The Long Weekend ...

I often wonder how many people know what the *LABOUR Day Weekend is all about. Nowadays for most, it is the opportunity to have a day off and in Melbourne, Celebrate MOOMBA - Australia's largest Free Community Festival.

For others (Like us) it is a time to get some serious work done in the Garden - before the beautiful Autumn Days turn to Winter.

So - it all started last Monday when the Neighbour over the back fence came in and advised us that she had changed her mind about removing the enormous (Planted by Bird) Prunus Tree, whose branches were arching menacingly over half of our back lawn.
And it was to be Pruned instead.

On Wednesday, I amused myself by watching the massive branches come crashing down onto the lawn and taking over our small backyard.

That was until the Tree bit the Arborist, and he let out some choice Australian-isms that sent me inside so he could swear at it in peace.

The problem with pruning one of these things is - they don't STAY pruned.

Each cut will result in it sending out "Sticky-Outie-Itty Bits" - a fact we already knew BEFORE the Arborist added it to his tirade.
(Which was directed at the tree.)

Saturday was spent up our Japanese Maples (also on the Fence-line) removing bits of Prunus that had been caught in the branches and also meters of the Neighbours long forgotten and neglected Grapevine, that had wound it's way over the fence and onto the roof of our Bungalow.

We also took the opportunity to remove one of our own small Trees. 

A Grevillea that really wasn't doing anything for the backyard other than get in the way of the more productive nectar rich and Bird friendly Grevillea "Molly".

Once the straggler was out of the way we needed to prune 'Molly' to take some weight of one side of the plant, and then try and encourage her to move back into an upright position and "Own the Space" she is growing in.

It is times like this that I am glad we have our own small garden shredder.

Branches and leaves over the whole weekend were munched up and turned into Mulch to go back into the garden.

This little fellow is a New Holland Honey-eater who is a regular visitor that comes in to feast on the Nectar from 'Molly'.

At least our pruning didn't frighten him away.

From the Backyard to the Front - there is still maintenance to be done.
The front side fence was giving every indication that is was being pushed over by the Diosma (which it wasn't), but in order to be able to fix the fence - the out of control plant had to go.

It is odd how we debate whether it is the right thing to do - but once done we rarely regret taking a plant out.

We now have a clear run at the fence repairs - that is once Maggie here, finished her inspection.

It was time to take a break and have a well earned Cuppa - 

While we were gone the Wildlife decided it was also a good time to check out what we were doing. 

Of all Three in this photo it was the Praying Mantis that was the most feisty!

The fence is fixed and just in time - The Twin 6 yr old Girls next door discovered while we were working on it, that it was "nice and wobbly and a great place to play".
(I am not sorry to spoil their fun.)

The rest of the under plantings from years past were pulled out and mulched giving our beautiful 40 yr old Crepe Myrtle room to breathe.

DH did a wonderful job - a weekend well spent!
(I was only well enough to take some photos and watch).

We now have ALMOST a blank canvas to work up a new Bird, Bee and Butterfly friendly garden.


Well - I have to give DH something to do, as he is threatening to retire at the end of this year!

* * * * *

*Labour Day is an annual public holiday that celebrates the eight-hour working day, a victory for workers in the mid-late 19th century. The argument for the eight-hour day was based on the need for each person to have eight hours labour, eight hours recreation and eight hours rest.

 On 21 April 1856, in Melbourne, the stonemason’s workers staged a well-organised protest.

They downed tools and walked to Parliament House with other members of the building trade. Their fight was for an eight-hour day, effectively a 48-hour week to replace the 60-hour week. The government agreed to an eight-hour day for workers employed on public works, with no loss of pay.

The win was a world first!