I know when winter is almost here. Shadows fall early on the back garden. These photos were taken at 10.15am yesterday.

It won’t be long before it will be all in shade and the garden will rest.

Archived in: 🦋 I’m in the Garden

Archived in: 🦋 I’m in the Garden

Today, after days of hot and humid weather, I was able to spend a couple of hours in the garden trimming and pottering.

The white climbing rose as never flowered so well and it’s finally actually climbing the arch.

Lorikeets have been in the garden most of the day but if I’m to close, they wait in the trees beyond the fence until I move away from the arch and bird bath.

Archived in: 🦋 I’m in the Garden

November 2023

November 2024

Archived in: 🦋 I’m in the Garden

We haven’t grown potatoes in our garden previously but after we have had thriving spinach for three years in the same plot, it was time for some soil regeneration. There’s more to dig up when we have eaten these. Of course, we didn’t go without spinach for very long. They happily grew from seed in another plot where the previous season of lettuce grew. More about our green vegetables next time on…🦋 I’m in the Garden

Archived in: 🦋 I’m in the Garden

Much to the disgust of the Lorikeets, young Magpies are visiting the garden at feed time. They soon found there was enough food around the garden for all.

The Farm is thriving. We recently planted tomatoes, capsicum and cucumbers to add to the mass of lettuce that keeps growing. The neighbours don’t mind though. We’ll be picking all our salad vegetables as we need them real soon.

Those tall plants sharing the plot with yet another sun flower, are potatoes. Our first crop in the garden. We have grown potatoes in garden bags but they didn’t produce much. We’re waiting in eagerness to see how many potatoes we will harvest later in the year. Spring irises, hyacinths and pansies are also showing their true colours this year. I think there are a few tulips in there too. We’ll see.

Archived in: 🦋 I’m in the Garden

Early blooms and sunny days means more outdoor living. Evenings too, are warming up. It’s almost time to put the outdoor heater back into storage.

Archived in: 🦋 I’m in the Garden

I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. We usually have a lot of Lorikeets visiting the garden, but this is was first. Apologies for the poor photo quality. My aim was to identify the makings.

The Rosella stayed most of the day. At times we caught glimpses of damaged feathers on the top of his head so he may have sought refuge after a possible dispute with members of his flock. Norm needed to refill the bird feeders before the Lorikeet invasion later in the day.

Archived in: 🦋 I’m in the Garden

I’m not sure if these have grown from seeds dropped by birds or if the seeds were in the mulch we spread around the garden. The tallest sunflower has already grown higher than the front windows and it’s still yet to bloom. Norm took these photos for me because they are so tall. Note the clever angle in the fifth photo.

Archived in: 🦋 I’m in the Garden

I have been saving since Covid lock-downs ended for just the right garden statue. Locally, the one I liked has been priced three times the amount it was before Covid. And yes, it was the exact item because they have not order any statues in since mid 202o. I have been disappointed with local garden shopping since Covid so I just kept putting a few dollars aside each week in hope.

Early last week, on our way to Kirra Beach just over the Queensland border, we visited Ballina’s Summerland Garden and Antique Centre which is often advertised on our local TV station. (Ballina is about four hours north from our home and about two hours south of our holiday destination) There we found five statues in a variety of similar styles and priced almost $300AUS cheaper than the one locally. We decided to think about which one while on holiday and purchase it on the way home. Which we did. We had named her Maid Marian before we bought her.

Maid Marian has been placed pretty much where I want her. We’ll let her settle in before I plant something in her flower pot.

Archived in: 🦋 I’m in the Garden

Despite rain bombs and a windy hail storm during the past few weeks, the Hibiscus shrubs are flowering in their pots in the front garden. We haven’t been able to do much work in the garden this past week due to wet weather and the more than usual medical appointments we have had with more to come. It’s been nice to return home each day to see colour in the garden.

Archived in: 🦋 I’m in the Garden

Matthew 26:42–46 records that Jesus prayed three times in the Garden of Gethsemane. Each time He expressed His willingness to obey His Father’s will. The garden is the place I meet with Him, talk to Him and listed to Him.

Jesus prayed in a garden: Matthew 26, wept in a garden: Luke 19:41, John 11:35. Jesus healed in a garden: Luke 22:51 and Jesus rose in a garden: Mark 16

One of my favourite hymns is about the garden: Author: C. Austin Miles

I come to the garden alone,
While the dew is still on the roses;
And the voice I hear, falling on my ear,
The Son of God discloses.
Refrain:
And He walks with me, and He talks with me,
And He tells me I am His own,
And the joy we share as we tarry there,
None other has ever known.
He speaks, and the sound of His voice
Is so sweet the birds hush their singing;
And the melody that He gave to me
Within my heart is ringing.(Refrain)
I’d stay in the garden with Him
Tho’ the night around me be falling;
But He bids me go; thro’ the voice of woe,
His voice to me is calling. (Refrain)

Archived in: 🦋 I’m in the Garden

We have had quite a bit of rain over the past few weeks including three days of rain bombs and wind. We discovered on Friday that we had a lot of water under our back verandah. Norm did some creative cutting and digging and spent a few hours playing in the mud.

With two trenches dug, the water finally started to flow out. It will probably take a week of warmer days before we can lay a couple of drainage pipes in the trenches and replace the turf.

The lawn is quite spongy still but we no longer have our own private mud bath. It’s draining away quite quickly and we have regained access to underneath. Fortunately, the only items we store under there are water containers which we had taken out earlier in the week to fill with rain water already collected in garden trugs. Note: there was no water under the house when we remove the containers.

The wind and rain came mostly from the south-west and came under the back awning. With the gaps in the deck paneling, the water went straight through. Over the weekend we also laid an outdoor vinyl matting along the back deck to lessen the amount of rain coming through.

We had already placed same from the back step to the back door and it has worked successfully. It won’t stop the rain completely but it should help in future weather storms. The trugs are overflowing again and although the rain has eased there’s no sign of sunshine. We have been repeatedly told that a drought is on it’s way… Those notifications have mysteriously disappeared from the TV news and local government notices.

Archived in: 🦋 I’m in the Garden

The back corner of our yard has gone wild. Bottlebrush shrubs in large pots mostly grow here surrounded with native grasses. The red pot in this photo holds a Melaleuca. They can grow huge in Australia but this one is destined to be stunted by the size of it’s pot. Because the Bottlebrush is a short lived shrub the Melaleuca could be given a bigger pot in a year or two. 🙂

We have finally beheaded the last two giant Sunflowers. Since this photo was taken, they have been stripped of their seeds to be replanted and added to the bird feeders for the Corellas and the occasional pink Galahs that visit the garden.

Archived in: 🦋 I’m in the Garden

We love our garden, especially in the cooling late afternoons in Summer. Apologies for the missing photos. Media library ate them. 😉

Archived in: 🦋 I’m in the Garden

It’s just the second year the Crepe Myrtle has flowered. This year it’s covered with blossoms ready to burst open. It’s rich colour adds vibrancy to the back garden attracting bees and birds like a magnet.

Archived in: 🦋 I’m in the Garden

Caught unawares, these two lorikeets are often in the garden. Here they are after a meal of wild-bird seed and fresh apple.

Other couples, notably their scaly-breasted cousins, join the union. I wonder if that’s the marriage celebrant over near the fence.

Archived in: 🦋 I’m in the Garden

We have seen this blue tongue lizard often this week. I’m sure he’s made our garden his home.

The vegetable garden may look healthy but this hot summer is messing with producing our usually good harvests. Keeping water up is easy enough when the trugs are filled by heavy downpours of rain and hail but the ground is so dry within a few hours from the scorching heat that it is a never ending chore.

Archived in: 🦋 I’m in the Garden & 🦋 Down on the Farm

Happy New Year to all Riverside Peace followers. I have posted a few summer garden photos Norm and I have taken between Christmas and New Year while I give an update of where I’m at now and my 2024 plans.

I’ve been a little out of my normal routine since my total right knee replacement on November 2023. A whole new routine, mostly rehabilitation, has taken over. One thing I have return to is the garden – with limitations which is why I trained Norm.

I have been writing a little too and I plan to post at least one new poem and/or devotional post every month. I won’t promise more than this because I’m also taking on the huge challenge of learning to sign in 2024. At a few new followers request, I’ll be re-posting some my most popular poetry and short devotions from my book ‘Glimpses of His Glory’. I’ll add a few others from time to time as well.

The lorikeet above is a regular to our garden and especially loves the apples Norm tosses onto the lawn in the evening. I find the garden provides rest and relaxation.

These final 3 gallery photos show the cheeky sunflower that’s growing in our vegetable garden. It has grown above the back fence and follows the summer sun across the sky. It can be seen by everyone who drives by. I have also returned to river and other local walks. I’ll post these photos too each week.

Have a very happy and safe New Year and a healthy and blessed 2024.

Archived in: 🦋 I’m in the Garden

Because we were traveling late on Sunday, I was unable to prepare photos for this week’s I’m in the Garden post. It’s been beautiful weather and very relaxing in the Hunter Valley NSW wine country. We’re mostly just taking a breather from all the appointments we have had of late and a rest before my surgery in just over a week away. I have managed to find a couple of photographs I took of the front garden on Sunday morning using my Samsung phone. I hope you like them.

The agapanthus will be in full bloom while we’re not there. The miniature blue agapanthus are usually a little slower in blooming. Probably because they are situated further to the left behind the shrubs.

Archived in: 🦋 I’m in the Garden

It was brought to my attention a few days ago that we have several entries to our back garden. ‘Which entry do we use?’ they asked. I decided to photograph each entry. Maybe I will need to draw a map. 😉

Above and below is the east entry. The side of the house I call the boring side because leading to the grass-curved path is nothing but terracotta pots filled with struggling succulents along a very long gravel path.

Once you veer right you can follow the grass path to the back entry of the house and the outdoor kitchen and dining area. (below)

Or, you can veer left and take the southeast entry through the ‘farm’. Next photo.

Then there’s the entry through the carport into the outdoor kitchen and dining area. Oh. There’s also one directly from next door’s gravel path.

There’s the entry via the back steps. The entry I most often use.

But my favourite entry has to be through the arch to our ‘farm’.

Which entry will you take?

Archived in: 🦋 I’m in the Garden

My plan was to paint the white picket fence yesterday but it rained before dawn leaving the fence too damp to paint.

So..today I started straight after breakfast but with the temperature rising, I only managed two-thirds of the entire length. Tomorrow’s weather station says it will be clear skies again. I hope to have it completed well before the promised 25C. I’m so glad it’s not a very high fence. 🙂

Archived in: 🦋 I’m in the Garden

I’ve been watching this iris since it sprouted back in mid-August. I thought she would clear the top of the Poinsianna the way she was growing.

As the sunflower begins to droop, this iris is reaching for the sky.

I expect to see her in full bloom for a few more days while a second iris (to the right) thinks about bursting out into full bloom.

Archived in: 🦋 I’m in the Garden

Spring has Sprung with a burst of sunshine. Do you remember my post: https://riversidepeace.com/2023/08/28/late-august-wind-brought-out-a-nice-surprise/ ? This Sunflower is now greeting the Spring sunny mornings with a big smile.

Seedlings are up and the bulbs are finally opening. The irises are a little slow but they’ll be out any day now.

And – the white climbing rose bush has come alive and blooming.

Archived in: 🦋 I’m in the Garden

We had this candle holder sitting on our occasional table since we moved into our home in December 2019. I have decorated it at Christmas or placed an unlit candle in it but usually it just sits. After seeing terrariums and their ridiculous prices at nurseries, Bunning, etc., I decided to put my creativity side to good use. What do you think? Be honest.

Archived: 🦋 I’m in the Garden

Early Spring flowers in the front and rear garden have added bright colours here and there. My herb seeds and seedlings are doing great. I’m excited about including medicinal herbs this year.

A couple of the fruit trees and shrubs look promising. Bottom photos: Tabpoles and frog ponds are ready for occupancy.

Archived in: 🦋 I’m in the Garden

A quiet afternoon in the garden until these visitors arrived.

It was still beautiful.

Archived in: 🦋 I’m in the Garden

This is Nemo a few weeks ago. He had developed a tumor and needed to be regularly accessed.

Sadly, with his poor prognosis, he needed to be euthanased. A neighbour painted this rock to be placed on his grave.

He’ll be always remembered thanks to Maggie.

Archived in: 🦋 I’m in the Garden

Norm is slowly using the creative side of his brain and coming up with some interesting ideas. This week it’s a frog hotel for the back corner garden.

A few pipes and pots from Bunnings, sand, and a few river rocks.

I dug up a small Mondo Grass and divided it into 3 pieces. As you can see below, he did quite a nice job. Next week’s project is a tadpole pond – seen partly installed to the right of our water feature.

Archived in: 🦋 I’m in the Garden

The Poinciana is almost bare and early bulbs are breaking the topsoil.

Archived in: 🦋 I’m in the Garden

An early morning hour in the front garden stimulates the imagination – and is a whole lot of fun.

A tidy up here and a touch of paint there.

If you don’t have water, create it. I tossed a few packets of lobelia seeds in for good measure.

We bought these two delightful blue mushroom solar lights today at Bunnings and added a little more creativity.

Not fully charged yet, but still looks pretty.

Archived in: 🦋 I’m in the Garden

I’m loving our growing edible garden. The Elderflower tea was beautiful. Next year I’ll allow the best flowering sprigs to mature into berries.

Photo by Chrissy

Archived in:🦋 I’m in the Garden

Autumn is still beautiful on the mid-north coast.

Rear corner of back verandah.

From the garden.

and again from the garden.

Another view of the back corner.

Looks like there will be dozens of blooms this year.

This last photo shows the outdoor kitchen divider in front of the clothes line. Next week, I’ll reveal why.

Archived in: 🦋 I’m in the Garden

For a garden that’s now mostly, vegetables, herbs and fruit trees, there’s still a few bright colours to blend with the green.

Archived in: 🦋 I’m in the Garden

If you can find my photos of the elderberry I potted when it just 40 cm high, I would be grateful. It should be somewhere in 🦋 I’m in the Garden archives but I can’t see it. It’s photographed with my other potted herbs. So late last year we re-potted it and it’s growing beautifully.

Now it’s taller than me and covered in blooms. Very strange because it should flower in early Summer. It’s Autumn here in Australia.

Archived in: 🦋 I’m in the Garden

Although I love the rain and warm summer days the high temperatures on the current between days of rain is not quite the Autumn I’m use to. The Poinciana is still covered in green leaves and the water in the fish pond feels more like a hot tub.

There’s one thing that I do enjoy in this crazy weather and that is the variety of green that is seen from, and in every corner of the garden. The birds too a hanging around longer than usual and as for our vegetables, they just keep growing leaving no room to plant winter crops.

I’m left wondering what I’ll be doing in the garden once the season does change.

Archived in: 🦋 I’m in the Garden

The hot weather in March and recent rains has turned our verandah into a high humidity zone.

Everything is flourishing.

It’s a good time to plant something new into some pretty pots I found.

There’s never too many plants.

Archived in: 🦋 I’m in the Garden

It’s finally Autumn and it is most noticeable in the evening with the warmth of the day fading with the going down of the sun.

When the phone is useless in this beautiful light

that reflects off the colours in the garden.

but it will all fade by the time I find the camera and set it up.

Maybe another evening when I’m more prepared. For now, I’ll just relax in the peace of the garden.

Archived in: 🦋 I’m in the Garden

With January being the hottest month of the year, it’s often difficult to choose the right day – a cooler day, to mulch the front garden and the garden that runs the length of the carport. Most other seasons don’t work with the front garden and after the Christmas lights a packed away for another year, it really is the best time. For us anyway. We started laying mulch this time from the rear of the drive and worked forward to the front of the house. We did this simply because we always run out of mulch for that far end of the drive when we do the front garden first. However, just as we finished along the drive it began to rain and continued most of the day. Good for the garden but not while gardening. At least it gave us a break and some time to plan how to tackle the front garden.

We started early to avoid the heat of the day and the rain that threatened to change our plans yet again. Overcast but not to hot, not to cold. The rain held off long enough to complete the whole front garden. We even had time to go to Bunnings for a few extra shrubs to fill empty spaces along the white picket fence. I also rehoused the new gnomes we bought on a clearance pallet just after Christmas. I’m quite pleased how it all looks now.

Archived in: 🦋 I’m in the Garden

Sorry, this is blurred. I took the photo from inside the back door with my phone. We put up the Lorikeet box just a few days ago. This pair actually put their head inside but were more interested in eating. We’re hoping a second visit will happen soon but not perhaps one of the many other Lorikeet pairs who visit the garden will find this new house to be so tempting they’ll move in.

Archived in: 🦋 I’m in the Garden

It’s great to see the sunshine and feel the warmth of Spring mornings again.

Nice enough to choose where to have breakfast.

Archived in: 🦋 I’m in the Garden

Last night Norm relocated my big screen PC to the dining room table where I am able to maneuver around better in the wheelchair. This morning I looked up from the screen to see between the verandah railings and palm leaves, ….

the bulbs I had planted in previous seasons were blooming. I promptly sent Norm around the garden with the camera to see what else I missed. I’ll look through the photos later today after church.

Archived in: 🦋 I’m in the Garden

I upgraded the wheelchair and I have more flexibility and freedom.

It’s so good to be in the garden. No changes needed to the driveway or kitchen-diner.

Archived in: 🦋 I’m in the Garden

I was finally able to visit the front garden. While Norm weeded and dead headed I took a few photos of the late winter flowering lavender, Azalias and Gazanias. Even the Bougainvillea climbing the wall is bursting with colour. A few extra cottage garden plants need to be planted when Spring arrives.

The tub of pansies and zinnia potted daisies needed to be relocated temporarily for the ramp.

Archived in: 🦋 I’m in the Garden

We knew about this before we bought our home back in December 2019. It’s finally happening. The noise can be annoying but at least there’s no workers or machinery on the weekends and before 7.30am and after 5pm in the evenings during the week… and when it’s raining.

The photos above were taken while standing on a step ladder on the verandah. Below are the scenes we see at floor level and at the bottom of the steps that descend into the garden. Hopefully the new houses won’t appear above the fence. We’ll just have to wait.

Archived in: 🦋 I’m in the Garden

It’s been a lot easier to sneak up on these adorable birds. They don’t seem to mind the camera either. This pair is one of four pairs that come in for a feed throughout the day. They all have their own colour tones and preferred times to eat. An interesting lot.

Archived in: 🦋 I’m in the Garden