29 Aug 2013

garden share collective: september

Just enjoying the views in my garden... 
Dad and I have been very busy...
I wish!

I'm on my lunchbreak and I have driven across the bridge to visit the Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens (it takes less than ten minutes to get here). Coming over here mid-week is wonderful, because I have the place almost to myself; just me, the gardeners, and a mere handful of frost-hardy tourists braving the cold. Oh, and the birds; all the warbling birds. I'm writing this near the main water pond (above), and the solitude is enhanced by the different bird calls and the wind groaning through the towering conifers around the garden's boundary. I can identify (if I can't see) ducks, blackbirds, blue wrens, new holland honey eaters, and little red-faced parrots.

All the camellias are in their full winter glory: fat, decadent blossoms; stark white and pale fairy pink and deep sultry red; and splattered varigated pink ones in between. When I visit the gardens and see these camellias, I try to pick a replacement for the old one near my front door, but I am defeated by the beauty of each different flower. Choice is impossible.


It is reassuring to see that, apart from the camellias and the equally vibrant rhododendrens, there is not much else happening in the gardens. I get a little depressed when I see my ornamental garden in the winter (and it is still winter here in Hobart), bare and hunkered down against the cold; so to see the gardens here equally dormant - well, it happens to the best of us!

So while it is still cold, the last couple of weeks of August have been promising - if only because my early morning walk is no longer a dark one! I can see the first glimmers of light on the horizon as I head home to get ready for work. The sunlight at the other end of the day is invigorating, too. It is, as I said, still cold - there has been frost and snow-on-the-mountain and rain (the tanks are still full!) - and spring doesn't really start here until October or more likely November. But the lighter days are truly inspiring.

So I've been buying seeds:

And sowing some, too: sweet peas for flowers to hide an ugly fence; marigolds to edge the garden for colour and companion planting; and broad beans, my first time ever. This way I'll be able to eat them small and tender like a little green pea, not tough and large and greyish as my dad prefers them. I have sown them around a central stake; the lady at the garden centre told me an old Greek gentleman told her this was the best way to do it, so you could then wrap string around and around to gather them up. Who are we to argue with old Greek gentlemen?

I've also been reading lots of library books, and by reading, I mean looking at the pretty pictures and noting down names. I received a Diggers Club annual recently, so this has also created a lot of desire too. I've decided to introduce more flowering plants around the vegie patch that will attract good insects, such as the tagetes, california poppies, yarrow, bergamot, coneflowers. They are on the list, anyway. If I only get additional colour in the yard, that would be lovely.

To do this coming month:
  • Put my pea and bean trellises in place so I can sow these. I love growing (and eating) peas and beans. Dad has had peas in for months!
  • Fill some grow bags and plant beetroot. Like the garlic, I'm trying my subterranean things in bags, to prevent rot and enable them to grow unimpeded by any obstacles in the soil.
  • Plant the rosemary sprigs (taken last month) that have sprouted little roots.
  • Have bought the passionfruit vine! Panama Red, apparently good for Tasmania's cooler/frostier conditions. Just need to plant it now, with some frost protection.
  • Keep waiting patiently for the warmer weather.
Don't forget to see others in the Garden Share Collective. Click on the logo in the column at the right to find more green thumbs.

One last view of my dream garden...


20 comments:

  1. Gosh you have been working hard in your garden! I especially like the ornamental lake!
    It's so exciting planning the spring garden. I always plan to plant more than could ever fit in my available garden space!

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    1. Ha, that lake is quite an acheivement, isnt it, Jo ;-)

      and i agree with you: When I'm mowing and working and watering the garden, i think my garden is quite enough for me; yet when i'm planning what to put in it, i realise i don't have much space in the beds at all. If only we could have something the size of the botanic gardens (with help, of course).

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  2. Oh the botanical gardens sound like a lovely place to be doing some writing and enjoying a break from work. I love Camellias too, my Nan had a long row of them down the side of her house and so I have fond memories of them being the first flowers I really liked.

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    1. What a wonderful image of your nan's row of camellias, louie. they are a most glamourous flower. i wanted to scoop up all the fallen ones from the gardens and brign them back with me for float bowls!

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  3. I was thinking the same thing today as I went out to my pilates class and it wasn't dark yet. Nice days are coming soon! Lovely garden you choose. I used to go to the Arboretum in Washington DC a lot, and it reminded me of it.

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    1. lighter days do make such a difference, don't they paula - i'm happy we are beginning to leave winter behind.
      and good public gardens are such a wonderful part of any city.

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  4. Lovely pics. I do love Spring and an ornamental lake. :)

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    1. thank you SB! i may have to retract my words - i think spring has arrived today! maybe even summer...

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  5. Good luck with your garden! Planning it is so much fun when you are doing research. An ornamental garden would be lovely in attracting more beneficial insects to it.

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    1. Hi melissa - and thank you! I made the decision a few years ago to make my back yard mostly vegies and herbs - but i need some flowers for me as well as the bees, i think.

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  6. Lovely :) I would love to plant some bergamot also. Such a gorgeous smell. Happy planning and planting.

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    1. i didn't know bergamot had a smell! actually i donlt know much about it all... but i definitely want to get some now. you too!

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  7. Waiting for summer is hard isnt it when you are raring to get stuck in. We had a promise of spring but the last 4 days we are back to winter. Happy planting and buying of seeds.

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    1. hi sharon! we are actually having a mini heatwave at the moment - since i posted this - and it is too bad i have to go to work during the day and can't stay at home and garden!

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  8. We can all dream... That's a really great idea for those wanting to grow root veggies in sacks so they don't have to fight the soil. Like in my case heavy clay soil which produces baby beets only. Look forward to seeing your broad beans, we will be planting them in February here in Qld, right now its all focus on summer veggies.

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    1. hi lizzie. we've had a warm couple of days since i posted this - so last night i was pleased to see the broad beans have punched there way through soil! very exciting.
      i think i read about the grow bags in one of the little vegie patch co's books. it's working for the garlic so far, so i have high hopes for the beetroot. it makes practical sense, doesn't it?

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  9. Those Camellias are beautiful, how lucky you are to live so close to such a lovely botanical garden! very exciting all of your spring plans, we are on the verge of putting the garden to bed in the UK, so nice to be reminded of the promise of springtime!

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    1. hello alex. those camellias are stunning to behold - and not just in the botanic gardens, i've seen some wonderful ones in my daily travels. a beautiful time of the year!

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  10. Sounds like you have a busy few weeks ahead in the garden, and lots to look forward to - enjoy the longer days and the spring weather when it comes!

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    1. thank you gardendeli! i'm getting motivated for the busy weeks and months ahead.

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