As a parent there are various stages you reach in your life - goodbye Huggies, cot, pram, high chair and assorted bits and pieces.
Oh, isn't lovely when you can head out the door without lugging a huge bag of assorted needs?
At the weekend we closed another chapter. We said goodbye to our faithful cubbyhouse.
Bought secondhand from a colleague a decade ago we transported it - in its eight pieces - from Blackburn and duly set it up in our tiny Richmond courtyard.
We filled it with the itty bitty things that the littlies love - the small dresser, oven, table and chair (thrown in with the cubby) and assorted dinner sets, toasters and much more.
For a long time it was a source of great pleasure.
But some time, and I can't quite put my finger on when, it became a repository for everything that did not have a home. That's what happens when you live on small blocks without garages.
It bulged with boogies boards, golf clubs, bikes, easels and much more.
Some time recently I decided enough. We needed to get rid of it and unlock a rather large corner of our small backyard. A hastily organised garage sale saw it and other things we could live without put on the selling block.
Although we had mixed results, we offload the cubbyhouse. The new owner is excited. They live around the corner and are planning a makeover for it. They say where they plan to re-erect it will mean we will see it from the street. Looking forward to that. And I am also looking forward to planning what I am going to do with my nearly 2m by 2m plot. What should I do?
Monday, September 5, 2011
Monday, August 1, 2011
Delightful Daphne
I am loving my daphne bush at the moment. Each day as I step out the front door there are more of the beautifully formed flowers coming into bloom.
Another one of my favourite flowers. The scent is gorgeous and if you can feel an emotional attachment to a plant I've got one with this one.
For more years than I can remember my late mum tried to grow a daphne bush in our big garden in Ballarat. No luck. Then one Mother's day my Dad turned up with a little pot of daphne. (possiby the most romantic thing he ever did!)
It was duly planted in the corner and over time grew and grew. It became a source of great enjoyment.
Later, I took some cuttings and this is how I now have my lovely, flourishing daphne.
I think that must have been nearly 20 years ago, as I have now lived in Melbourne for 22 years.
It is not in a very spectacular pot, but one thing I am led to believe is true with daphnes - they don't like to be messed with.
With that in mind, I am leaving it put in its rather dated fake Tuscan-look plastic pot! Last year, I noticed it was getting really leggy and decided it needed a good trim. I am pleased to say that it is looking more compact and flowering better than ever. It also enjoys a position on the verandah where it gets morning sun. Everyone should have a daphne plant. My mate, Olga, has no less than six.
Another one of my favourite flowers. The scent is gorgeous and if you can feel an emotional attachment to a plant I've got one with this one.
For more years than I can remember my late mum tried to grow a daphne bush in our big garden in Ballarat. No luck. Then one Mother's day my Dad turned up with a little pot of daphne. (possiby the most romantic thing he ever did!)
It was duly planted in the corner and over time grew and grew. It became a source of great enjoyment.
Later, I took some cuttings and this is how I now have my lovely, flourishing daphne.
I think that must have been nearly 20 years ago, as I have now lived in Melbourne for 22 years.
It is not in a very spectacular pot, but one thing I am led to believe is true with daphnes - they don't like to be messed with.
With that in mind, I am leaving it put in its rather dated fake Tuscan-look plastic pot! Last year, I noticed it was getting really leggy and decided it needed a good trim. I am pleased to say that it is looking more compact and flowering better than ever. It also enjoys a position on the verandah where it gets morning sun. Everyone should have a daphne plant. My mate, Olga, has no less than six.
Monday, July 18, 2011
Garden sharing in my neighborhood
From the Melbourne Age.
I liked this story because it is happening under my nose in my neighborhood and because it underlines that sense of generosity and goodwill shown by most people who love to grow things.
Geraniums near Florence
Check out the foreground of this photograph. We were having a little rest, having climbed up a very steep hill from the carpark to the wonderful village of San Gimignano. It is in Florence and is famous for the towers dotted around the perimeter.
Love the red geraniums. Such a wonderful view.
How it all began.
Ever since I can remember I have loved gardening. As a little child I could often be found across the road in my neighbour's garden. Mrs Nightingale (or Mrs Nightie as we knew her) kept a meticulously tidy garden.
No weeds, dead straight borders and lawn mowed just so.
She loved geraniums and pelargoniums. Two, three and maybe even more times a week she would get out dead heading them, pulling off stray leaves and making sure that not a thing was out of place.
I always looked upon the pelargoniums as being the upmarket cousin of the humble geranium. Years later, I adore geraniums planted enmasse. Each time I go to Europe I come back with a newfound devotion to red, white and pink geraniums. I adore the blast of colour they provide when planted in window boxes and placed on steps. I have endeavoured, with limited success, to recreate that look at my own house. Just back from a European trip, I am keen when the weather improves to have another go.
And the great thing about the humble geranium is that they are so easy to propagate. Cut a bit off, stick it in some potting mix and voila. Great for kids, great for people looking to do some planting on a limited budget and great for those new to gardening who want some quick gratification.
Perfectly tended roses, a Camellia Japonica (feed with tea leaves) and hellebores are some the other memorable plants in Mrs Nightie's gardening. I have always loved hellebores, or Winter Roses, as a result. They are pretty pricey now that they are fashionable for shaded areas. You often see them planted enmasse. The Fitzroy Gardens, in Melbourne, has a nice display.
No weeds, dead straight borders and lawn mowed just so.
She loved geraniums and pelargoniums. Two, three and maybe even more times a week she would get out dead heading them, pulling off stray leaves and making sure that not a thing was out of place.
I always looked upon the pelargoniums as being the upmarket cousin of the humble geranium. Years later, I adore geraniums planted enmasse. Each time I go to Europe I come back with a newfound devotion to red, white and pink geraniums. I adore the blast of colour they provide when planted in window boxes and placed on steps. I have endeavoured, with limited success, to recreate that look at my own house. Just back from a European trip, I am keen when the weather improves to have another go.
And the great thing about the humble geranium is that they are so easy to propagate. Cut a bit off, stick it in some potting mix and voila. Great for kids, great for people looking to do some planting on a limited budget and great for those new to gardening who want some quick gratification.
Perfectly tended roses, a Camellia Japonica (feed with tea leaves) and hellebores are some the other memorable plants in Mrs Nightie's gardening. I have always loved hellebores, or Winter Roses, as a result. They are pretty pricey now that they are fashionable for shaded areas. You often see them planted enmasse. The Fitzroy Gardens, in Melbourne, has a nice display.
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