The garden had been a tad neglected lately so I resolved to have some garden time and check up on the plants. They were all quite happy to be growing except for a couple of things that I will need to rectify.
I had pruned the feijoa bushes last month thinning out one that had grown bushy, and now there is a little platform of feijoa prunings I've used to create a base for orchids to grow in the tree. Like a little house for them. I hope it works as the orchids were in pots and not really liking it if they got too wet because water tended to collect in the pots.
The citrus was also given a spray of neem oil because I noticed it had scale and the leaves were getting eaten. Hopefully this will stop the critters in their tracks. I don't think I can plant them anywhere until they've served out their quarantine.
The other thing I need to do is split some aloe vera as it was getting pot bound and frost bitten, it seems to actually like being indoors so I may have to find some room for them, even though all available surfaces in the entire house seem taken.
Looking toward spring I'm thinking of extending a corner by the wisteria and covering the entrance to the backyard with some low growing perennials, perhaps lavenders and lambs ears, or maybe snow-in-summer and that will be a further no-mow area for Dad.
The buxus hedges need a bit of shaping but I'm not sure whether to continue clipping them into flat box shapes or maybe rounding them off. I just find them a bit awkwardly boxy...I know you are a box plant but do you have to be so rectangular? Would it look weird if they were cones, or spirals or pyramids? Or perhaps pear shaped?
Oxalis seems to have taken over Sock's bed and I'm not that keen on weeding it all out - the bulbils if you disturb them will multipy even more. So I decide maybe they can just be a pretty groundcover like the violets are. Eventually the taller plants will shade them out right?
So there's a few things to do and think on. New Gardenland I haven't been neglecting you. You are lucky that I live in you, and you kind of belong to me because I'm not sure I would ever do this again for another garden for someone else.
Saturday, 25 July 2020
Thursday, 9 July 2020
The rest of the year
I'm lying low.
I nearly caught the end of the cold and flu season at school but somehow I made it through - the flu shot worked after all! But since it's too cold to go out much I have just been resting at home, not even doing much gardening.
I have come to dislike people making demands on my time saying we must do this and do that and go out. It's winter people, do we HAVE to meet up every week just for the sake of it. Do we even HAVE to work? Would the world come to an end if we just took a break? The plants do.
I have heard of gardeners who try to make a jump on spring and get all their seedlings ready and started and growing only to be killed by a snap frost. Or a storm blows that newly planted hedge down. Or hail devastates an entire freshly planted crop.
This means more reading time for me.
The gardening section of my library has been growing. My last book I read was 'The orchid thief' by Susan Orlean. Apparently made into a movie starring Meryl Streep and Nicolas Cage, I was drawn into an underworld of plant crime (or rather a swamp in Florida) with orchid obsessives. I am happy to state I am not addicted to any plant that I would go to great lengths to obtain, and break the law for, but sadly, not many in New Zealand can say that about cannabis. The mail came yesterday asking a referendum for two things - ending one's life, and legalising cannabis.
Decisions decisions. Can't they be combined into one law that says if you want to end your life by taking cannabis, you can be deported to Australia?
I nearly caught the end of the cold and flu season at school but somehow I made it through - the flu shot worked after all! But since it's too cold to go out much I have just been resting at home, not even doing much gardening.
I have come to dislike people making demands on my time saying we must do this and do that and go out. It's winter people, do we HAVE to meet up every week just for the sake of it. Do we even HAVE to work? Would the world come to an end if we just took a break? The plants do.
I have heard of gardeners who try to make a jump on spring and get all their seedlings ready and started and growing only to be killed by a snap frost. Or a storm blows that newly planted hedge down. Or hail devastates an entire freshly planted crop.
This means more reading time for me.
The gardening section of my library has been growing. My last book I read was 'The orchid thief' by Susan Orlean. Apparently made into a movie starring Meryl Streep and Nicolas Cage, I was drawn into an underworld of plant crime (or rather a swamp in Florida) with orchid obsessives. I am happy to state I am not addicted to any plant that I would go to great lengths to obtain, and break the law for, but sadly, not many in New Zealand can say that about cannabis. The mail came yesterday asking a referendum for two things - ending one's life, and legalising cannabis.
Decisions decisions. Can't they be combined into one law that says if you want to end your life by taking cannabis, you can be deported to Australia?
Monday, 29 June 2020
How does your garden grow?
Since I posted last its become quite clear that we haven't been remiss in not doing things yesterday only because someone else hadn't been doing THEIR job way back in March meant we couldn't do ours. The job of course, is testing everyone entering the country for virus in quarantine.
I know with plants what you do before imported plants arrive is they must be sent to quarantine first before being let loose into the country. Everything must be screened from seeds to cuttings to full size trees. One little codling moth egg and wham...the entire apple industry could collapse. As it nearly did back in 1888.
My research horrified me to the extent that we'd blithely let all pest and diseases come in and wreck havoc. For sure New Zealand was a bit too green and needed more flowers, but did we really need gorse? Did we grow too much kiwifruit so for our greed was the PSA virus sent to humble us?
Are the Australians getting their own back with possums and fruit fly? Has feijoa overstayed its welcome and now must fight rust, while Kauri are dying back because we've introduced too much roads into the forest and our muddy footprints?
I don't know the answer to these questions really. But I'm not going to let Aotearoa, so long, and protected and cloudy, become like Australia...deserted, dry, and dangerous. Or heaven forbid, the USA. Not sure I could handle that, although we must thank the Americans for Macrocarpa.
But down to my own garden, and in my own community...Woodside braved Neighbours Day after so much postponement so I actually DID bring a neighbour. Shirley admits she's not much of a gardener but maybe I could convert her yet. She's from Birmingham where they have snow and brick lanes so she's not really used to all the greenery. She can't stand it when neighbours leave fruit trees go to waste and don't pick all their fruit. I tell her the ones at the Woodside get picked clean sometimes even before we can get to them.
Jacqui showed off two tamarillos that she'd cared for at home and transplanted at Woodside. They are doing really well. I've never seen them that tall (tree tomatoes to you) and hoping for a good crop this year. I've still got lemons in pots at home and not sure when to plant them in the ground just yet. I will need to Neem them before too long but otherwise my garden is ticking along.
Floral Circle met again and talk is our trip may be to Tauranga this year. I've never stayed there or seen much of the gardens so am expecting it to be quite an eye opener, seeing as its the retirement magnet city..I picture all the owners being like those I met on the cruise ship living the good life where money is no object to spend on their garden. Quarantine ought to be no hardship for them, just another excuse to stay home and enjoy the garden. We had a quiz night where I got 14/20 and won a pansy, which I've duly planted by the house behind the statice.
I know with plants what you do before imported plants arrive is they must be sent to quarantine first before being let loose into the country. Everything must be screened from seeds to cuttings to full size trees. One little codling moth egg and wham...the entire apple industry could collapse. As it nearly did back in 1888.
My research horrified me to the extent that we'd blithely let all pest and diseases come in and wreck havoc. For sure New Zealand was a bit too green and needed more flowers, but did we really need gorse? Did we grow too much kiwifruit so for our greed was the PSA virus sent to humble us?
Are the Australians getting their own back with possums and fruit fly? Has feijoa overstayed its welcome and now must fight rust, while Kauri are dying back because we've introduced too much roads into the forest and our muddy footprints?
I don't know the answer to these questions really. But I'm not going to let Aotearoa, so long, and protected and cloudy, become like Australia...deserted, dry, and dangerous. Or heaven forbid, the USA. Not sure I could handle that, although we must thank the Americans for Macrocarpa.
But down to my own garden, and in my own community...Woodside braved Neighbours Day after so much postponement so I actually DID bring a neighbour. Shirley admits she's not much of a gardener but maybe I could convert her yet. She's from Birmingham where they have snow and brick lanes so she's not really used to all the greenery. She can't stand it when neighbours leave fruit trees go to waste and don't pick all their fruit. I tell her the ones at the Woodside get picked clean sometimes even before we can get to them.
Jacqui showed off two tamarillos that she'd cared for at home and transplanted at Woodside. They are doing really well. I've never seen them that tall (tree tomatoes to you) and hoping for a good crop this year. I've still got lemons in pots at home and not sure when to plant them in the ground just yet. I will need to Neem them before too long but otherwise my garden is ticking along.
Floral Circle met again and talk is our trip may be to Tauranga this year. I've never stayed there or seen much of the gardens so am expecting it to be quite an eye opener, seeing as its the retirement magnet city..I picture all the owners being like those I met on the cruise ship living the good life where money is no object to spend on their garden. Quarantine ought to be no hardship for them, just another excuse to stay home and enjoy the garden. We had a quiz night where I got 14/20 and won a pansy, which I've duly planted by the house behind the statice.
Friday, 12 June 2020
I would like it done yesterday
I am just about to head off to work again at my new job at PaperPlus bookshop. Sorry no free garden labour is available at present.
My manuka mulch is doing very well and Martha has stayed off my veges!
Magnolia is blooming so Dad papped them and here they are.
What would I like done yesterday...? Well nothing as I did my gardening several months ago during lockdown but now am back at work because I hadn't by circumstances been able to DO anything now the bosses seems to be blaming me for all the things that they wanted done yesterday. Which we could not do anyway because nobody was open. But that's bosses for you. I don't know whether you can get ahead by as people say 'sucking up' to them and it's not a nice image anyway but I haven't really thought that I should be nice to my bosses at all which is probably why I am still earning minimum wage. Maybe the ones that 'get ahead' use bribes? I don't know.
All I know is if I bring flowers and chocolates to work rumours will start going round, so I thought maybe just leave off the charm and do my work helping the customers I will be able to go home in one piece with my dignity and pay packet. So magnolia flowers you are staying on the tree for now.
My manuka mulch is doing very well and Martha has stayed off my veges!
Magnolia is blooming so Dad papped them and here they are.
What would I like done yesterday...? Well nothing as I did my gardening several months ago during lockdown but now am back at work because I hadn't by circumstances been able to DO anything now the bosses seems to be blaming me for all the things that they wanted done yesterday. Which we could not do anyway because nobody was open. But that's bosses for you. I don't know whether you can get ahead by as people say 'sucking up' to them and it's not a nice image anyway but I haven't really thought that I should be nice to my bosses at all which is probably why I am still earning minimum wage. Maybe the ones that 'get ahead' use bribes? I don't know.
All I know is if I bring flowers and chocolates to work rumours will start going round, so I thought maybe just leave off the charm and do my work helping the customers I will be able to go home in one piece with my dignity and pay packet. So magnolia flowers you are staying on the tree for now.
Wednesday, 3 June 2020
Birthday Queen
Coming out of lockdown hasn't been easy as there is less time for gardening. We had much needed rain last week, most of the autumn leaves have fallen, and Cleopatra Magnolia is now showing of her deep purply-pink buds.
The manuka offcuts actually came in handy as mulch for my vege bed - the leaves are scratchy which means Martha has not had the opportunity to dig up my garden. So far my cabbages are safe.
Dad has also been careful not to mow down my lupins and poppies on the berm. I think he doesn't want to risk upsetting me again...
Otherwise all is quiet on the Western Front.
On Queen's birthday as a treat went with mum to Kings Plant Barn, to have morning tea at their cafe and look around. Kelly Tarltons did not want to have us and so I thought where else in Auckland can we go on this public holiday that is not a crowded mall? My thoughts were toward the Wintergarden but on the way passed by Remuera Kings Plant Barn and so went and communed with the plants I hadn't seen in ages. I noted mum seemed keen on a persimmon tree, but none were to be found.
Palmers Garden Centre is just a few blocks down as well but I've always been partial to Kings as they don't try and sell you $9999 hot tubs as well. On my list is potting mix to repot our plants as a task to do.
After a birthday curry chicken pot pie and hot chocolates (contact registered and hand sanitised) and breathing in the oxygenised atmosphere I drove through the Auckland Domain only to find every car park near the Wintergarden was taken.
Oh well perhaps another time. I had always thought it would be a lovely venue for a wedding, but the upcoming nuptials this year of Karyn and Pierre are going to be at their church in town. She hasn't seemed to ask for any maids or flowergirls yet and I have no official invitation...otherwise, I haven't had much to do florally as my Floral Club has not been meeting for several months. It seems I am on the committee now, which means, I get a say in organising the next big trip.
We are thinking Tauranga or maybe Waiheke Island Garden Safari. So that is something else to look forward to, travel wise. I am not really missing the outside of NZ world at all. My garden survived, nobody died, and I am still sane.
JoAnne did ask me what she should do to kill a caterpillar, that was eating her bird of paradise plant but I just said use your thumbs or let the birds eat them if you don't want a beautiful butterfly. I thought to myself maybe she hadn't read the last part of The Very Hungry Caterpillar and what a strange question to ask me. I'm sure that it could spare a few leaves and it wasn't eating cabbages which we want to eat ourselves so why not leave it? But then I'm not the kind of gardener who goes after the caterpillars when Martha can do a much better job than I can of eating them.
The manuka offcuts actually came in handy as mulch for my vege bed - the leaves are scratchy which means Martha has not had the opportunity to dig up my garden. So far my cabbages are safe.
Dad has also been careful not to mow down my lupins and poppies on the berm. I think he doesn't want to risk upsetting me again...
Otherwise all is quiet on the Western Front.
On Queen's birthday as a treat went with mum to Kings Plant Barn, to have morning tea at their cafe and look around. Kelly Tarltons did not want to have us and so I thought where else in Auckland can we go on this public holiday that is not a crowded mall? My thoughts were toward the Wintergarden but on the way passed by Remuera Kings Plant Barn and so went and communed with the plants I hadn't seen in ages. I noted mum seemed keen on a persimmon tree, but none were to be found.
Palmers Garden Centre is just a few blocks down as well but I've always been partial to Kings as they don't try and sell you $9999 hot tubs as well. On my list is potting mix to repot our plants as a task to do.
After a birthday curry chicken pot pie and hot chocolates (contact registered and hand sanitised) and breathing in the oxygenised atmosphere I drove through the Auckland Domain only to find every car park near the Wintergarden was taken.
Oh well perhaps another time. I had always thought it would be a lovely venue for a wedding, but the upcoming nuptials this year of Karyn and Pierre are going to be at their church in town. She hasn't seemed to ask for any maids or flowergirls yet and I have no official invitation...otherwise, I haven't had much to do florally as my Floral Club has not been meeting for several months. It seems I am on the committee now, which means, I get a say in organising the next big trip.
We are thinking Tauranga or maybe Waiheke Island Garden Safari. So that is something else to look forward to, travel wise. I am not really missing the outside of NZ world at all. My garden survived, nobody died, and I am still sane.
JoAnne did ask me what she should do to kill a caterpillar, that was eating her bird of paradise plant but I just said use your thumbs or let the birds eat them if you don't want a beautiful butterfly. I thought to myself maybe she hadn't read the last part of The Very Hungry Caterpillar and what a strange question to ask me. I'm sure that it could spare a few leaves and it wasn't eating cabbages which we want to eat ourselves so why not leave it? But then I'm not the kind of gardener who goes after the caterpillars when Martha can do a much better job than I can of eating them.
Saturday, 23 May 2020
Out of the woods
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| Aloe flower |
Dad has been culling my trees. Manuka got the chop as it was 'spoiling my view'...of the sky. So now I have a pile of walking sticks, and firewood/bbq kindling.
I was naturally rather upset.
I don't deal that well with violence against trees. Weeds, ok, I can pull them out no problem. But trees which have been growing that I have personally planted? Not so much.
On the bright side, (now we have more sun on the deck) Cenny has gifted me two lemon trees in pots for my birthday. I have left them in the pots so far as digging a hole for them in clay is like digging a grave for them to drown in. I recruited mum to come down with me to Woodside to get some seaweed mulch for them. While there I sneakily snuck in some rose cuttings by the fence from my birthday rose bunch sister Glennis gave me. It's not so bad having a birthday during lockdown, I decide. I got to stay at home and have peace and quiet.
I am drying these rosebuds to make potpourri. The big cake was carrot cake and the others blueberries, lemon, raspberries, viola and chocolate.
At virus level 2 I have not rushed to the garden centre as of yet since it is going into the barren period (in fact, shopping is sometimes more of an ordeal than before) and it is getting cooler...we just need to pray for more rain as our dams are now only 40%. There are hose restrictions but seeing as I never watered the garden with a hose anyway it won't matter. But installing a rainwater harvester on the garage roof is a good idea, but like all good ideas they don't always happen at the time of having the good idea. If I had my good ideas happen straight away I would now be sitting pretty and not wondering why the garage spouting is leaking and rusted still.
They say the best time to plant a tree is ten years ago...and the second best time is to plant them now.
Mum surprised me by saying she wanted the fig tree that Dad nearly killed planted in the ground to grow big (and lots of figs) but now there is no room left to plant them in the garden, unless Dad moves into the Sky Tower to have his unimpeded view of the universe.
Thursday, 7 May 2020
Blogging it with flowers
Dad took some pics of the flowers in the garden yesterday --it seems red and purple is the current theme. The leaves on the deciduous trees are starting to turn...it's going to be a glorious autumn.
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| Begonia |
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| Tomato...not a flower Dad. |
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| Bromeliad |
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| Mexican Sage |
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| Streptocarpus |
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| Tillandsia |
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