Wednesday, July 17, 2013

A Stroll in the Garden

When I visit someone's house I love to be taken on a guided tour around the garden, big or small, neat or messy, it matters not. I was privileged to get a great guided tour recently when dropping off my daughter on a play-date. There were seedlings thriving in the hothouse, newly planted beds, chooks, vegies in abundance, and problems to solve... I was in gardening heaven. When my partner returned to pick up our daughter he came home with her and a bottle of a milky coloured spray. It was some Envy to put on my citrus to help protect them from frost (I'd mentioned they were looking a bit sad). My friend had mixed up too much and didn't want to see it go to waste. A whole world of plant care I knew nothing about, apparently its good for using in the hotter months too.

Inside is interesting, but outside is where its really at for me. My Nannas were big on a garden tour too. We would have a cup of tea, perhaps a scone or a cheeky bit of slice, make ourselves comfy, and then receive the most delightful offer "Want to come on a stroll around the garden?" Their gardens ever changing landscapes always had something to delight in and learn from, there was something beautiful in flower, a tiny bulb or a haze of smoke bush, a bed of pansies or a beautifully scented rose, a plant name to learn, and often something to eat on their well tended fruit trees. They knew how to delight in the little things and their enthusiasm was infectious. One lived in Ballarat and the other hailed from Merbein (near Mildura), very contrasting climates, each presenting their own unique gardening challenges. After a visit you never went home empty handed, a bulb dug up, or a cutting taken, a jar of jam or pickles.

Why don't you come for a stroll with me.




























Here's a little visitor from my garden yesterday, you'll need good vision to spot him, this Scarlet Robin was the highlight of my day.

11 comments:

  1. My Nana and her sister (my great Aunt) sound a lot like yours. I do sometimes wish that I could have enjoyed their company as an adult but alas, they are long gone. It was lovely to stroll through your garden, thankyou! So frosty, and I love the pic of the mist in the trees. I'm a big fan of garden tours too :)

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    1. Yes I wish I could have a chat with my nannas and long gone poppas too. So much wisdom they could have shared, I would have loved to inherit their espaliering and grafting skills. Their houses are now owned by other people, but their gardens are planted firmly in my mind.

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  2. What a lovely walk in your garden Kirsty. The frosty grass looks a bit cool for lying on though! Loving all your photos, but particularly the sky one - and your little girl. Beaut camillia too. Stay warm. cheers Wendy

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    1. I love it when the weather turns and you can lie on the grass again Duchess, Spring bliss. I do adore a camelia, and the spinebills and wattlebirds are big fans too.

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  3. There's something about wandering in gardens isn't there? I love getting new ideas and sharing problems. How lovely that you got a tour and also some homemade spray!
    I really enjoyed your own garden tour..I haven't seen frost like that before...must really knock your vegies about! Our big vegie patch is a little overgrown at the moment due to focusing on the backyard instead!
    Love the pic of lil Bowerbird!

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    1. Its amazing how tough the vegies are, even the lettuce is holding on. I have given them some liquid seaweed spray which is meant to help. I always love your garden tours Jodie, the twins new vegie garden looks great.

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  4. So lovely! I think I recognise a lemon tree there, although I don't recognise the lemons!! Amazing what a bit of TLC will do :-)

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    1. Quite a few lemons on the lemon I left in a pot, although the one I put in the ground is three times the size, its too busy growing to make lemons. Any unwanted citrus are welcome. Box of citrus should be arriving soon, I'm very excited.

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  5. The Nanas would have loved that walk, as we did.

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  6. I think strolling around my friend's gardens is exactly where you'll find me from now on! Thanks for the peek Kirsty. x

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  7. Thank you for taking us for a stroll around your garden, that first photo of the frost looks like glitter, so beautiful Kirsty. Love that photo of your little one in her purple hat showing you the flower:) Wishing you a lovely weekend. xx

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In the spring, at the end of the day, you should smell like dirt.
Margaret Atwood

“She turned to the sunlight
And shook her yellow head,
And whispered to her neighbour:
"Winter is dead.”
― A.A. Milne, When We Were Very Young