Back Garden Progress

Today I finished off a watering system for my new gardens and tidied up the area outside the back windows. I thought it was about time I published an update of my back garden (note, I no longer refer to it as my back yard).

My new look paving along the back wall

Along the sunny side fence I have tidied up a bit, had a sick tree removed and made a new tomato and bean garden with concrete blocks and bamboo. I did it here because it is such a sunny position and is very narrow.

The view from the back of the drive.

My first carport is my washing hanging area. I can put washing out in the rain and it can stay out for days if it needs to. The sweet peas are doing well and should be flowering in a month or so.

My second carport is now my garden shed with cupboards from Geoff's old kitchen for storing tools etc in. Of course there are bamboo lattice walls here as well so I can see the roses in their pots on the other side.

From the third carport I can also see the roses and water garden across the lawn. The pots along the edge of this carport  (in the foreground) have grape cuttings in them. The plan is for them to grow up the bamboo lattice and shade the area for sitting and enjoying lunch. Sunny in winter and shady in summer.

The view from the gate to the chook yard looking south back down towards the house.

The view from the gate to the chook yard looking north towards the chooks. Note, the old brick incinerator and copper constructions have now been demolished. This has made the area a much more open space but of course I have planted some Tagasaste trees along in front of the chook cage.

Here you can see the rubbish that used to be stored in front of the incinerator and copper that Kim and I have now removed.

August at Underhill

We had quite a crowd at Underhill last weekend, at least on the Saturday. Elaine came down with me and we stayed over, Geoff came down for the day as did Evelyn and Greg, and Terry and Ellie came on Friday and stayed till Sunday. 

We achieved so much with so many willing workers. Geoff was able to plant his new apple trees, raspberry canes and tayberry cane. We were able to get the cages around them and the watering system altered to water them from the tank off the caravan roof. Everyone also worked hard at gathering stones to put inside the cages as a bit more deterent for weeds and animals.

Everyone helped keep the fire stoked with all the fallen and dead wood from the clearing, preparing a little better for the summer bush fire season.

Terry and Ellie spent most of their time rehanging the front gates. They had become quite precarious after 35 years and now we have two free-swinging gates and some fencing both sides of the gate.  

 

On Sunday morning we investigated the extent of our ground orchid population that Terry and Ellie had seen along the drive. There are thousands this year. Maybe they have always been there and no-one has noticed them. We collected a small patch to see if I can keep them going in Sydney. They are so beautiful in flower. 

 

Thank you to Terry and Ellie, Geoff, Elaine, Ev and Greg for a wonderful weekend and so much help. Even with all the chores we were able to sit by the fire and relax. Terry's broken leg is mending slowly but still restricts his activities a little.

Geoff is enjoying having a car that copes with his needs, especially at Underhill, but it does guzzle fuel.

 Greg photographed this tiny dragon who was enjoying the warm sun.

Mini Olympics for Alex

Yesterday Alex's school held an Olympic Games afternoon. It was great fun and there were so many opportunities for the kids to just enjoy the Olympic ethos. After the opening ceremony that included performances by the teams (each with a designated country), security and volunteers (teachers), even the Queen was there with 007. And of course there was the last leg of the Torch Relay and the lighting of the Olympic Flame. Alex enjoyed the whole day.

Playing Ode to Joy in the recorder group for the opening ceremony.

His arm action in the Potato Shot Put landed him a "1000 m" throw.

He was a very helpful team member in the Royal Relay....

...and ran fabulously when it was his turn.

He made himself a Gold Medal.

Badminton was another sport in his round of games.

There was even an equestrian event - a Steeple Chase.

Then there was a Hoop Train Relay where the hoops were tied to one another sequentially at each end of the relay.

 The kids, staff and spectators all had a ball. I am so glad I had the opportunity to go.