Nature Notes and a Weekend in the Garden

Another lovely weekend spent in the garden. I do love it when it is warm and sunny, it seems to energise me and I can actually get things done which in turn makes me feel so much more satisfied.

On Saturday we popped over to Bunnings...I was delighted to see this store opening over here as I was familiar with it from NZ.  It hasn't disappointed so far.  A big warehouse style store, and good prices on a whole.

We'd taken our son over there as he needed to get a few bathroom items.., but we ended up coming home with so much more!

Another two roses for the garden, a 'patio' standard rose which will be going in along our pathway - there is currently a small rose in the spot I am going to plant it in, so I will move that rose.  We also got a lovely white climbing rose...names to come...................  we also bought an Asiatic lily 'Orange Joy'  and a Coreopsis 'Golden Sphere'.  

I've already put both these in pots.

The best thing we got though was some 'EZborder'  It really was 'easy' to install as well - I did it myself.  We have been wondering what to do about the edging of the rose garden as it constantly spills out onto the path as the bricks aren't high enough. This was simple to install and doesn't look too bad.  Better than every other option we had seen so far.  I am rather pleased with it.  Now just need to get some new bark for the garden.

Before, all rather messy and often spilling over onto the path.

After - still need to tidy up the falling rose petals, but so much neater already.  Next job is to weed and then re-bark the garden.

Just need to clear out the little edging and put down some new shingle.

The 'gap' we had beside the fence in the back garden we have planted Ceanothus "Skylark"

Sunday:

Today I have been busy out in the garden again.  Unlike a lot, I find the sun and heat energises me and finally I am getting things done and able to ignore the pain levels to some extent - although it did take me quite a long time to get moving this morning.

I have planted up the wooden wheelbarrow

Before:

  Yesterday I cleaned out the pond and refilled it.  I still have to work out what to plant around the actual pond, everything I have tried so far hasn't survived!

After:  

Wooden wheelbarrow planted up.

 I have planted a small begonia, Coleous Kong, Lobelia Hot Tiger and Begonia Santa Cruz.

I have planted 'Peach Patio' the Patio Standard Rose down our pathway.

It is such a pretty rose, with a delicate fragrance.

The little patio rose that was in this space I have transplanted to another spot in the rose garden.

Difficult to see in this bright light.

'White Star' a Harkness Climbing Rose has been planted beside the other climbing rose, I am hoping they will eventually both intertwine and should look gorgeous. 

This was it yesterday.

Today it has opened right up.

It is a very pretty white rose.

My other birthday rose 'Birthday Girl', a Floribunda rose I have planted in a pot for now.  My rose garden really can't fit in any more roses!

My other birthday rose 'Birthday Girl', a Floribunda rose I have planted in a pot for now.  My rose garden really can't fit in any more roses!

Beside the patio against the wall of the house I have planted Jasminoides Trachelospermum, this is an evergreen, so I am hoping it will grow well here.  Still need to put up some trellis for it to climb up.

I have two more Jasmine plants to put in the garden, just need to work out where...I am running out of space!

The clematis is looking fabulous over my Cavy Shed.

The hanging baskets are starting to fill out 

Just love my quiet little seating area and spend time out here everyday. 

A few roses:

The guinea pigs are enjoying getting out on the grass.  Our garden is quite shaded out the back so it is reasonably cool for them which is good.

Lastly, while I was busy in the garden this morning I had a very close companion, who at times was just a hand distance away - I could have stroked her!  She was busy gathering a beak full of worms, so I am wondering if she is still feeding young.

The Great Hedgehog Rescue

Yesterday afternoon we spied a stranded hedgehog.....how on earth did they end up there?

He/she must have fallen into the pond and managed to get up on 'dry' land...the only trouble was, there was no way he/she was going to be able to get out again and sides of the pond are too steep.

He saw us and looked up and sent a plea of help - naturally how could we refuse that look.

My son got a plank of wood and made a bridge between the land and the middle of the pond.

Unsure at first the hedgehog hid his little head.

Soon though it was ready to investigate.

Hmm...this looks promising.

Yikes, not down there!  Don't want to fall in again.

Almost there.

Just a few more steps.

Yeah!

Made it on to Terra Firma. 

The hedgehog didn't take long to scuttle away into the undergrowth.  Hopefully they won't try swimming again for a while!

Sunny Sunday in the Garden.

Armed with these and some brown Cuprinol stain we already had my husband and I set to work yesterday to paint the sheds and the chair.

A before photo - you can see the green shed is in bad need of repainting.  I wanted to do this before I planted some Jasmine up it.

I did one coat, and then hubby did another for me, as it started to really hurt my arm painting between all the trellis work.  Yes we probably should have taken it off first...but it has been on there a long time so we decided to leave it.

Jasmine planted.

The Cavy Shed was also well over due for a paint/stain.  We shared this job.  Hubby did the sides, back and front and then I did another coat last night of side and front.  This morning I finished with some more coats on the front and sides.

You can just about see that the seat is in bad need of a repaint as well.  I rubbed it down with a wire brush to get off all the flaky paint and then painted this yesterday.

It is quite an old seat now, we having 'inherited' it. I painted it a few years ago now, so it was well overdue for a new paint.  Eventually we will have to replace the woodwork, but it should see out another season or two yet.

I reorganised the pots inside my little 'nook'.

I guess the back fence could really do with painting as well, but some of it is covered with ivy.  Will have a think about that as it will be a fairly big job.

It is nice and cosy in here, and a great little sun trap and also sheltered from the wind.

I can look out over the rest of the garden as well.

I have weeded along the pathway and replaced the shingle, so it is looking a lot tidier.

I have finished both sides with shingle to the end of the Cavy Shed and one side to the end of the green shed.  I still have to do the other side of the path.

It feels good to achieve something after so long.  Sure I hurt, but at least there is a reason for these aches and pains after a good couple of days out in the garden.

Accompanying me this morning was Mrs Blackbird who really is quite fearless.

She had fun picking up little grubs from my disturbing the soil.

I must decided where the bottle brush is to be planted.

This rose is just outside our bedroom window and is looking glorious.  'Super Trouper' it is called.

Finishing with the piggies...

I saw a reasonably priced small portable guinea pig pen in The Range the other day.  My son went and got me it a couple of days later.  I also bought one via Amazon, but I don't think it is as good so the jury is currently out as to whether I am going to keep that one, or send it back and see if I can get another of these.  

Today I just set up the one pen and the boys took turns in going out on the grass in pairs.

It met with Felix and Bailey's approval.

Sylvester and Jeremy were also pleased to get out on the grass.   They played 'follow the leader'

Poor Sylvester has rather chewed ears.  They were chewed when he was a baby by I believe his mother.