One more cup of coffee
The green green grass of home
Amazing what a little bit of rain can do! Two weeks ago it was still all dead and brown – now the grass is all of a sudden green and growing! My philosophy lately is only to mow the patches with the most grass and only when I need clippings for the compost heap. But some people had other ideas!
“I mowed all this!”
Compost
Compost must be one of my most published topics! So a last turn of all the heaps with layers of grass clippings, kitchen waste and coffee grinds from The Little Teapot now mixed in between the already well-progressing compost.
Obstacles
Sometimes obstacles are fun, especially if can create them! Obstacle course from the house via “the hill” via the climbing frame to the fire pit for Micaela’s marshmallow roast and sleep-over pre-birthday party.
Paths phase 3
Got some nice “loot” for the edging from the same place our “tree spotter” lady sent us to – especially happy about the loooong one on the surf racks.
Making our own pegs from off-cuts we get from a charity in Geelong. Twenty pegs probably cost us the same as buying one from the green shed…
With a little help from my friends…
… got the paths’ third phase prep and planting done!
I remember as it started drizzling very late in the afternoon I was frantically sowing and raking in the fescue and clover seeds. Just before dusk finally settled, the sun momentarily broke through on the horizon and threw one last shot of welcome light on the newly planted paths. See the photo at the top of the post.
Amazing – since sowing the paths late on Friday, we’ve been blessed with good rain every night! They may want some more heat to germinate – it’s been freezing by our standards, 12C – 13C max the last few days – but there’s no lack of water at the moment. During Saturday night we had 20mm rain!
Who you gonna call?
As part of the frantic rush, trying to get as much frost-sensitive plants covered. Tagasaste – all but one done (post to follow), many of the young bush tuckers – done, and now many of the citrus still struggling to recover from last year’s frost – done.
I really should get a better camera… This was such a dramatic afternoon – thick black clouds with hard wind and rain squalls – with the number of ghosts dotting the landscape slowly increasing. Unfortunately the phone camera took that pitch dark edge off the clouds, no matter what setting I tried.
It’s a bit ironic, protecting the weak citruses, while leaving the bigger stronger fruit bearing ones to their own devices, don’t you think? At this stage of the rush, it is a bit of a it is what it is thing…
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One more cup of coffee for the road
One more cup of coffee ‘fore I go
To the valley below…
You did so well to achieve all of that!!! The flu sucks! Hope you’re feeling better soon.
Your garden and path looks amazing. And those pegs are fantastic! I’ll have to look and see if anywhere local offers anything similar. We’re always at the greenshed looking for materials.
Enjoy your break!!
Thank you! Worst of the flu is over, thank goodness, but the last rush jobs in the cold rain didn’t really help, but at least it didn’t get worse. It must be freeeeezing out your way now! Ah yes, the green shed… I remember when we arrived in Australia many, many moons ago, I was so impressed because “they had everything!” I have since learnt a bit 🙂 but we still end up there way too frequently.
It is necessary to protect the citrus? I am not familiar with your climate, but would not have expected that sort of frost. Of course, some citrus are more sensitive than others, and of course, they become more resilient as they mature. Mexican lime is sensitive to frost even here, but people still insist on growing it.
Hi Tony, we are also stubbornly trying to grow a few things we shouldn’t… 🙂 We had quite bad frost damage last winter, say about 20 days of frost over the winter, the worst days dropping to about -4C (24F) with dead-white everywhere so I’m now just trying to give the worst-hit citrusses a chance to recover – mostly limes, but the odd lemon lemonade and lane’s orange too. One day when they’re big they’ll have to fend for themselves.
Yes, the limes ae the most sensitive, although ‘Bearss’ lime is a bit tougher, almost like a lemon. What is ‘lemonade’? ‘Lane’ is one that we grew, although not one of my favorites. It was popular among those who wanted to extend the orange season. I think it did better established (or while getting established) in landscapes than on the farm.
Hi Tony – from a nursery brochure: The “Lemonade” lemon tree (citrus limon x reticulata) is a cross between a lemon tree and a mandarin tree that was developed in Australia. The fruit of the tree is sweet like mandarins, but with a lemon-y tang. It can be eaten straight from the tree. “Lemonade” trees have similar growing requirements as other citrus trees, and grow in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 8 through 10. Plant the trees in full sun and in an area with good drainage.
Yes we got the Lane to extend the season. It’s called Lane’s Late in these parts. But of course with our frosts usually running quite late, we’ll have to see about the sensibility of that decision! It’s only one tree 🙂
I love your curved path. Such a satisfying sweep!
I like your Bob Dylan reference. New to your blog, so needing time to hook on to what you’re doing. Lucky you getting some rain. Here in the Tablelands of NSW, we’re desperate for a bit of moisture, and of course it’s been very cold overnight…-4.5 last night. Would like to follow and see what you are doing.
Welcome Jane… ha ha I throw the odd old rock, jazz or reggae reference in – often what I hear on my playlist when I’m out there working. Hope you get rain! Wow -4.5C is cold – you must get heavy frost.
Yes, it was a big one this morning.