What a change a year can make. Having kept the regular “changing seasons” post for 3 years now it is interesting to look back over the years. 2020 2019 2018
At the beginning of the month the 2 houses across the road went to auction and crowds turned up to watch and a small mobile coffee wagon parked nearby.
This is looking across at the 2 houses from our garden.
Surprisingly they only had 2 bidders and they were both passed in at $1.8 million. The square one has since sold at $2+ million the other is still waiting for an owner…
Another outing was to Brisbane to see the “old Masters” exhibition at the art gallery
We felt quite brave as, with masks on and having had our first Pfizer injection, we traveled by train to Brisbane for the first time in over 2 years. It was reassuring to see everyone, young and old, wearing masks.
Brisbane skyline was bristling with cranes and we joined the crowds heading for “GOMA”
The art was stunning and we slowly made our way round entranced by the beauty and diversity of the masterpieces.
In one gallery live music was playing and a central table had a number of still life settings for the public to copy. A number of school groups were sketching, but Jack preferred to sketch the sketchers.
So how does the garden grow…
Well after a good start with 25mm of rain on the first day it was then nothing till last night, the last day of September and the storm clouds gathered. Thunder and lightening, lashing winds and rain. We only had the tail end of the system, it was mainly focused further north, but the 11 mm was a good start as more is forecast. I can now put the hoses and sprinklers away for a while.
The hero of the garden this month is the Silky Oak (Robusta Grevillea)
The birds love it. The Rainbow Lorikeets arrive each evening, squawking and fighting over the flower heads and the Little Correllas turn up every year for this special treat.
This is the corner the palms were cut down last month. I have covered the stumps with Bromeliads and this corner is now so colourful
The Wednesday art group I go to came here during the month to spend a morning “plein aire” painting and drawing. It was good fun, they all brought plates for morning tea, so we spent more time just looking, chatting and having a cuppa and cake. The main idea was to collect sketches and photos to continue with the following week.
Come for a look around and see what is flowering this month.
I only have a few herbs, spinach and silver beet growing this year. In contrast to last year.
Once more I have decided to empty out all the pots. They have had a real tendency to accumulate. This time I will NOT be potting things up again. The results have finally come in from the tests I had last month and I have developed Osteoporosis in my spine I must now be very careful about lifting. Oh well fortunately the garden is now well on its way to being mainly shrubs and perennials.
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This month it is Brian’s turn to host the monthly roundup of “Changing seasons” from around the world. Pop over to catch up with all the other bloggers.
A beautiful garden you have and because it has been loved and taken care of it will still give you much pleasure in the years to come and if you are careful you can still do some tending without too much difficulty. I, too, have arthritis issues but am careful and have even taken to wearing a support belt (much like the ones I used to wear when I worked) to help my lower back and it helps me a lot. Thank you for sharing and I am glad you are doing well.
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Thank you for your kind thoughts Renee. Yes I can still potter around, carefully, and also do lots of sitting and looking.
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Thank you once more for a superb post.
You manage to include every thing so concisely, so beautifully and enjoyable.
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Yes we do manage to potter on don’t we…
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I am sorry to read about your osteoporosis. I know you can find different ways to enjoy the garden, but such matters are unpleasant nonetheless.
I am also sorry that I no longer keep up with your blog. I just do not get to what I got to not too long ago.
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Thank you for your kind words Tony. I do not visit many blogs these days and only do the one post a month now. But I still find plenty of time to just sit in the garden and watch the changing seasons. Hope you are keeping well and safe from the virus.
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So wonderful to find your beautiful post in my WP Reader! Wow WP. I’m speechless. Your photos are lovely, as is your garden. Give my best to Jack.
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Pleased you found me Cindy. I’m not around much in the blogging community at the moment. Jack says G’day.
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Blessed rain and your grevillea! I love it, Pauline. Not so great about the osteoporosis. Are there gentle exercises to strengthen the spine? A couple of friends are affected and an exercise routine seems to be a help with keeping mobility. I was watching excerpts from the Chelsea flower show last night and your garden could give them a run for their money, hon. Take good care of yourself, and love to Jack!
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Thanks for comment Jo. Yes I’m doing excercises with an excercise physiologists and it does help. Huge thunder storm just starting over here. It is summer storm time starting. Quite scary.
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🤗💕
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We went to the Art Gallery too in June and loved the exhibition. So many glorious paintings.
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Loved the atmosphere there too with the background music and people drawing and sketching.
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The garden is magnificent, Pauline. I am sure your art group will have photos aplenty to keep them occupied for at least six months.
I am so relieved you and Jack have got your first jabs. Not such good news about the osteo though. Take care, Pauline.
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I was so pleased when they said us oldies could have the Pfizer. Gives some peace of mind. Bit of a worry to see your lot had an increase in covid today. Stay safe and stay positive my friend
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Yes, I had a few friends holding off. Be good, Pauline. Maybe skip the NRL parties. 😉
I think it is going to get pretty hairy down here, Pauline. My asthma is the worst it has been for ages. I worry for those people with underlying illnesses who are going to be exposed over the next few months. I would rather have my booster sooner than later.
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Sadly, or maybe otherwise🤪we are well and truly past the party stage of our lives. But I fear the party goers may spread the virus. Sorry to hear your asthma is getting worse.
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Fingers crossed, Pauline, that Queensland’s luck holds out a bit longer.
The asthma is seasonal. The thunderstorms don’t help.
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Looks as though our luck is holding.🤞😷
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❤
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Lovely to see your garden again, and glad you have both had the vaccine. As for the osteoporosis- not great But good to hear you are doing exercise with physios. Take care, and all the best to you both
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Hope all is well over there Sue. I’m sure the exercises are helping. Feeling much better.
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Life goes on, Pauline…. Pleased you are feeling better
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🤗🌻🌺
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I love your garden Pauline. That space where the palms were is looking so good. Having osteoporosis is not good for a gardener so I hope you have help when needed. Thanks for joining in 🙂 🙂
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Had an enterprising handyman person left a small home made leaflet in the mailbox this week. How appropriate. We plan to ring him. I guess we do need help now.🙄
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I know you are not doing any challenges now, but your silky oak and the last gorgeous sunset are perfect for my September month of golden. I’m glad you have had a vaccine, we are waiting for our booster shots now! And good news that Australia is opening its borders, though only to Australian citizens so I am going to have a long wait before I can get over there. Glad you have been able to get out and about, but I am sorry to hear about the osteoporosis – getting older really sucks at times. Love to you and Jack and thank you for showing me once again your lovely garden.
Jude xx
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G’day Jude, lovely to catch up with you for a virtual stroll around the garden. Yes the years are starting to catch up with both of us now. We are looking forward to my family getting over for a visit when the borders finally open. How’s your Brisbane family? Had another huge storm last night, passed right over the top of us, quite scary, but definitely need that rain. Love and hugs back to you.💖
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Lovely to see your garden as always. Sorry to hear about the osteoporosis, hope you are still able to enjoy the garden with some low maintenance tweaks. The art exhibition sounds and looks delightful. Glad you made the journey, it can feel exciting and nerve-racking at the same time in these covid days. Take care x
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Thanks for the comment Ruth. We have lots of seats on the garden so I can still potter, slowly, around with lots of breaks just to look. How is your garden?
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Work in progress at the moment. I will post about it at some point 🙂
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Will look forward to it
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[…] at Living in Paradise braves a trip into Brisbane for […]
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What a pleasure to see how your garden has been evolving with the extra sunlight you have given it. It looks amazing! I’m sorry to hear about your back and hope that you will be able to continue gardening in some form. I guess, no matter what, you will be able to soak up the beauty. Love your silky oak.
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Lovely to hear from you Brenda. Yes it is slow and very steady in the garden at the moment, but back is getting better.
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These are lovely! I especially like your final image of the golden sky.
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Thank you, we get lovely sunsets across the lake
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