A Little Weeding

It started off with pulling out some dead Fern Fronds from around the Pond Area.

And from there we started asking "How much do we spend on Reviving The Pond?" 

It's under there Somewhere!

The Fern Rhizomes had lifted the Slate capping on the wall.

And it had really got to the point where it was unmanageable as a Pond - with or without Fish.

Eventually, The Fibreglass Pond was also 'Weeded Out" and we came to realise that this was going to be a much bigger project.

This pipe fed Water to the (Long gone) Evaporative Air-conditioning.

When we followed it into the Roof we discovered that it had been capped with - a Hose fitting.

Better to remove it altogether!

While the Boards were accessible, a trip to Bunnings for some Weathershield Paint was next.

We found the Perfect colour amongst the Markdown Mis-tints.

Time to re-arrange things, 

Fill in the Hole with some new Garden Soil

and Repot the Cycad

We raided the Garden for anything we can use/re-locate here 

and bought some new plants - 

I am trying some I have not been able to grow anywhere else (Hoping they will like the New Soil).

The Moss had been happily growing in the spouting, and likes its new position.

And to finish it off, we also installed some Garden Lights.

I think it a Job Well Done! - (View from Inside).

December - Week One

And when you think you have all your Ducks neatly lined up...

Enter "Murphy's Law"

It started with my Mother needing a New Phone and Microwave Oven in the same week and the inevitable "I don't know how to use this modern thing" .

Christmas Decorations were - Once again kept to the Bare Minimum.

Distractions, Sidetracks and the Inaccessibility of the Tree and Decorations meant that This was it!

Oh well - There's always "Next Year"

The Bathroom Project saw the Plaster up 

(We were only replastering the bottom of the walls so I was pleased with the finish on the jointing.) 

And it all had to be Sealed and Painted before the Electrician arrived.

He was't able to do everything on our list so will be returning in the New Year.

And just when we were getting a run on the Reno it was Swap tools to deal with some Storm damage.

Our damage was insignificant compared to Others With only unblocking gutters and the Leucadendron needing an extreme Prune.

And speaking of Damage - Spare a  thought for this young man who was stuck blocking the road with a Broken Wheel Hub.

The local Bus was diverted and there he sat (for Hours) until a specialist Tow Truck arrived.

Distractions dealt with and underfloor Plumbing completed.

Finally we were able to get the flooring back down  so no more draughts!

 

Tree Update:

I left my post of the 15th September hoping that the Council would not come when Our Tree was in Full Bloom and covered with Bees.

They came today - 

The Tree is in Full Blossom but it is Raining and the Bees have more sense than to be out in it.  

So the Girls are safe and So are the workers.

We watched them - They REALLY did know what they were doing.  

Even checking the Bark before starting with the Pole saw.

Each Branch fed into the Wood Chipper to become mulch for a playground - 

Maybe even Ours?

I was curious to know how they were going to handle the trunk so started filming when it too was hauled into the back of the shredder.

When suddenly one of the workers dived in (he was perfectly safe)  and retrieved something from the tree.

He emerged cradling in his hands a small Marbled Gecko - relocating it to Our Garden.

This act of Kindness made my Heart Sing and my Eyes fill with Tears.

The tree that we saw planted and grow.  

That Shaded Cars, and People 

and Creatures Big and Small 

for almost 40 years is now not much more than a timber 'Puddle' in the Grass waiting for the Stump Grinder.

23rd October:

One last Goodbye.

It was the only Yellow Pink Tipped Callistemon in the Street - if not the Neighbourhood. 

Such a Pity that someone 40 years ago planted it in the wrong spot. 

(If that happens again - I will move it!)

Our Poor Tree . . .

When we purchased our House the street was lined with Flowering Prunus Trees that sent Pink "Confetti" everywhere on Hot Spring Days.  Those Trees had been planted almost 40 years before and 4 years later ours just .. fell down.

The council sent us a letter giving a choice of replacement and we chose the "Pink Tipped Callistemon" with its Pink tipped leaves and Yellow Flowers. 

That was 39 years ago.

In the ensuing years I have watched it grow, grumbled about where they planted it, Saw it pruned and have it's roots ripped up by Path replacements.    Once a Large branch got torn off it's side by a careless Skip Bin driver.

The other day I noticed that the bark wasn't looking so healthy and there were bugs underneath - I was concerned and thought about contacting the council but I had a meeting to attend so my call would have to wait.

On the way home, I received a text from DH saying "Don't Park under the Tree".

Apparently, while I was away the Poor thing got hit by a removal Van ripping yet another branch off.

The Council came to remove the branch off the Road and promptly decided that it was too dangerous and Sick to stay.

Their Notice Read 

"White Rot to Main Branches. 

Risk of Further Fail Likely"

We are currently waiting for them to come and take it out and replace with a New one. 

I just hope that...

1. They plant it in a better position this time and

2. They don't come when it is in Full Flower - Because that is when the Bees are there!

Overdue Maintenance

DH has been banned from climbing on the roof, but I made an exception this time on the proviso that he borrows the Neighbours Super Safe Ladder!

Way way back we had windows installed on our front porch - to keep the rain out only they don't.

When it rains heavily, the Water comes in via the Ceiling!

The "simple fix" was to put a new cover over the existing roof with a run off that extends away from the windows.

The "Few Hours" Job took almost a week.  

Has it worked?

Only Time will tell!

AND In the Garden:

Weeds in the Garden are a Given. So is Sweeping and Mowing and Pruning.  

Also Bugs, Beetles & Insects.  It is, after all Their Domain.

The Ants are removing Bedding Sand from the Path - One Grain at a Time.

I swept up Half a Bucket last week.

Two Days later they were at it again.

Part of me admires them

The rest of me wishes they would just STOP.

AND - On My Blog:

It has taken almost a Month to catch up on missing Blog Posts. Our Holiday took a lot of work to record.

Fortunately, I am able to backdate them - so there are new posts scattered throughout last year.  These are mainly for my records.

I am currently printing off a hard copy of all my Posts in case of Computer malfunctions.

And after that? - To go through and remove all the duplicate photos from my Computer...

A much awaited Arrival

The problem with getting Married during a Pandemic was - Not everyone could come and with Our International borders closed it meant that Our D- DILs Mom could not be present at the Wedding.

Which meant … 

There was One Very Important Person missing from the Wedding Photos!

So on a Sunny 4th of July we all dressed up in our Wedding attire.

And got those all Important Mother and Daughter Photos.

Was all the work in the Garden worth it for just a few hours?

To see Her SO happy?
That's a "YES" from me!

The Secret Garden

In Summer when our Japanese Maples are in full leaf, they make a beautiful canopy that you can hide under.   

Now we have little ones - It is time to finally turn it into a Magic Secret Garden.

With the trees bare it's a good time to get in under there and do some SERIOUS weeding.

I have no idea how the Violets arrived, but they are hard to get rid of.
Somewhere under here are my Hellebores.

Time to turn the problem into an asset and just leave it.

(Considering a 6"pot of Common Violets is AU $ 8:99 - I have a small fortune here!)

And I don't have to worry about them getting trampled! 

We pulled out enough to find the Hellebores and create a path. 

The old Step has, once again become a seat.

Now a Secret Garden would not be complete without a Guardian.

THIS is Colin - 

We didn't find him - he found us.

(And I know Colin is an odd name for a Battle hardened Dwarf but --- the sales guy said he looked like his brother....)

Add some Night Ambience 

and Wait for the Canopy to once again hide the Garden from all the "Grownups".

Catching up with The Garden.

I was going to do a post about what we have been up to during May/June but on looking back over previous Blog Posts I came to realise that I haven't done any updates on our last Garden Makeover, which was back in July 2019.

As I left it, The Garden was rather bare and waiting for things to grow....

And Grow they did.

For a while, It all looked quite lovely. But it became rather overgrown. 

The Happy Wanderer happily wandered everywhere and crowded out the Magnolia

And the Standard Grevillea, which would have been a nice Lawn Specimen had we planted it in the Lawn 20 years ago, became a Blob that just got in the way.

They had to go!

And one day we had the excuse to do something about it.

Wedding Photo Shoot!  No, we don't have anymore Children to Marry off - Just a re-run of the last one.  This time with the Mother of the Bride present!

First to go was the Grevillea.  It was of course, rather top heavy and didn't need much convincing to give up its position.  

We transplanted one of our Grass Trees into that spot and immediately the Garden started to open up!

Next to go was the Arbour. 

"If it's not working - Don't keep it"

We decided it had done it's job of protecting the Magnolia while it got established.

And the Happy Wanderer?  

It certainly didn't mind it's massive prune and is happily sitting in it's pot - In flower and thinking about wandering somewhere else!

The Magnolia can now stop hiding in the background and show off her Flowers.

The timber 'Jetty' got a makeover, replacing the old Step with a Red-Gum Railway Sleeper.

It is now much safer - and looks like it has always been there.

A few more plants here and there and some Black mulch to create pathways.  

And the little Red Car - has always been here. A  Family heirloom that once belonged to DH's older Brothers, now has somewhere to permanently call home.

And just one finishing touch - Lighting!

We are absolutely delighted with the results.

Oh what a Beautiful Morning....

I Love Foggy mornings!
There is a promise of a Beautiful Day ahead.

The Playground across the road is now "Open for Business" and will be in peak demand today!

And in the Garden, the usually hidden Spiderwebs are festooned with tiny water droplets.

Autumn truly is a Magical Time.