you need to cut a hole if you going to plant anything. I had thought maybe it would be just ok to plant flowers but then when someone says well you just going to have to take them all out again and you get there and people say sure do the garden and then dont give you any tools or plants and then say well we dont like what you planted anyway I just think I'm not going to bother. Also if they steal your sheep pellets. It was like doing the library at one church what a nightmare bureaucracy it was just to weed books and put more bibles in. Which were free, I might add.
So I figured if people are going to look a gift horse in the mouth I can just go elsewhere and they can have their lawn/wasteland that is now a crash site for drunk drivers (it hit the retaining wall, and was only stopped from crashing into the daycare by the tree) and go where people call me, or pay me rather than think well thats a good neighbourly thing to do when the people in charge would rather you just didn't do anything at all. There are many people that sit on their butts and do nothing in this world who expect everything to be done for them. And them there will be others that think by controlling everything that people do even if its not their calling just because they want to be in charge and take credit for it. Maybe they just want to boast I'm rich and paid for this so I deserve it.
I have thought about how young people get depression its not because there arent any jobs actually there is heaps of work to do but people really just dont want you to do any work and not even try, and they aren't willing to train you either, unless you pay them, but when you ask for training all you get is abuse for not being perfect the first time. People forget that, when they first started out they did not get things instantly even after a few months on the job. This isn't just gardening this is any kind of job that requires some skill and even endurance. For example, cooking. Mum will complain I dont cook, but when I do cook she will complain on what I cook especially if its not perfect. If its good enough she wont say anything and if I didnt leave the kitchen spotless she will complain so what is more important I cook or I just dont make a mess, cos any kind of work will require you to make a mess and nobody has a right to say well its a mess if its still a work in progress.
Some ladies go in for something called 'finishing school' which doesnt mean they finish school actually or die..it means they just get all dolled up and look pretty. But there is really no kind of finishing school for gardening because the rain is going to fall regardless and plants are going to grow and fruit and die and its never going to be the same. Maybe you will have one day in seven when there will be no work to be done where you can just enjoy but to expect that all the time is not realistic. So to all those workers out there getting on with the job good on you for you know that your labour is not in vain and practise makes perfect.
Maybe you have a dream or vision that you know may take years to come to fruition. Well that is better than having no vision at all. When people try and stop you from achieving your dreams or perhaps you may even die before it becomes reality but at least you made a start and others can carry on.
So I figured if people are going to look a gift horse in the mouth I can just go elsewhere and they can have their lawn/wasteland that is now a crash site for drunk drivers (it hit the retaining wall, and was only stopped from crashing into the daycare by the tree) and go where people call me, or pay me rather than think well thats a good neighbourly thing to do when the people in charge would rather you just didn't do anything at all. There are many people that sit on their butts and do nothing in this world who expect everything to be done for them. And them there will be others that think by controlling everything that people do even if its not their calling just because they want to be in charge and take credit for it. Maybe they just want to boast I'm rich and paid for this so I deserve it.
I have thought about how young people get depression its not because there arent any jobs actually there is heaps of work to do but people really just dont want you to do any work and not even try, and they aren't willing to train you either, unless you pay them, but when you ask for training all you get is abuse for not being perfect the first time. People forget that, when they first started out they did not get things instantly even after a few months on the job. This isn't just gardening this is any kind of job that requires some skill and even endurance. For example, cooking. Mum will complain I dont cook, but when I do cook she will complain on what I cook especially if its not perfect. If its good enough she wont say anything and if I didnt leave the kitchen spotless she will complain so what is more important I cook or I just dont make a mess, cos any kind of work will require you to make a mess and nobody has a right to say well its a mess if its still a work in progress.
Some ladies go in for something called 'finishing school' which doesnt mean they finish school actually or die..it means they just get all dolled up and look pretty. But there is really no kind of finishing school for gardening because the rain is going to fall regardless and plants are going to grow and fruit and die and its never going to be the same. Maybe you will have one day in seven when there will be no work to be done where you can just enjoy but to expect that all the time is not realistic. So to all those workers out there getting on with the job good on you for you know that your labour is not in vain and practise makes perfect.
Maybe you have a dream or vision that you know may take years to come to fruition. Well that is better than having no vision at all. When people try and stop you from achieving your dreams or perhaps you may even die before it becomes reality but at least you made a start and others can carry on.
Monday, 4 December 2017
Gaura and "that smelly plant"
Packed up the Flower show on Sunday and as a bonus bought ten plants for $10, they were $1 each from a display garden that were auctioning off their oasis water feature, which was surrounded by maples and meadow flowers, so I bought purple Verbena bonariensis, Salvia and a tall thin flower I am pretty sure is Gaura. Which is my boss' favourite plant.
I got home after work to plant them (except the gaura, not sure what to do with yet, perhaps plant them at church?), and have now created a little bird bath garden around the rose and olive with the salvias, added a lavender and mulched it with spent sweet peas.
All the plants from our Woodside display save Ben's fruit trees are going to go in our garden, so we have lots more herbs and flowers to add. Or...could plant the gaura at Woodside. Decisions decisions. Gaura is also known as wandflower or butterfly plant, because the flowers are on thin wands and look like whirling butterflies. I will need to plant them soon because they will dry out in their plastic bags.
Have moved my Chatham Island Forget-me-not to under the gardenia, hope it survives because I nearly killed it by over watering. I thought giving it some crayfish and mussel shells as mulch might help it, but then it started to turn black and yellow. I had read somewhere that seawater was good for it? Well apparently not. It was doing alright in it's pot, not flowering yet, but if that one dies it would be the second one I have killed. The other forget-me-nots are doing fine. Huh. Don't confuse forget-me-nots with Wet and Forget - a highly toxic cleaner that kills all plants it touches. We know because someone sprayed it on the paths round the village and all the edging plants turned crispy. When your plants leaves turn all crunchy it's a sign they may need some attention..especially if it's not autumn yet.
One thing I have found after graduation is I have free time on Saturdays and now I have run out of books to read, except for gardening ones. My bookcase is all gardening books now and just added another one called 'Classic Camellias for New Zealand Gardens' by James Young. I figured I might learn to appreciate camellias after my rant the other day.
Today a resident complained about "that smelly plant" she showed me growing near the apartments and it was star jasmine. "I can smell it down the street" she complained "people have lung problems and asthma you know". I said well it doesn't have any irritating pollen, and it does smell lovely. But she wouldn't have a bar of it. She kept up her whinge and moan saying it was too strong so I said if we remove it, something will have to go in it's place, what do you suggest? She says 'a plant that doesn't smell!' Sooo...gorse and moth plant it is then...?
Mum has shown some interest in plants, and has me taking cuttings of a succulent she saw on her Waitakere Garden visit, and keeps urging me to find Chinese Jasmine, which I think actually may be a weed according to Weedbusters Auckland. This is why it's being sold at the Avondale Black Markets and not the garden centres, who only sell Star Jasmine. Perhaps I shall tell the lady who doesn't like 'that smelly plant' that maybe we could replace it with Chinese Jasmine, that has a milder scent, but will climb all over the apartments that are four storeys high. She will have to complain to the Quest Apartments down the street as well because they've got Star Jasmine growing at their entrance. And then she should complain to Kings Plant Barn who are selling Star Jasmine 4 for $20 and also the Bakery across the road have got it planted in their garden too. And everywhere she goes that has it growing all over Auckland all summer long!
I got home after work to plant them (except the gaura, not sure what to do with yet, perhaps plant them at church?), and have now created a little bird bath garden around the rose and olive with the salvias, added a lavender and mulched it with spent sweet peas.
All the plants from our Woodside display save Ben's fruit trees are going to go in our garden, so we have lots more herbs and flowers to add. Or...could plant the gaura at Woodside. Decisions decisions. Gaura is also known as wandflower or butterfly plant, because the flowers are on thin wands and look like whirling butterflies. I will need to plant them soon because they will dry out in their plastic bags.
Have moved my Chatham Island Forget-me-not to under the gardenia, hope it survives because I nearly killed it by over watering. I thought giving it some crayfish and mussel shells as mulch might help it, but then it started to turn black and yellow. I had read somewhere that seawater was good for it? Well apparently not. It was doing alright in it's pot, not flowering yet, but if that one dies it would be the second one I have killed. The other forget-me-nots are doing fine. Huh. Don't confuse forget-me-nots with Wet and Forget - a highly toxic cleaner that kills all plants it touches. We know because someone sprayed it on the paths round the village and all the edging plants turned crispy. When your plants leaves turn all crunchy it's a sign they may need some attention..especially if it's not autumn yet.
One thing I have found after graduation is I have free time on Saturdays and now I have run out of books to read, except for gardening ones. My bookcase is all gardening books now and just added another one called 'Classic Camellias for New Zealand Gardens' by James Young. I figured I might learn to appreciate camellias after my rant the other day.
Today a resident complained about "that smelly plant" she showed me growing near the apartments and it was star jasmine. "I can smell it down the street" she complained "people have lung problems and asthma you know". I said well it doesn't have any irritating pollen, and it does smell lovely. But she wouldn't have a bar of it. She kept up her whinge and moan saying it was too strong so I said if we remove it, something will have to go in it's place, what do you suggest? She says 'a plant that doesn't smell!' Sooo...gorse and moth plant it is then...?
Mum has shown some interest in plants, and has me taking cuttings of a succulent she saw on her Waitakere Garden visit, and keeps urging me to find Chinese Jasmine, which I think actually may be a weed according to Weedbusters Auckland. This is why it's being sold at the Avondale Black Markets and not the garden centres, who only sell Star Jasmine. Perhaps I shall tell the lady who doesn't like 'that smelly plant' that maybe we could replace it with Chinese Jasmine, that has a milder scent, but will climb all over the apartments that are four storeys high. She will have to complain to the Quest Apartments down the street as well because they've got Star Jasmine growing at their entrance. And then she should complain to Kings Plant Barn who are selling Star Jasmine 4 for $20 and also the Bakery across the road have got it planted in their garden too. And everywhere she goes that has it growing all over Auckland all summer long!
Friday, 1 December 2017
Show off!
Just come back from the NZ Flower and Garden show - mum and I walked up (after offering to pay for her ticket, she wasn't keen when she learned how much it cost) but have to say it's worth seeing and everyone is putting on a good show. Sorry no photos..actually I don't have a camera smartphone (um...work are you going to pay for one?) so will have to paint a picture with a thousand words.
Buffie took two Golds and a Bronze, with her Community garden display and also runner up in the upcycle garden contest, where she exhibited 'Funk my Junk' which included plants growing in shoes, sewing machines and out dresser drawers. Our Woodside Garden display was a delight and just how we envisioned it with Ben's fruit trees behind and strawberries with herbs and flowers in front, the breast cancer pink tables and chairs, and our children's gardening tools scattered about. Actually we don't have breast cancer pink tables and chairs at the real community garden, but, now we can put them there - since at the moment we just sit on planks of wood. Triangle Community Garden were right next door with a display of tools and worm farm, and the other side of us Ranui Community Garden with tomatoes in buckets and mulched veges galore.
West Lynn Gardens had a stand, as did Brent Mags from MBGP (My Backyard Garden Project) which is now going national, Heritage Roses had a traditional English style rose garden complete with climbing rose over arch and purple salvias. And then local garden clubs teamed together for a rustic courtyard display. So all in all the Yates Community Garden Marquee was buzzing.
Of the big displays the showcase garden was the Hobbit's garden. I didn't see any hobbits however but it was very cute. This hobbit's garden had lots of flowers and nasturtiums growing over their roof. I had to explain to mum what hobbits were, like little people with big hairy feet who live in hobbit holes in the ground.
Others that stood out - In upcycle section, a retro kitchen garden that looked out of the 50s with formica tables and chairs, in the school section a weed garden - which teaches how weeds can be beneficial. The floral tent had floral arrangements that were striking, and many florists plying their trade.
There was a pink bedding display for breast cancer awareness, and I reckon if the flower show comes back here next year Bark could do a spectacular flower bed display. We could put in a roundabout bed right in the middle and direct garden show traffic. Waitakere Gardens where were you? I saw mobility scooters for hire right at the entrance.
Apart from garden displays there were many exhibits from retailers, I trialled an e-bike which you plug in and charge, then turn on so you can go up the hills. Only $1500. Had to restrain mum from buying $180 kitchen knives but compromised on $50 rubber brooms. Will have to keep reminding mum to pay me back since she got the show deal of buy one and get one free plus a two extra brushes for $10. We walked back home with our brooms and mum was very happy because she's a clean freak and started on the carpets and kitchen lino right away. Because I have a broom too, I can now brush and squeegee my car, and even sweep the terrace and garden paths.
Some ideas for next year...if they do have it again, I would go for more flowers..like big masses of carpet bedding, more colour parterres, patterns and designs, because that's what I would go to see. I'm not that keen on the $27,000 watershed that just looks like an ol' shed on the back of a farm, or the latest designer outdoor showcase furniture nobody can really afford. I would go for sprinklers fountains and water gardens, shepherds huts and gypsy caravans, colourful flowerpots, a library garden, church gardens, how to plant up your grave plot, woven baskets, leis and ti vae vae patterns and other gardeny stuff. I would have a prize for the most floral frock and everyone would dress up for this garden party and there will be special garden band rotunda. I wouldn't charge people to come see, donations to charity would be voluntary and all the ladies would go out with a flower in their hair and the men carnations in their buttonholes.
If I was doing a flower display I would have an aisle of A-Z flowers so everyone can get their flower ID correct from alyssum to zinnia. And then I would have a rainbow flower bed as mentioned in a previous post so everyone can know that roses are red and violets are violet.
Buffie took two Golds and a Bronze, with her Community garden display and also runner up in the upcycle garden contest, where she exhibited 'Funk my Junk' which included plants growing in shoes, sewing machines and out dresser drawers. Our Woodside Garden display was a delight and just how we envisioned it with Ben's fruit trees behind and strawberries with herbs and flowers in front, the breast cancer pink tables and chairs, and our children's gardening tools scattered about. Actually we don't have breast cancer pink tables and chairs at the real community garden, but, now we can put them there - since at the moment we just sit on planks of wood. Triangle Community Garden were right next door with a display of tools and worm farm, and the other side of us Ranui Community Garden with tomatoes in buckets and mulched veges galore.
West Lynn Gardens had a stand, as did Brent Mags from MBGP (My Backyard Garden Project) which is now going national, Heritage Roses had a traditional English style rose garden complete with climbing rose over arch and purple salvias. And then local garden clubs teamed together for a rustic courtyard display. So all in all the Yates Community Garden Marquee was buzzing.
Of the big displays the showcase garden was the Hobbit's garden. I didn't see any hobbits however but it was very cute. This hobbit's garden had lots of flowers and nasturtiums growing over their roof. I had to explain to mum what hobbits were, like little people with big hairy feet who live in hobbit holes in the ground.
Others that stood out - In upcycle section, a retro kitchen garden that looked out of the 50s with formica tables and chairs, in the school section a weed garden - which teaches how weeds can be beneficial. The floral tent had floral arrangements that were striking, and many florists plying their trade.
There was a pink bedding display for breast cancer awareness, and I reckon if the flower show comes back here next year Bark could do a spectacular flower bed display. We could put in a roundabout bed right in the middle and direct garden show traffic. Waitakere Gardens where were you? I saw mobility scooters for hire right at the entrance.
Apart from garden displays there were many exhibits from retailers, I trialled an e-bike which you plug in and charge, then turn on so you can go up the hills. Only $1500. Had to restrain mum from buying $180 kitchen knives but compromised on $50 rubber brooms. Will have to keep reminding mum to pay me back since she got the show deal of buy one and get one free plus a two extra brushes for $10. We walked back home with our brooms and mum was very happy because she's a clean freak and started on the carpets and kitchen lino right away. Because I have a broom too, I can now brush and squeegee my car, and even sweep the terrace and garden paths.
Some ideas for next year...if they do have it again, I would go for more flowers..like big masses of carpet bedding, more colour parterres, patterns and designs, because that's what I would go to see. I'm not that keen on the $27,000 watershed that just looks like an ol' shed on the back of a farm, or the latest designer outdoor showcase furniture nobody can really afford. I would go for sprinklers fountains and water gardens, shepherds huts and gypsy caravans, colourful flowerpots, a library garden, church gardens, how to plant up your grave plot, woven baskets, leis and ti vae vae patterns and other gardeny stuff. I would have a prize for the most floral frock and everyone would dress up for this garden party and there will be special garden band rotunda. I wouldn't charge people to come see, donations to charity would be voluntary and all the ladies would go out with a flower in their hair and the men carnations in their buttonholes.
If I was doing a flower display I would have an aisle of A-Z flowers so everyone can get their flower ID correct from alyssum to zinnia. And then I would have a rainbow flower bed as mentioned in a previous post so everyone can know that roses are red and violets are violet.
Wednesday, 29 November 2017
St Giles Church Garden round 2
I found dianthus 'Passion' at Mitre 10 yesterday, for $2 each so bought 21 of them for St Giles. They have a scented red flower like a small carnation. I wanted to plant them yesterday but had something else on, so did it after work today, am hoping it rains because when I got there the island bed was covered in weedmat and the council had planted it with hebes, and on the other side whipcord hebes. This despite Graham saying he would like anything but bushy plants that people can throw cigarette butts in, maybe some grasses. Well hebe is your classic bushy cigarette butt hider plant. Plus you have to cut it back, and it develops little bald patches if you don't trim it.
I was also horrified with the weedmat. How am I supposed to plant flowers in weedmat? Cut 21 holes? So I tore it off. Sorry PD/council workers - you mean well, but..I claim that patch in Jesus' name. Then Kara from Second Nature dropped by as she was picking up her daughter from Kimberley Daycare, I hadn't seen her since I temped for her, she said she had been frantically busy with six designer gardens for Auckland Design Fest (held on the same weekend as APW presentations). She said yes get rid of the weedmat.
I did leave the hebes in there though. Not sure what colour they will be, but generally if they are little and compact they can stay in good shape its only when they grow and get straggly that they become monsters like the mexican orange blossom did, and hide all manner of drug user paraphenalia, coke cans and plastic bags.
Another horror was I got there to find Bob the lawnmower man had ridden straight over the hydrangeas I planted in the lawn so there was nothing there. Oh good one Bob. (I don't know if his real name is Bob, Pat just said 'it's a little man that does the lawns' - a church member would not have been so cruel, so I just call him Bob. Or it might be Jim). Speaking of hydrangeas, I have come across some residents complaining they don't like big beautiful hydrangeas next to there apartment and they had been there 17 years. Well, if they'd been there 17 years and never lifted a finger to prune them then tough..they are staying! Hydrangeas aren't that hard to prune either. Just cut the flowers for your vase, they are the plant that keeps on giving.
I'm on the side of hydrangeas and have become a fan. But they do need shade and water, which is hard to come by in our food desert church. I forgot the afternoon sun would fry them. I'm not so big a fan of camellias. If only I could remove the camellia someone had planted next to the church, note to self, don't plant big bushy plants next to buildings, especially camellias. Because people either really like them or hate them. I'm still trying to get rid of mine that my brother thoughtfully planted in the wrong place by the front/back door. Why hydrangeas and not camellias? Well hydrangeas are deciduous and let the light in come winter, and there flowers are big, gorgeous and last forever, whereas camellia is the darker cousin, has evergreen tough leaves and small flowers that don't last, and turn brown and mushy when they die and fall off, leaving what looks like dirty tissues all over the ground. I'm letting the camellia live though because I'm trying to espalier, aside from the fact she's as tough as old boots.
So anyway now those grassy dianthus are in, I cut them back and now let them flush again, prayed for rain, so that come Sunday we might have some flowers to pick for church. Its not full yet I will be adding more plants as they are sent to me and mulching with compost but at least I have made a start. Next plan of attack is church shady corner weed. If you'd like to be a secret Good Samaritan gardener you are welcome to do this one so the Sunday following I will find it weeded and passers by will marvel what a miracle it was. It wasn't me...all glory to God!
In other secular news our West Auckland Community gardens won a bronze medal in the Garden Olympics I mean NZ Flower and Garden show so congrats team -- can't wait to see it! It's held at the Trust Arena just up the road from me. Was given a free pass unfortunately if you have not got one of these you might have to pay $42 to get in the door.
Well, it's less than paying to see a live rock concert lets put it that way. I'm hoping they might have free giveaway plants or flowers for each visitor, cos that would make it worthwhile. I will wear my new floral dress and put the flowers in my hair.
I was also horrified with the weedmat. How am I supposed to plant flowers in weedmat? Cut 21 holes? So I tore it off. Sorry PD/council workers - you mean well, but..I claim that patch in Jesus' name. Then Kara from Second Nature dropped by as she was picking up her daughter from Kimberley Daycare, I hadn't seen her since I temped for her, she said she had been frantically busy with six designer gardens for Auckland Design Fest (held on the same weekend as APW presentations). She said yes get rid of the weedmat.
I did leave the hebes in there though. Not sure what colour they will be, but generally if they are little and compact they can stay in good shape its only when they grow and get straggly that they become monsters like the mexican orange blossom did, and hide all manner of drug user paraphenalia, coke cans and plastic bags.
Another horror was I got there to find Bob the lawnmower man had ridden straight over the hydrangeas I planted in the lawn so there was nothing there. Oh good one Bob. (I don't know if his real name is Bob, Pat just said 'it's a little man that does the lawns' - a church member would not have been so cruel, so I just call him Bob. Or it might be Jim). Speaking of hydrangeas, I have come across some residents complaining they don't like big beautiful hydrangeas next to there apartment and they had been there 17 years. Well, if they'd been there 17 years and never lifted a finger to prune them then tough..they are staying! Hydrangeas aren't that hard to prune either. Just cut the flowers for your vase, they are the plant that keeps on giving.
I'm on the side of hydrangeas and have become a fan. But they do need shade and water, which is hard to come by in our food desert church. I forgot the afternoon sun would fry them. I'm not so big a fan of camellias. If only I could remove the camellia someone had planted next to the church, note to self, don't plant big bushy plants next to buildings, especially camellias. Because people either really like them or hate them. I'm still trying to get rid of mine that my brother thoughtfully planted in the wrong place by the front/back door. Why hydrangeas and not camellias? Well hydrangeas are deciduous and let the light in come winter, and there flowers are big, gorgeous and last forever, whereas camellia is the darker cousin, has evergreen tough leaves and small flowers that don't last, and turn brown and mushy when they die and fall off, leaving what looks like dirty tissues all over the ground. I'm letting the camellia live though because I'm trying to espalier, aside from the fact she's as tough as old boots.
So anyway now those grassy dianthus are in, I cut them back and now let them flush again, prayed for rain, so that come Sunday we might have some flowers to pick for church. Its not full yet I will be adding more plants as they are sent to me and mulching with compost but at least I have made a start. Next plan of attack is church shady corner weed. If you'd like to be a secret Good Samaritan gardener you are welcome to do this one so the Sunday following I will find it weeded and passers by will marvel what a miracle it was. It wasn't me...all glory to God!
In other secular news our West Auckland Community gardens won a bronze medal in the Garden Olympics I mean NZ Flower and Garden show so congrats team -- can't wait to see it! It's held at the Trust Arena just up the road from me. Was given a free pass unfortunately if you have not got one of these you might have to pay $42 to get in the door.
Well, it's less than paying to see a live rock concert lets put it that way. I'm hoping they might have free giveaway plants or flowers for each visitor, cos that would make it worthwhile. I will wear my new floral dress and put the flowers in my hair.
Saturday, 25 November 2017
Hallelujah! Inspired permie graduates
Wow, had my permaculture graduation yesterday in which a dozen of us presented our design projects. All unique and inspiring..would like to share here (and sorry I'm not so good at remembering names, so if I got yours wrong please let me know) but a little of what we're learning and applying includes...
Fermenting cabbages and foraging wild plants to make Wild Kraut and selling it at local Farmer's markets. -Kelli-Jo
Designing and using a composing toilet (which I have dubbed 'the Compooster'). -Elaine
Living with others in a tiny home community and making the best use of suburban space including a driveway to park caravan on and sleepouts, having everyone in this family involved in the design process. -Zoe
Living a sustainable life in work and play including talking to cafe businesses about recycling and composting. - Natalie
Practising the art of frugal hedonism by NOT going to the mall and mindlessly spending and consuming. And then showing others in your household the way to reduce and minimise waste. - Louisa
Creating a vlog and documenting a permaculture journey because you can't afford to live in Auckland. Going back to your roots and having a lot of fun learning from others about DIY Kai. -Kim
Installing a permaculture garden on a rental property...then encouraging the landlord to rent this out to other permaculture novices needing a place to stay in Auckland. - Gloria and Nikolaj
What to do with the family dairy farm? Or nan's angora goat farm? If its outside of Auckland, and if its 25 hectares? Host a whole lot of permies from Auckland on tiny homes and shepherd huts? Turn it into orchards? It's open to suggestion and exploring various options. - Bernie and Bridget
Creating a sustainable street and planting up front yards and berms. Holding ladies nights where the permaculture message will spread (and blokes as well). - Monique
Moving on to a organic garden property (again outside of Auckland) that's already been established, and looking for ways to improve on what's already started. -Gemma
Holding organic garden workshops by koha in community gardens - teaching and passing on skills that we've acquired. -Barbara
Congrats to all permies who presented - we are a busy bunch.
Will keep everyone posted about the church permablitz. I am planning to hold a mini working bee again at some stage to do the shady corner bed of the church and front island and then carry on in stages. I just need to apply for some funding and had lots of volunteers wanting to obtain a yield flowers and joy. I am actually off to church today and will share the (refined) vision with more church members. I am hoping Annette might like some bananas by the church but I don't know where to find them. I was kind of worried that some were saying they were going to use the money to expand the building to incorporate a ten storey carpark. Ok exaggeration but what would you rather have more cars or bananas.
Poor Graeme one of the elders has been unwell lately he was in and out of hospital, I did warn him about the dangers of Roundup. When he said a few months ago he was going to spray the weeds, I was concerned but he was determined. 'Oh will just spray it with Roundup, that will get rid of the weeds, she'll be right. ' I do hope that it was not this toxic activity that landed him there. Nobody should be touching that stuff but people still insist on gardening this way. So permies I may need your help because I don't want anyone to die from thinking they have to poison weeds to make a garden.
Fermenting cabbages and foraging wild plants to make Wild Kraut and selling it at local Farmer's markets. -Kelli-Jo
Designing and using a composing toilet (which I have dubbed 'the Compooster'). -Elaine
Living with others in a tiny home community and making the best use of suburban space including a driveway to park caravan on and sleepouts, having everyone in this family involved in the design process. -Zoe
Living a sustainable life in work and play including talking to cafe businesses about recycling and composting. - Natalie
Practising the art of frugal hedonism by NOT going to the mall and mindlessly spending and consuming. And then showing others in your household the way to reduce and minimise waste. - Louisa
Creating a vlog and documenting a permaculture journey because you can't afford to live in Auckland. Going back to your roots and having a lot of fun learning from others about DIY Kai. -Kim
Installing a permaculture garden on a rental property...then encouraging the landlord to rent this out to other permaculture novices needing a place to stay in Auckland. - Gloria and Nikolaj
What to do with the family dairy farm? Or nan's angora goat farm? If its outside of Auckland, and if its 25 hectares? Host a whole lot of permies from Auckland on tiny homes and shepherd huts? Turn it into orchards? It's open to suggestion and exploring various options. - Bernie and Bridget
Creating a sustainable street and planting up front yards and berms. Holding ladies nights where the permaculture message will spread (and blokes as well). - Monique
Moving on to a organic garden property (again outside of Auckland) that's already been established, and looking for ways to improve on what's already started. -Gemma
Holding organic garden workshops by koha in community gardens - teaching and passing on skills that we've acquired. -Barbara
Congrats to all permies who presented - we are a busy bunch.
Will keep everyone posted about the church permablitz. I am planning to hold a mini working bee again at some stage to do the shady corner bed of the church and front island and then carry on in stages. I just need to apply for some funding and had lots of volunteers wanting to obtain a yield flowers and joy. I am actually off to church today and will share the (refined) vision with more church members. I am hoping Annette might like some bananas by the church but I don't know where to find them. I was kind of worried that some were saying they were going to use the money to expand the building to incorporate a ten storey carpark. Ok exaggeration but what would you rather have more cars or bananas.
Poor Graeme one of the elders has been unwell lately he was in and out of hospital, I did warn him about the dangers of Roundup. When he said a few months ago he was going to spray the weeds, I was concerned but he was determined. 'Oh will just spray it with Roundup, that will get rid of the weeds, she'll be right. ' I do hope that it was not this toxic activity that landed him there. Nobody should be touching that stuff but people still insist on gardening this way. So permies I may need your help because I don't want anyone to die from thinking they have to poison weeds to make a garden.
Wednesday, 22 November 2017
I haves designs
This is taking much longer than I anticipated, because nap times are not included. Who knew designing was so exhausting. This may be why there are no beds in design studios.
Also, designers can't go out and garden in their design studios either so they don't have that distraction of plants that need to be planted straight away or they will die. Yesterday at the floral circle got two plants from the trading table - one Mexican Bush sage and another Japanese anemone. So my garden is going international with plants from all over the world. These plants needed to go in and some other plants needed to come out and these needed to be put somewhere as well so by the time I got back inside ready with the felt tips and butter paper its was 9pm.
And still no photos I don't know how people can garden and photograph at the same time but I am not one of these that takes garden selfies to show off to others. Do you really want to know all my gardening secrets? The thing with design is it's really about layout and putting paths in, and then the plants can be arranged later, but this whole infrastructure and systems thinking I am still getting the hang of, because I'm not in the business of construction. I can make a raised bed out of rosemary cuttings but I need all the materials to grow beforehand, with designers they seem to have the world of concrete and edging at their disposal and can carve out land with a rotovator. I don't have that luxury. Designers can also have resource consents and map things to building regulations, and the more analytically minded can put a fence here and there but I'm more well this plant wants to go here, and if it doesn't like it it will go here.
Anyway, I have very rough sketches of the ideas and vision for St Giles, as blogged previously, which is roughly some zones...hanging baskets at church entrance and containers, shady subtropical nikau bush monstera corner, espaliered fruit trees on side of church and bus stop waiting area with olives shading more seats and a little free library with Bibles, a rainwater diverter/harvester and solar gain roofing panels (with skylight for church services with natural lighting) and solar night lights for evening. A church picnic bbq area leading to flowered border and pergola archway for weddings, with subtropical plantings of banana, passionfruit, hibiscus, taro, gardenia and canna lily. By the day care centre a vege trail for children. And on the road side entrance an olive/feijoa orchard with pumpkin patch an herbal ley attracting beneficial insects. Also a grapevine.
Now if the church members start complaining it's too much maintenance and would rather pay Bob the lawnmower each week to make some noise I am seriously thinking of quitting my job to do this church garden. You can either pay someone to make a lawn desert and forget about flowers altogether or you can have something wonderful for free.
How I will pay the bills I don't know, but if nobody makes a start all the cars going past on Te Atatu will pass by and just see another church building like all the other church buildings that have carparks and may decide to worship and get married and have funerals somewhere else that at least has some flowers.
Isn't that right Lord? Banished from Eden, because of plant misidentification. You can eat all the fruit of all the trees in THIS garden, that God has given except for THAT one. So what does man do, eat from the forbidden one that kills him. It will be interesting to see this season how many forbidden trees are on display that you can't eat from, the shopping malls have already got them up and decorated, hustling for consumers.
Also, designers can't go out and garden in their design studios either so they don't have that distraction of plants that need to be planted straight away or they will die. Yesterday at the floral circle got two plants from the trading table - one Mexican Bush sage and another Japanese anemone. So my garden is going international with plants from all over the world. These plants needed to go in and some other plants needed to come out and these needed to be put somewhere as well so by the time I got back inside ready with the felt tips and butter paper its was 9pm.
And still no photos I don't know how people can garden and photograph at the same time but I am not one of these that takes garden selfies to show off to others. Do you really want to know all my gardening secrets? The thing with design is it's really about layout and putting paths in, and then the plants can be arranged later, but this whole infrastructure and systems thinking I am still getting the hang of, because I'm not in the business of construction. I can make a raised bed out of rosemary cuttings but I need all the materials to grow beforehand, with designers they seem to have the world of concrete and edging at their disposal and can carve out land with a rotovator. I don't have that luxury. Designers can also have resource consents and map things to building regulations, and the more analytically minded can put a fence here and there but I'm more well this plant wants to go here, and if it doesn't like it it will go here.
Anyway, I have very rough sketches of the ideas and vision for St Giles, as blogged previously, which is roughly some zones...hanging baskets at church entrance and containers, shady subtropical nikau bush monstera corner, espaliered fruit trees on side of church and bus stop waiting area with olives shading more seats and a little free library with Bibles, a rainwater diverter/harvester and solar gain roofing panels (with skylight for church services with natural lighting) and solar night lights for evening. A church picnic bbq area leading to flowered border and pergola archway for weddings, with subtropical plantings of banana, passionfruit, hibiscus, taro, gardenia and canna lily. By the day care centre a vege trail for children. And on the road side entrance an olive/feijoa orchard with pumpkin patch an herbal ley attracting beneficial insects. Also a grapevine.
Now if the church members start complaining it's too much maintenance and would rather pay Bob the lawnmower each week to make some noise I am seriously thinking of quitting my job to do this church garden. You can either pay someone to make a lawn desert and forget about flowers altogether or you can have something wonderful for free.
How I will pay the bills I don't know, but if nobody makes a start all the cars going past on Te Atatu will pass by and just see another church building like all the other church buildings that have carparks and may decide to worship and get married and have funerals somewhere else that at least has some flowers.
Isn't that right Lord? Banished from Eden, because of plant misidentification. You can eat all the fruit of all the trees in THIS garden, that God has given except for THAT one. So what does man do, eat from the forbidden one that kills him. It will be interesting to see this season how many forbidden trees are on display that you can't eat from, the shopping malls have already got them up and decorated, hustling for consumers.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)