A
complete nightmare with both landscape architect and landscaper.
Very, very frustrating.
Have
been erecting new cat enclosures, and have finally managed
to get my hands on some 6 foot manferns - hopefully to
be delivered this morning. Once I've popped in the remainder
of the cat tunnels through the woodland area I can start
to plant it out, which will be a relief. Less pots about
the back door for me to fall over.
Very
cold, very frosty and damp, but not good rain.
5th
July 2006:
The
manferns just arrived. They are ... gigantic. The delivery
man and I barely managed to get them off the truck. Definitely
a job for D'Wayne the Intrepid Gardener and his Strong
Assistant to plant. There is no way I could get these
in!
Here
they are sitting in the back driveway looking ... gigantic
(they are almost eight feet tall).
Also
good news is that my mop-top robinias are awaiting me
in the local nursery. Trunk heaven for me this week!
And
it is raining!
The
cat enclosure system is gradually taking shape. Hope to
have it connected up (at least stage one) by this weekend.
6th
July 2006:
Didn't
rain much. 2.9 ml.
Very
sore left shoulder, upper arm and wrist - it has been
sore off and on for weeks, but yesterday's exertions really
offended it. Oh dear. So much work to do ... and yet I
should try (I suppose) to give this wrist and shoulder
a rest.
(Later)
Well, I rested this morning, then was determined to do
something. Planted two of the small manferns
into the cat enclosures and secured them (seeing as they
will be used as scratching posts). Then down
to the local nursery (fortunately only a block away) and
dragged home six seven-foot mop-top robinias and heeled
them down in some soil until I can plant them out.
And
then the landscapers suddenly turned up, climbed over
the huge manferns in the driveway and started to build
me some compost bins.
So
bad start to the day, and my shoulder, arm and wrist still
ache, but some tasks managed. Will not get the cats into
their new home this weekend, though.
10th
July 2006:
I
did get the cats into their new home this weekend
care of much effort and dint and risings at 0400 to work
by torchlight. The cats are enjoying life so much they
now refuse to come back inside! I have also planted out
the mop-top robinias, and suffered much angst over the
fact I've not had the time to plant much else.
D'Wayne
and Dave are coming by this morning to plant the manferns.
I
hope they've taken their strong pills.
Weather
has been almost spring-like rather than deep winter. Warm
winds, gusting ahead of what the forecasters promise to
be a significant rain event. Well, I've heard all that
before, but will be keeping a close eye on the north-west
sky. Rain destined for Cornelian Bay never seems to manage
to get over the central mountains of Tasmania.
The
landscapers have built the bones of the compost bins,
and have dug out a trench for some new drainage. Not a
vast amount of work done, but at least something.
Shoulder
and wrist are still sore, but at least they consent to
work from time to time.
15th
July 2006
Well,
D'Wayne, minus his manful aide, came on by and planted
those monoliths all by himself. I didn't expect him to
survive the experience, but he battled on, and now I have
a wonderful avenue of tree ferns and a woodland starting
to take shape.
Have
spent most of the week planting, and tilling, and spreading
out and digging in compost. I know I have another huge
order of plants arriving early next week so need to continue
to clear out some of the tube stock still awaiting a planting.
No
sign of the landscapers this week.
Shoulder
now barely painful, but wrist still needs TLC and support.
17th
July 2006
12
boxes of plants arrived today - hundreds of lilies, hostas,
some paper birches, anemones, much stuff indeed. About
half of it will go into the woodland area.
I
spent the weekend carting compost, also planting out the
last of the manferns, planting some acanthus into the
woodland area, plus I put in some anemones and a foxglove
(the first of the hundreds of foxgloves to go in!).
And
this morning the landscapers turned back up. Good day.
:)
19th
July 2006
Have
been planting out hostas, and pink arums, and fairy fishing
wands and anemones - all in the woodland, of course!
I
really must try and think about the rest of the garden
... or expand the woodland ...
27th
July 2006:
Unbelievable
... unable to accept it ... the landscapers have finished.
When they said to me yesterday, "We'll be finished
this afternoon" I just stood there, gaping.
Well,
they did finish, and they've gone. The garden is mine
again. I celebrated by ordering in another 3 yards of
compost, 10 bales of lucerne hay, and some raspberries
and gooseberries.
Have
been planting, planting, planting. The phlox is now planted
out, as are most of the roses. Some of the lilies have
gone in. What else? There must be 'else', for it seems
as if have been doing nothing with my life but planting
(and carting compost!). Oh yes, as the vegetable beds
were nearing completion earlier this week I set out seed
for silver beet, radishes, several different kinds of
lettuce, more peas, broccoli, and others which now I just
can't dredge to the forefront of my mind. I can't wait
to get the potatoes and shallots in.
The
local clock man is trying to sell me the idea of a huge
old church clock for the garden. I am somewhat receptive
to the idea, but I hope to God it isn't a chiming one
because otherwise the neighbours will turn against me
once and for all!
30th
July 2006:
Very
tired and sore - carting and digging, and there never
seems to be an end to the work. I really should get the
last of the lilies in, and I need to transplant the hydrangeas.
Cold, blustery weather.
I
have bought, and set up some of, some garden solar lights.
The ones already up work very well, even though we still
have some 14 hours of darkness each day (fourteen hours!
No wonder I am so sick of it!).
I
have also spread out about 15 bales of lucerne hay as
mulch - the front garden is very weedy and needs to be
mulched out.
Today
... more carting, I suppose. *sigh*
