School's out, the garden is in...

 Hooray school is out!

I feel like I'm reliving my perpetual childhood all over again. Makes a change from the retirement villages... but then I never seem to be around people my own age in any given environment. Those born in the year 1980 - where are you?? Class of '97? 

I've left my spider plants, hoya and mother in laws tongue for six weeks and they should be ok by the time I get back. They are pretty indestructible plants. I learned one of the previous librarians had ferns that she would take home to water over the holidays, but then she just lived right next door to the school. 

I caught up with the Woodside gardeners with a bbq in the garden, and now we are doing working bees on a Wednesday evening, when its much cooler. We harvested half a potato plot of summer delight potatoes so I have filled my coffers. Jacqui has also given me some basil seedlings which I have now transplanted anywhere there is room. Shirley gave me rooted geranium cuttings so I've also plonked them in wherever I can fit them, even though I've got many geraniums (or pelargoniums) already from Beth. I'm not sure what's going on with the tiny(or wee)  house saga of hers, although I could not live in one and I'm somewhat smaller than she is -  a tall person with a tiny house reminds me of the old woman who lived in a shoe. 

Mum surprisingly has got into some gardening and now has bitter melon in pots, and some strange chinese herbs that apparently costs thousands of dollars a kilo, and she's even watering the beans at Leyton's house. Next door's gardenia predicatably did not survive. I think they mowed straight over it. Maybe someone gave it to them and they thought if they planted it right in the middle of their lawn strip and gave it a bucket of water and left it, it would somehow grow. But..their taro is going great with big leaves and the weeds periodically cleared from time to time. So - taro trumps gardenia? 

Our own gardenia has had it's first blooms and had cheered up considerably with application of Epsom salts. Chamomile has started to flower, and the daisies are having their first flush, the lavenders are on their second. Amazingly, our apricot tree is having its first fruits. 

There's so much going on at the moment and I have flowers in every colour of the rainbow. When the agapanthus blooms, you know it's an Auckland summer. 

There's a few things on my bucket list for next year.

• Visit/stay at the Eastwood Hill Aboreteum near Gisborne
• Visit 'the paddocks' garden up at Warkworth
• Visit the Taranaki Rhodoendron Festival - did not get the opportunity this year, again!
• Do the Waiheke Islands Garden Safari

That's all for now. I need to have Christmas shopping done by Friday. Food is  easy, its keeping children entertained thats harder, because there's only so much chit chat you can do before everyone is tuning out and watching the boring Christmas movies of OTHER people celebrating Christmas on tv. 

Rambling on

Our Garden club organised our own member garden ramble so I got to visit 3 gardens yesterday and they were amazing. The ladies had showered their gardens with love and care over the years and it showed. I hadn't put mine up for a visit but could possibly do so next year? 

 Dorothy's garden was in the Peninsula on a corner section. She had some big trees on her property but had still managed to grow a semi-woodland underneath, with geraniums and bromeliads and fairy like toadstools. She had giant staghorn ferns on two of her trees, one was a albizzia, another a silky oak, and a magnolia with giant creamy flowers. Being a flower lover she also had roses, hydrangeas, fuchsias, alstromerias, cosmos, and primulas. The primulas in hanging basket chandeliers which she got the idea from one of our garden tours. She had a sunny vege patch, several fruit trees, swings, plants in pots, and a carpet rose over her welcome arch - a nice sturdy wooden one. 

 Next garden was Pat's in Te Atatu South. Pat was the winner of the sweet pea flower show and she had many growing up the walls, trellises and wig wams. She had an amazing floral and butterfly filled border between her and the neighbour's property, with every annual flower you could think of - lobelias, dahlias, tweedia, gerberas, phlox, pelargoniums, alyssum, daisies. She had gazanias at the front by the berm, and flowers by the house, down the side, and extra flowers by her vege patch.She had roses climbing the walls Many had been given to her as gifts which she lovingly tended and coaxed into flower. Some flowers were even growing in the cracks in the driveway. One tomato self seeded by her drainpipe so she left it there and gave it compost and it's going great. It was immaculately maintained and a joy to see and smell! 

 Linda's garden was a short drive away on the main road down a long drive lined with mini aggies, where we stopped and chatted for morning tea. Garden club conversation tends to be about plants, flowers, recipes and weddings and home renovations. Linda had hanging baskets of fuchsias, orcids and streptocarpus, pots of succulents, a weeping cherry tree and a mysterious 'secret garden' trail under one of her large oaks. By the sunny wall she had rambling roses, more sweetpeas, lychnis, catmint, hydrangeas, abutilons, and other flowery delights I can't pronounce (opthigian? Ornhithagalum? O-something!) 

 I didn't get time to visit Bev's terraced garden again or Thera's Glendene DIY renovation, or Sid and Janes wilderness in Swanson, as I had to rush off to work my afternoon shift at the bookshop, but there's always next time. Today is not much of a garden day being wet and cool. But I have very much enjoyed the sunny spring weather while it lasted. 

Linda said that what she wanted most for Christmas was a sack of compost but Santa never seems to grants her that request - I think what I'll be receiving this year are bars of soap, although I'd rather have a real tree (in a pot,) and no presents than a fake tree and lots of presents. So one tree please, thanks Santa. A lime tree or tree tomato, or maybe another mini apple tree.

Tauranga Covid-Buster tour

 The  Te Atatu Floral Circle escaped Auckland for the weekend on the Covid-Buster tour to Tauranga.

We saw many gardens over a the weekend from downsized ones to upsized ones, old established ones to new and trendy. The weather shone on us and was perfect.

The first three were in Pyes Pa and had staked out their new subdivision claims by going a bit crazy at the garden centre. Annuals galore, hanging baskets, and veges down the back were the order of the day. There's a lot you can do on former kiwifruit orchard on handkerchief size plots. Who needs a lawn when one can carve out  a koru water feature?

I liked the groundcover pansies, and fuschsias seemed to be the favoured foundation plant. 

In town, we visited Robbins Park Rose Gardens, which were all in bloom. But the real gem was the tropical house next door, complete with orchids in a glass case. Spectacular. 

In Papamoa, we visited a Jacobean tapestry and quilt lady. I bought some dutch iris bulbs. They had downsized to the surburbs but had bought all their favourite plants with them. Another riot of colourful flowers awaited us.

Then we upsized to a country style formal garden (big enough for a buxus edged phoenix palm driveway roundabout) that had the biggest lemon and lime roses you ever saw, the leaves super fed with fert that they were flogging to us in little baggies.  Yet another riotous bed of colour was in full bloom.

The last day we cruised on up the old Te Puna Quarry that had been transformed into a rambly garden - this one had an amazing heritage rose border with romantic favourites including stachys, sweet williams, lilies, iris and lobelias. Thanks to all the active Rose Society volunteer workers, it was heavenly to walk through.

Our final stop was the Mayward  Homestead Country Garden, which could easily qualify for the 5 star rating of National Gardens of Significance. This one had flowing waters and mystery dells, swamp cypress, azaleas, rhododendrons, wisterias, lily of the valleys, hostas and solomon's seal. The house was a romantic's dreamy backdrop, an ideal wedding venue. It all backed on to native bush and the owner was a dedicated and knowledgable gardener. We were gobsmacked that she did all this on her own.

I am sorry photos can't really do it justice, but you had to be there. 

Tauranga tropical house

Picture perfect - who needs a wedding give me a garden for life

Roses and more roses in bloom

One of many garden beds full of flowers

Bug hotel

Orchids under glass

When I got back to Auckland I was feeling a bit crowded after Tauranga's spacious suburbs and giant trees that would never be cut down for a parking lot or infill housing. They really have super giant trees there.

So I thought my solution was to convince people if they really want to live in Auckland they've got to start living in the trees instead of cutting them all down.  Thanks Tauranga for an amazing tour and the Floral Circle ladies had a great time as always! 

Garden blooming

 Time is flying by. 

Karyn got hitched...here's the evidence. It was a beautiful church ceremony that was simple yet sweet. Pierre waited patiently for half an hour past the appointed time. Some men don't. They are like - ten minutes late - missed your chance!

Is it better to be late than never? Perhaps. I know you can definitely marry too early. We showered her with flowers and she threw the bouquet. Don't worry, I did not catch it, I've got plenty of flowers in my own garden. 

This spring season has actually never been so spectacular for flowers in my garden.

I've got irises, roses, sweet peas, statice, ajugas, watsonias, lavender, daisies, pelargoniums, ivy geraniums, scabiosa, forget-me-not, salvia, nasturtiums, oxalis, abutilon, jasmine, plumbago, apple blossom, impatiens, daphne, camellia....

The Floral Circle are having the trip to Tauranga next week and this time Cenny and Marie are coming with me. When I get back I need to get into planting maybe some dwarf beans or capsicums. But I am sure I will find inspiration on my trip - as I have not been able to get out and about so much yet. Sometimes isolation and quarantine can make you quite insular and too sheltered.  Although I think doing your own thing can be very satisfying, something in me wants to reach out more and grow more and do more but where when why and how, I am not sure yet. 

Who knows what's around the corner? 

Karyn's big day

 Karyn and Pierre are getting married today. Covid-19 or not, today is the day! I have been picking flowers to take to the wedding so we can throw it as confetti. I'm not privy to the bridal party and possibly too old to be a flower-girl, but I can't let all those pelargoniums go to waste. She's marrying in church and there will be refreshments afterward.

It's Labour Weekend and I've just had a message from the govt to stay safe. Other than  the wedding, I'm not planning on going anywhere, recovering from school by having peace and quiet time is my thing. I've been reading a book called 'Frensham' a New Zealand country garden, down in Canterbury. The owner, Margaret has produced a book about a year in her garden. I wonder how it is gardening in the South Island, when it's at it's best only for 2-3 months of the year from September to November. They get beautiful autumn foliage, but then it's snow and ice in winter and the garden looks bare. They can't grow tropical plants or succulents. No bananas, feijoas, taro, or pohutuakawas! 

The only thing about reading 'high class' gardening books I find is a bit of garden envy. I can't just plant a row of trees in my 600 metre square section of New Gardenland. No drifts of daffodils or hornbeam hedges. I can't divide the garden into 'rooms' because there's no room for rooms! I have to scale it down to the cracks in the driveway - parsley is growing out of those. 

Speaking of books, sister has sent me a book called 'Kew's Global Kitchen Cookbook' 101 recipes using edible plants from around the world. Mum was of course immediately derisive. "You can't cook, you never do any cooking". She is constantly saying I 'always' or 'never' do anything. Sometimes in the same sentence. 

I have strong suspicion that Kew Garden really wants world domination over all the plants around the globe. It's like some botanical maniacs were obssessively collecting every single specimen, classifying and labelling it, to become the institution that it is, and then trying to stop everyone else from growing their own plants in case they get a bigger collection. I mean what have they done to the cycads in Madagascar, now one botanical collector has it, displayed in their million pound heated glass cabinet house,  everyone else wants one, so that in Madagascar there are hardly any left that people haven't dug up to show off in their Grand Designs home.

Personally I find it's pompousness a bit hypocritical, thinking its should be the world's authority on the entire planet's plant life, saying 9 billion people need to be fed and it's the one to do it, because, supposedly, it's got the monopoly on 'global food markets'. Still acting like the imperial tyrant that it is, naming and shaming plants and trying to grow and breed them to fit in with their economy - it's indirectly responsible for all the plastic covered strawberry fields and tomato hot houses in Almeria Spain. Just because some Brits need a tomato in their Jamie Oliver inspired mediterraenean style salad, out of season because tomatoes won't grow there. Or more strawberries with their Pimms. 

I won't let it spoil things though, the sun is shining and it's a good day to be marrying (for Karyn) and a good day to be free (for me). 

The Secret of Waitakere Gardens

 This season has been an exceptional one for flowers, my cuttings - lavenders, pelargoniums, geraniums have taken off. The oxalis is actually prettily flowering. Ajugas are pushing up their purple bugles. I've got a blue lily like flower that is stunning that I can't identify...photo to come, possibly a native weed, but gorgeous. Pink watsonia has bloomed. Mustard is flowering like mini sunflowers. The nasturtium brings oranges and yellows into the mix with lily pad like leaves. 

Loquats are ripening. The apricot may fruit this year. And my citrus I've repotted have now recovered from their scale outbreak. Was it all the lockdown gardening that made the difference? 

Last week I took a stroll down memory lane and went to visit Raewyn in the Waitakere Gardens. I notice many new developments since I gardened there two years ago, some trees had been removed, and others planted, the roses now have a few companion plants (phacelia?) and there's a row of espalier pears and apples where the climbing roses used to be. There is a lot more colour (and I must admit, a lot more garish than any garden has a right to be) but that's what the oldies wanted. They weren't keen on restful/funereal white flowers and green foliage. 

Dozens of azaleas in pots lay in wait to be planted in the new garden where I recall was a sloping lawn. The spider plants I sneaked in have multiplied. But the iresine I killed didn't come back. That's what got the chop from me. "Oh no I'm not a gardener" says Raewyn who cuts the flowers for koha donations. I don't know what, in her mind, a gardener is. Someone who sows and plants? Does maintaining or pruning not count as gardening? Or picking flowers? Giles said the same thing. 'I don't do any gardening at the community garden' he claims. Then what does he do, just look pretty? "I  just maintain it'. Maybe the very act of planting and sowing makes one a gardener after all.

Perhaps I was being way too radical being a gardener, planting plants where they weren't allowed. People get miffed to see something growing that they hadn't authorised. I guess that's what gets cannabis growers up in arms, wanting it to be legal. But if you make things legal, doesn't it take all the forbidden fun out of it all? Maybe they want to fight for respectablity too, well they could now join the gardening club, and don't have to hide their growing credentials. No more secrets, no more mysteries. 

I watched the Secret Garden movie in the school holidays. Bad idea, because my well loved children's classic book was totally massacred in this movie. There was a dog in it! Mary didn't do any actual gardening whatsoever!  And  Misselwhaite Manor burned down! Talk about a spoiler, THAT wasn't in the book. The garden wasn't even really kept secret. 

I found myself missing the regular Wednesday morning garden group at Waitakere. The oldies, invigorated by fresh air, sunshine, and digging would find themselves less prone to temper tantrums like Colin, and treating people like servants like spoiled, disagreeable Mary. They would miraculously ditch their walkers and habit of wandering aimlessly round indoors in circles, and rib each other while poking fun at how old fashioned they were because they believed in the magic of growing things. 

Now how horrible would it have been if they didn't do any gardening, and just romped around with stray dogs and then let Waitakere Gardens fall into disrepair and potential fire hazard like in the movie. 

 

Do's and Don'ts of gardening

 

Have I gardened long enough to pass on some eternal wisdom in my 7 years or so of gardening? These are some of the gems I've learned. 

Don't ever buy garden ornaments - they look good for the first year, then quickly rust and decay. Unless you are a fan of the scrapyard look, resist the temptation. 'Rustic' can give you bouts of tetanus.

Don't tell people who are not gardeners you like gardening. They will just burden you with job offers and hint or bribe you to do their garden for them. And by 'doing their garden' they actually mean weed and dig plants out so there's nothing there.

Don't enter garden shows. If you more want stress and drama in your life, by all means do so, but the rest of us want to enjoy our gardens without the pressure.

Don't take cuttings without asking owners first. I have heard this terrible garden faux pas of people visiting other gardens and thinking it's a free for all. Coveting what isn't yours is not cool. If an apple falls on your head, then sure, but the tree isn't going to break it's branch for you.

Don't garden for money. It ruins the experience, and turns it into farming.

Do plant what you like. You are going to live with it, so, you must like it. Thankfully, I like most plants.

Do plant in the right place. Every plant has a certain place they like --that's why they have roots, not legs. 

Do pick flowers regularly. They will produce more and that way you don't have to 'deadhead'.

Do compost and mulch.

Don't dig too deep, unless you want to unearth some skeletons. Build up the soil instead.

Don't use chemicals. If you are into spraying you are better off being a graffiti artist. 

Do plant and sow after the new moon.

Do cultivate  and weed, prune and harvest on the waning moon.

Do plant as many different kinds of plants as you can. For biodiversity. 

Do join a garden club. One word...RAFFLES.