The weather has been enjoyably sunny but rain would be nice.
First Bottle brush Flowers 
First Bird 
First Sun Flower
Archived in: I’m in the Garden
Category Archives: 🦋 I’m in the Garden
My favourite place to be is in the garden.
We started with nothing except too much lawn.
A day in the garden…Saturday.
We started the day by visiting a couple of nurseries.
This rose was perfect. (our son is a bush fire fighter)
Shortly after we returned home we received visitors into the garden
but they decided to go next door when they saw we were busy. 😉
I actually bought two Fire Fighter Red roses.
The other one we’ll give to our son.
We also bought this white climbing rose called Iceberg.
I took a few pics of new blooms and garden features.
Covid has slowed up a garden arch order from Western Australia. It could be months before it’s delivered so we bought a cheap one so we could continue our garden plans.
More pics.
We took a rest at the end of the path to take more pics and imagine what else we could do.
I then checked if the gnomes were home…
…and if Mitzi was still hanging around.
Thanks for stopping by.
We hope to have another day in the garden soon.
Archived in: I’m in the Garden by Chrissy for Riverside Peace
Before and After
My first photos of the backyard after we moved in. December 12th 2019.
And the most recent photos. September 2020.
In just 9 months and a lot of hard work, I think we have done OK.
Garden Additions
Norm is connecting with the garden and adding his imagination and creations.
I’ve read that dark fences do not make gardens look smaller but rather enhance the garden. I think they’re right.
Do you see the additional Australian baby animals?
A view from the garden seat.
and a view from the bottom of the steps.
Last week we created a strawberry tower together and added a few local finds to the garden.
Norm is getting involved with his own additions.
It’s all looking good.
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Ringo’s new abode.
Do you remember Ringo’s tragic fall?
https://riversidepeace.com/2020/09/05/koala-rescue/ Well, he has a new home and a new function.
He seems intrigued by Anna the goanna.
Archived in: I’m in the Garden by Chrissy for Riverside Peace
Vegetable garden take over.
Retirement finally. First week at home and the garden plots became a reality.
It’s an amazing transformation.
The broad beans were left in their boxes so as not to disturb the roots.
I’ll be having a serving of my favourite green vegetables soon.
Seedlings in the centre garden are starting well.
The transplanted spinach and lettuce have been sampled already this past week.
The brussel sprouts continue to thrive in their box and potatoes are growing well too.
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Early Bloomers
While watering the garden pots and vegetable plots this morning, I noticed that many early Spring bloomers were sneaking though.
This Hibiscus is just 30cm high yet it’s covered in orange blooms. I can only imagine the spectacular picture it will make in a few years.
This shrub type of Australian Bottlebrush is just 20cm high yet it has it’s first flower plus at least 6 other buds.
Other low growing Australian natives are showing off their first.
Back ground shade bloomers. (the water lilies are fake)
I love these little pink clusters of flowers.
I don’t think this one is a native but pretty just the same.
These little red bells have been showing off for at least a month and they’re still blooming. I had to include them.
I don’t know yet when the Frangipani will spring to life but every other one I have seen in the neighbourhood are looking the same. There’s plenty of pansies looking their best and more bulbs are coming up in the mean time. The purple Iris is displaying evidence of what’s to come.
The lavender can’t miss out on the attention.
I need to google some of these bulbs. Many of the tags have faded or blown away with the August winds.
I’ll be sharing more next week. Thanks for stopping by our garden. If you can’t find me, I’ll probably be in the garden.
Archived in: I’m in the Garden by Chrissy for Riverside Peace
Vegetable plots in…
View from our back verandah. One plot down, two to go.
We transplanted the pot bound vegetables into plot number one. (counting right to left.. The brussel sprouts and extra broad beans will probably stay in the confines of the polystyrene boxes until they have finished for the season.
The morning sun has finally found the courtyard. Winter is almost over for 2020.
Looking back up the newly paved path and drain with the morning sun behind me.
Many thanks to our son Ken for his expertise and honed skills with drainage and landscaping. Thanks also for being a wonderful and caring son. KMAS Property Maintenance & Landscaping
Archived in: I’m in the Garden by Chrissy for Riverside Peace
Front Garden
Today we took advantage of the sun and no wind to mulch the front garden ready for Spring.
I love the blues we chose when we had the house painted back in December after we moved in.
Bulbs are coming up in the terracotta pots.
Seedlings I planted a few months ago are doing well.
The Freesias are in bloom too.
We also mulched the garden along the drive and planted white and purple alyssum seedlings.
Another busy day in the garden
Well I think this is my last random post. The new system sucks. Most of my future posts will be the work of scheduled posts put together in love and a lot of effort.
More activity in the yard.
With the pebbles in place the top soil for the new turf came next. The large pots were re-positioned. Windmill and gonna replaced.
Top soiled leveled.
The yard slowly transformed.
A few more ornaments appeared.
The turf arrived mid afternoon.
Looking good.
Tomorrow we’ll finished trimming and tidying up.
Next weekend the rear storm water pit will be filled with gravel then topped with matching pebbles before the above ground vegetable gardens plots can begin.
Archived in: I’m in the Garden by Chrissy for Riverside Peace
Let the work begin!
Since early yesterday morning the back yard has been turned into a huge construction site. 
This corner almost didn’t survive either.
Where there was mush a drain or ag drain appeared.
Wheelbarrow loads of sand managed to soak up some of the water so the workers could continue.
and I was surprised when this small paved footpath emerged.
I think I have seen the last of the drainage problem here.
This next photo was taken at dusk yesterday.
This morning the yard began to transform.
Defined edges began to emerge.
River pebbles were carted from the trailer in wheelbarrows.
Permanent pavers for the large pots and the garden seat were set in place.
Tomorrow…top soil and turf will arrive to complete the job.
I will post more photos as soon as I can.
I can’t believe it’s almost completed.
Winter blues and moods.
There hasn’t been much work done in the garden since the rains came and winter cast it’s shadow over the backyard. Yes, it’s starting to look like a garden but what lies beneath is a soggy mess.
The deciduous potted trees and plants are doing there job allowing the strip of sunshine through to the veggies around mid morning. I think most of the plants and shrubs are located somewhat in the best positions for future seasons but at least pots can be relocated if needed.
The long timbered area at the back is a council requirement for rain water overflow. However with no drainage or a good foundation under the lawn, the sump only drains the water away from the inside. Any excess water builds up under the turf and during and after heavy rains, well you can see the water line where the backyard floods.
The only things immediately under the turf are mud and pipes. No preparation was done before turf was placed straight over the top. Norm and I have started on the worst areas and just placed pavers around so I don’t sink ankle deep in mud.
We have been spending warmer days in the under cover areas where we’re able to create a restful oasis or two.
We have plans for a complete removal of current turf to install a proper foundation of ag pipes, gravel and soil to raise the whole yard with gentle slopes toward new drainage along the rear. THEN, we can finished the main garden area.
I’m in the Garden by Chrissy for Riverside Peace
Gnome Matter What…
This little guy was left on our front porch early Sunday morning. Below the photo you can read the tale behind the gnomes in our little street.
When we first moved into our new little home in December 2019, we found most of the neighbours to be a friendly bunch. A few stopped by to comment on my garden gnomes which were still standing in a group on the edge of the garden awaiting to be placed in their new home. We all had a story about how our gnomes came about.
This little street apparently has mystery gnomes that appear here and there, in other gardens or on peoples door steps. One poor gnome is known to be found laying on the road after Saturday night parties.
I thought nothing more about the gnome tales until I opened our front door on Sunday morning just past. I thought immediately of who the culprit might be but wasn’t completely sure. Sure enough, later in the day the suspect neighbour was walking her dog down the street and I asked her if she knew anything about our gnomely visitor. With a laugh she told me that because of the Covid restrictions, the gnomes had been staying in self quarantine. While doing the right thing they gave each other a complete makeover and repaint ready to play. I wasn’t the only one to have a visitor and he’ll probably go home of his own accord in a day or so.
It might sound silly but you know, it’s sometimes the silly things in life that helps make the world a happier place. There’s one thing that has come out of this gnomey business and that is we have been made to feel truly welcomed here and have been included in the neighbourly gnome games.
After all, it’s a little gnome fact that getting to gnome your neighbours puts a smile on your face. I really feel at gnome here. – Gnome matter what…. Thank you neighbours and gnomes.
This and That in the Garden
New Garden Project Taking Shape
The lawn is not getting any sun through winter but I can design the Spring project.
At least the temporarily pavers will save my feet getting lost in the mud.
There’s Nothing Like Fresh Greens
Growing vegetables in pots and tubs is not so bad when they grow like this. To be able to move the pots around also helps to work out the best place to create the permanent vegetable garden come Spring. There’s a lot of shade in the back yard this time of year and we want to grow vegetables in all seasons.
I’m in the Garden by Chrissy for Riverside Peace
A Place to Relax
Feet up after a morning in the garden.
Enjoying the view…
Flowering hanging baskets
Quiet Corners…
Small gardens can be just right.
Photography by Chrissy for Riverside Peace
More Garden Creations.
Until garden stores and nurseries are back to full business, small tidy ups and finding temporary homes for my potted plants, is as much as we can do for now.
We finished off the seating corner for now. I’m hoping to place a Narnia lamp post between the arch seat and the garden shed. Perhaps once the 3 native bottle brush grow a bit taller, they’ll be seen behind the seat cushions.
Extra pebbled areas where we constantly walk is definitely helping the warn patches of the lawn.
Lawn still recovering.
mmmm….I think a nice garden statue would look good here at the bottom of the back steps. Another trip to a nursery once lock down has lifted completely.
I’m in the Garden by Chrissy for Riverside Peace
A Touch of Autumn Colour
These photos were taken in our little front garden which was partly there, without any commonsense or plan, when we moved into our new home in December. With a bit of rearranging here and there, adding some cottage garden seedlings, using grey water and buckets throughout summer’s drought water restrictions, the garden is coming alive.
I’m in the Garden by Chrissy for Riverside Peace
