The garden challenge and progress

Posted on by joansjottingscom

What an amazing privilege to be able to create your own garden. I have spent weeks planning and buying plants, seeds and bulbs just for this purpose. I’m thankful that I have 3 Bunnings stores in the area so I can and  do the rounds of them all. I take advantage of the plants that need TLC. In doing so l have effectively cut the cost of many purchases.

This pretty little pink climbing rose is a surprise. I ordered Blackboy, a deep red highly perfumed rose I remembered from my grandmother’s garden. Never mind, it’s a keeper.
Double Delight – new bare root rose
I’m experimenting with a mixed flower cover crop on this level to build up the soil. So far I can see some seeds have germinated.
Amongst the 7 original 30yr old roses are an additional 15 new season bare rooted roses I ordered during winter. Some sentimental favorites others  more modern types.
I loved my original ring garden, it worked well. The idea is to water through the compost which leeches out to the garden area providing nutrients and moisture to the plants. Beans and snow peas grow up the wire saving space. I’ve been discovering tomatoes, lettuce and pumpkins coming up amongst the plants throughout the yard from the compost I’ve put around them. They are now officially in the veggie garden.

Drift and Knockout roses establishing nicely. Behind them the mustard greens and daikon radish seeds have germinated. They are a cover crop to try to break up and improve the clay soil.

All planted up September/October.

Lynda’s rose
I’m training this vigorous rose +  another climber, a pink Dorothy Perkins to grow vertically. I enlisted Lynda’s help on her recent visit to try to tame this bushy rose.

Front garden where a large native bush had to be removed. The area is now planted with lavender, azalea, gardenia and daisies.

Each day brings new surprises and joy. I’m enjoying watching the garden taking shape. The birds are frequent visitors including one especially curious cockatoo.

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Published by joansjottingscom

Retired in April 2017 after a long career in cardiac nursing which I loved, I find my life has totally changed. After almost loosing my husband last August to a dissecting aortic aneurysm complicated by a massive watershed stroke post cardiothoracic surgery, we are adapting to a very different life together. This is our now story. Update, November 2025. Chris continued to do well until he had a stroke in August 2018. This time after 2 weeks on life support with no sign of improvement he passed away peacefully with the family present. RIP Chris, much loved and missed.

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