Since coming back from Broken Hill I have had a month totally immersed in the garden. It has been perfect growing weather. In the 30 days this month there has been 12 days scattered through the month with beautiful, refreshing rain to a total of 143mm. The plants have thrived. The pots are increasing at an alarming rate and the garden is a riot of colour.
Come for a walk round with me… Notice that the pots are appearing everywhere again. But at the far end of this gravel path I have an area around the pond that is perfect for pots. Come and look….Careful not to step on the Alyssum, I love how it has self-sown, randomly, and is thriving in difficult conditions.
No room to sit on this bench it is taken up with silverbeet, bok-choy and cress. Can you see what is creeping across the pond? Yes, pumpkins. These are a couple of feral ones that came up from the compost I spread in this area when we redid it. Jack loves pumpkin plants and insisted they be allowed to roam and do their own thing. Remember last year? (see here) We pampered the pumpkins and they were a disaster… Next to the pumpkin are 2 tomatoe plants, again they have just self seeded from the compost. So I have staked them and we will see what they produce.
At the other end of the back garden, in front of “Bali Corner” another 2 tomatoes appeared in my geranium bed. So we made a trellis of canes for them to grow up and they have done so well… But, oh dear, look what I found yesterday morning on my inspection walk around…I think the birds have found them and before they are even ripe.So this is the solution, that should keep them away. Bit tricky for me to pick the ripe tomatoes though.
In the “Bali Corner” behind the tomatoes, the Hoya plant is spreading its joy every where.
Here are a few more views of the back garden before I take you round to the front garden…
A year a go Jack bought Desert Rose seeds on Ebay and he lovingly nurtured them along. I recorded their progress here and as they popped up here.. Well look at them now, one year later… (He is so enamoured with them that he has just recently bought another batch. This time they are specialist double and triple flowered varieties… Watch this space…)This is his other success story, the Buddha Belly. Maybe you would like to have a sit down for a rest in the pond corner, I’ll bring you a cuppa, before going to look at the front garden…I’m really happy with the front garden. We made major changes. (see here) Jack chopped down the palms that had previously created a shady garden and changed it to an area filled with light. So a drastic revamp was needed. Ferns, shade plants and many of the bromeliads were relocated or given away and I started a programme of planting more native shrubs and filling the gaps with annuals and perennials.
So follow me for a look around…
Notice in the right hand photo the latest project? Yes now the palms have gone I am starting another vegetable garden…
The nasturtiums are still rampaging all over the front border.
Remember the paper daisies? Well they are just starting to go to seed and seem to have topped out at about 7 foot tall. Here is Jack next to them for comparison.
It has been a very busy month and the weather has been perfect for working in the garden. But it is starting to warm up. The temperature climbed into the 30’s yesterday and the forecast is for more hot days to come. Summer is almost here.
Time to sit down again. Maybe you would like a glass of wine this time, I’m going to have one, it is just 5pm as I finish this post. I hope you have enjoyed looking around the October garden. I think next month will be quite different as summer sets in
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Su Leslie of “Zimmerbitch” is hosting a monthly challenge “changing seasons” were she invites you to share the changing seasons in your part of the world, or something that means October. Pop over to see the rules of this monthly challenge.
Lovely meander around your garden. All so lush. Also good to see Jack’s successes.
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It has been one of the best growing springs for a long time Tish and I’m relishing it
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Your garden is an oasis, Pauline. I will be interested to know whether that net stops your tomato thieves. I find when they are eaten like that the culprits are more likely to be possums, rodents or fruit bats. Good luck. I’m envious of your tomato crop. Our plants haven’t gone into the ground yet.
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I hope the net stops whatever is eating them. Don’t think it will be possums, but could be fruit bats. I can only grow tomatoes this time of the year. Once the humidity ramps up all the bugs and diseases arrive.
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A garden is a joy especially when shared with you.
Your post spreads that enjoyment far and wide with your friendly worded tour.
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Thanks Jack, a garden shared is a garden loved…
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Wow! Such hard work and dedication….you are amazing!
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Thanks Sue, I have to say it is a labor of love
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Just as well!
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Oh, you two…are just as lush and lovely as your garden! I am very grateful to have been taken around…and I also enjoyed the drinks and the quiet places to sit down for a while. Your updates are much appreciated!
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What a lovely comment Leya, so pleased you enjoyed your look around. I loved your virtual visit
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A very colourful walk around you garden Pauline, and you’re so lucky with the rain! Such big tomatoes already! I hope the nets keep your mystery tomato chewers out.
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No rain forecast for the next week and temperatures into the 30’s. Tomatoes all ok when I peeped under the net this morning
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You and Jack have created a paradise indeed I love these walks around, enjoying your hard work and creativity.
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Thanks Su. It does rather stand out down the street as no one else is into gardening, and most have high walls
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I do think it’s sad when people hide themselves away behind high walls.
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High walls one of my pet dislikes
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[…] Pauline at Living in Paradise […]
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Oh, blimey Pauline, I oohed and aahed my way around your garden, every photo is a riot of lushness and colour. It seems as though anything will grow in your little oasis. Thank you kindly for the sit downs and offers of drinks. I think I shall join you now in that glass of wine, already getting dark here (5:15 pm) and rained all afternoon. I did get to walk around a garden this morning though, but had to use the phone for photos as my camera SD card was faulty 😦
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Lovely to have your virtual company Jude. October and November are the best months in my garden, but it will soon be hot and dry, then it is hard work. I may then regret putting in water hungry annuals and perennials. Oh well I can always change back to broms….
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I grew some annuals this year and they did well (from seedlings not seed – I don’t have much luck with seed), but I prefer perennials and shrubs. Less work!
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I prefer seedlings, seeds are unreliable and take so long. Jack likes growing seeds and he gets better results than me.
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Isn’t it amazing the difference good rainfall makes. Your garden is looking very lush. At our place it’s the lizards who eat everything. Cheeky things! 😀
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It has been a great season for growth. Makes gardening a pleasure
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Oh, I remember the pumpkins. It is Halloween night right now, so supermarkets will be tossing their pumpkins in the morning. If I could, I would be canning a year’s supply.
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I’m not a fan of Halloween it is not so big over here
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Even if Halloween were celebrated there (ick!), there would be no pumpkins in spring.
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Oh yes, plenty of whole pumpkins being marketed for Halloween carving. As you say, rather a waste.
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Are pumpkins imported? Are they expensive?
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They grow here further south and are available all year and are quite reasonable price. I love making pumpkin soup with them
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How odd that you would be able to get them in spring. They must be grown in greenhouses. For us, they are strictly an autumn vegetable (fruit).
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I think they grow all year round in parts of Australia, or maybe they are stored
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Oh, of course. Northern Australia is within the tropics, where there is not such distinction between seasons.
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Pauline, I am tired just thinking about the work behind your glorious garden! But I see the love you pour into it too. It’s amazing
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It is a labour of love Tina
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Your garden seems really big and so lush, you must both work really hard to keep it looking so wonderful.
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It is not too big Gilly, just an average size suburban garden, but with lots in it
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