My favourite place to be is in the garden.
We started with nothing except too much lawn.
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.
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.
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
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.
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
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.
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.
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
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
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
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
Free things always work well in the garden.
Add some black paint.
and a sunny day
and there you have it.
This area was all lawn before we started.
With most garden stores closed due to the COVID-19 restrictions, it’s taken some constant changes and imagination to get the main corner garden acceptable .
With the fish pond.
Windmill purchased via the internet. It was actually better than we thought it would be.
Some creative colour while waiting for the native seeds to grow.
My fairy garden will have to wait until life is back to some sort of normality. My stored gnomes though have found a new home.
And at night, it’s not a bad job done by a couple of oldies in lock-down.
I’m in the Garden by Chrissy for Riverside Peace
Oops! That pipe wasn’t on the plumbing plans.
Drainage completed with a big change in plans.
With that pipe under there we couldn’t put in a concrete slab. This was going to be my garden work area…
As usual, I pointed and Norm dug and shoveled.
Quick thinking and a change of plans.
It’s now our little sitting corner.
I’m in the Garden by Chrissy for Riverside Peace
It was looking at me.
Then I saw it’s face.
A couple Norm took from the end of the drive way.
I’m in the Garden by Chrissy for Riverside Peace
Yes, the garden “pond” has six new residents.
They love hiding but they’re all there.
I gave up telling them apart
so no names yet.
With ground this hard, herbs can stay in their balcony pots and everything else can grow where ever they can for now. I think we’ll invest in some large above ground vegetable boxes when the lock-down is over.
Probably not the right time of day to take a photo.
Progress.
The corner garden almost completed.
The Australian native garden in progress.
I’m in the Garden by Chrissy for Riverside Peace
The beginnings of our courtyard garden. The lawn is looking great so we’ll need to be careful not to ruin it now that plans and digging has begun.
Screening, pond and native garden. Slow and steady.
And still collecting rain water.
View from rear steps. 
