Dutch Oven Garden

At the Garden Day I went to recently, I bought this succulent.

At last, something to plant in my old cast iron dutch oven.

A few months ago I left the pot burning too long in one spot, and the enamel cracked.

So I bought a new one the next time they were on sale at Aldi.
I couldn't bring myself to just throw it out and have been waiting to find some plants for it.

So this was a nice quick project after a day of garden inspiration.

I'm not sure if this is really going to grow, I have my suspicions about that plant stall,

but it's looking good, especially with some added colour from some mosaic tiles I found in the shed.

(which were long ago planned for another project).

Garden Inspiration

On Friday I went to a local Garden Day, and toured 8 gardens. Lately I've been looking out for inspiration wherever I go, thinking of our garden and what to plant where. The gardens on this tour were not particularly spectacular, but I did like the hedges of this one, so neat and classic.

Some of the best inspiration came from peeking through gates at gardens 

or parts of gardens NOT on show:

This suburb certainly is a lovely part of the world.

I went with my parents and aunt, and we also enjoyed the side entertainment - the microcars and cabin scooters (too cute) ...

the pipe and drum band playing Scottish tunes (and Waltzing Matilda),

and stalls full of beautiful things that we managed to resist. Although I did buy a few plants.

All in all, an enjoyable day out, despite some rain and a necessary dash into the lunch tent at one point.

On the way home I stopped at the op shop and bought some more garden design books,

I have quite the collection now, to read during afternoon teas.  Some of them are about 20 years old now, but I find I'm liking those styles better than some of the modern garden designs, (which seem to be all native grasses and outdoor kitchens and water features). I'm looking forward to planting out one corner of our front garden, where we've dug out about a million fishbone ferns*. It will take a few weeks to get it completely cleared and a stump ground out, so I've got some time to dream and plan and mark out before I head to the nursery.

*While at the Garden Day I discovered a stall telling me that actually quite a few plants well-known to our garden are noxious or environmental weeds, including these ferns. Hmm, more work to do.

Garden photos taken on my phone, some are also Instagram pics.

The Pre-Spring Rush

In August, I find myself busy again.

It's a shock after the quietness of a few months ago.

Life is full.

I've had a few days of casual teaching,

and a few days definitely booked in coming weeks.

While I really enjoy the teaching, it always means

a day lost at home, and the rest of the week becomes a bit more rushed.

Laura and I continue to see our chiropractor and nutritionist,

so there are appointments to attend and new lessons to learn

with food.  Coconut has proved to be a problem for me,

so now my diet consists of just meat, vegetables (not all)

fruit (limited) and nuts.  

However, I think I see improvements in my health,

so it's worth continuing on this path.

Laura is still missing a lot of school, there are no

overnight successes to report for her, but perhaps in time

there will be some positive change.

August means music exam preparation.

I have two students doing 8th Grade Piano,

and Laura doing 3rd Grade Piano in about 10 days, 

and I'm accompanying Emily's 7th Grade Saxophone 

exam in mid-September.

The piano parts for her pieces are ridiculously difficult, 

and I'm trying to fit in a decent practice most days.

So stress levels are high, and I can't wait until the exams are over.

Emily has school exams coming up, also, and is working on some

full-sized butterfly wings made of chiffon, for an art project.

Steve practises violin at nights for various chamber groups he's involved with.

There's always something going on with a deadline around here.

I've also been trying to declutter and tidy our study, the busiest room of the house,

where I teach, we practice, compute and Steve watches movies.

A more pleasant rush has been filling parts the garden with new plants.

After our big planting a few weeks ago I've picked up more plants

from the markets, and am loving the spots of colour in the front garden.

In the back garden I'm building up a herb garden and planting some lavender soon.

Steve dug out metres of fish-bone fern on the weekend so soon we will have a 

big corner of the front garden to fill with something more attractive.

It's lovely to escape outside for a few minutes here and there to check on the progress of each plant,

and water them, and dream up plantings for other parts of the garden. Each day there's something a little different to see, each plant a little bigger, flowers blooming.

Spring is on its way.

In the Garden

In the last few weeks we've been making some progress in the front garden.

After too many months of a bed full of weeds and bulbs,

the front garden bed along the path

is now almost all dug up, garden mix and compost have been added,

and we've been planting.

Today I went for a wander in the sunshine at the local nursery 

and came home with some seedlings and a birdbath. 

After trying a few spots I set it up and I've planted pansies around it, 

hoping they will grow up and flower soon.

Eventually the birdbath will be nestled among shrubs (if they all grow up).

Until then, it will have to look a bit twee standing tall by itself.

(Also, I'm hoping the lovely green glaze on it is not so shiny that the birds avoid it.

I haven't spotted a single bird near it yet, and meanwhile the birdbath in the backyard 

emptied very quickly today with birds splashing about in it. Hmmm )

Here you can see the two halves of the garden we have dug up and replanted,

the first half was done a few weeks ago and the half closer to the house

is what Steve dug up on the weekend.

It doesn't look like much yet, but we've planted a variety of shrubs and small flowering plants,

hopefully it will be full and green very soon, a cottage garden bed.

This part of the garden gets dappled sunshine, there are very tall trees overhead.

We've relaid stones for a path and I found a sweet groundcover which

should fill the gaps nicely in time, and flower with tiny white star-shaped flowers in summer.

It's so good to get into the garden again,

planning, digging, planting, watering, then checking how they are growing.
(Steve likes to talk to the plants, too.)

Those moments outside are the highlights of my days these last few weeks.

What's happening in your garden?

Cold, colds, and moments of warmth

Things have been slow around here. And cold.

Which is how winter holidays should be, I think.

Last week at the markets I picked up some pansies

and potted them, some in the front and some in the backyard.

Almost every night there have been beautiful sunsets.

I am so appreciating being free at 5.00pm to see each one.

We bought Emily some demi-pointe shoes, ready for next term.

Inspired by the pansies, Steve and I spent

much of a childfree Saturday digging out a front garden bed

(well, half a garden bed), and had fun choosing and planting new plants.

  

After that we felt we had earned dinner out,

burgers at a new (but old-feeling) bar a few suburbs away.

We were fortunate to have another couple of childfree nights,

while the girls stayed with my parents.

On Monday Steve headed back to work and I made the most of some

teenager-free shopping time and bought some clothes for myself.

I wore a cute skirt I was happy to find at Kmart

and this is one of my new outfits, made up of mix & match pieces.

I spent a lot of money, but they were all on special, so I saved hundreds of dollars ;-)

I may have gotten a little carried away photographing all my mix & match options...

... just an effort to remember all the possibilities later.

(No, this is not turning into one of those blogs)

On Tuesday the girls came home, and we visited a new chiropractor,

(as a result of which, Laura is now off gluten, dairy & sugar,

which means even more dietary gymnastics in my kitchen)

On Wednesday the cold which has been lurking for some time

hit me & Steve with its full force, and since then life has been somewhat miserable.

However I think we are all past the worst now, and just need to be patient

as we slowly improve. The girls had the colds first and seem much better now.

Emily has been working hard on school assessment tasks.

and loving some attention now and then. 

Laura has been iceskating this morning, and I've been trying to play 

the ridiculously difficult piano accompaniments for Emily's saxophone exam.
Steve is out happily playing the Trout Quintet with some musical friends.

Meanwhile, the ironing piles up and mostly I just sit on the sofa by the window,

not looking at the piles, but reading, searching for sugarfree recipes,

visiting blogs ... thankful for the winter sun and my spot by the heater.

First Harvest

There's nothing so good as one's first harvest.

Dwarf beans, sown in January 

and enjoyed by Emily with her dinner tonight.

How time does fly.

Pink

A rare bright spot in my garden,

something to cheer an otherwise dark day.

Saturday goodness

Can you see the bubble above our house?

I think it was the bubbles that saved our day.

After some good (and bad) times with their friends yesterday,

it was time for my girls 

to remember that they have each other.

Playing bubbles got them talking and loving again.

Silly nutkins.

While they were bubbling and chatting away, 

I was thrilled to discover two hydrangea blooms.

It has not been a good year for  hydrangeas and us.

But perhaps we will have a late summer show after all.

Besides offering helpful 'friends advice',

Emily also helped Laura adjust her Ikea pillowcases

to the regular pillowslip size;

and while the sewing machine was out 

I whipped up a tablecloth for the verandah.

(Since I had a clear dining table)

Inspired by my rare sewing activity,

I did some rare gardening activity near the back door,

where native violets were taking over,

and can now step outdoors with a full washing basket 

without fear of slipping on wet leaves.

I even researched and booked a holiday for April.

So today was a pretty good Saturday, I reckon,

just being at home, relaxing, 

and doing small but satisfying jobs.

Next up, a hamburger & chips TV dinner 

with a girly movie,

not too late, because I'm determined

to get to church band practice on time for once.

What have you been doing on your Saturday?