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Monday, November 1, 2010

Brown thumbs and beautiful days...

Thank you for your kind concern about my blogging mojo. Maybe it's disappeared because the sun has been out in Auckland, it's wonderfully warm and I have been struck by a strange desire to garden. I am rolling with it and spent yesterday afternoon removing all those annoying little tops off the sprinkler system that were jammed with mould and dead earwigs. Poor things. Anyway, I got satisfyingly wet and muddy doing it.

There are now some new spring pots and also some herbs that I have left well alone. They seem to be thriving quite well without me. A month ago I shoved them in some old soil with no help or love at all and then went away for three weeks taking my brown thumbs with me. Result!
The trick is to put the mint in with other herbs just as you are advised NOT to. The mint is madly trying to take over and the others are fighting back. 

We have also made a decision about our hedges. When I say 'we' of course I mean I. I'm the only one in our family who's been losing sleep as one by one the unkillable- anything-grows-in-Auckland-hedge-plants curled up and died.
Despite taking advice from all the right people and spraying (and praying) I have lost five Corokia plants since we moved in - cause uncertain. The last straw was the one on the corner dying. 

I love our back hedges (which need a trim too) but the hedge dividing the garden has only ever looked good for one week in 52, the week we bought the house. 
It's potentially very stylish but it either needs trimming (like now) or has been trimmed too hard or is wonky.  It's too high and we rarely use the top lawn because you can't see it. Oh yes and there's that big gap on the corner!

So the middle hedge is going. Now I have to decide what to plant instead. I may take some professional advice... Perhaps a pretty green ground-coverish thing that will drape nicely down the grey brickwork.  Some flowers? Two round bush/tree sort of things either side of the steps? 

These are the vague questions I ask in in garden shops. I wave my arms around a bit too. 

So imagine me waving my arms around at you - any advice?
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6 comments:

  1. AngeNovember 1, 2010 at 4:49 PM

    Love this time of year in NZ, that is, I used to when I lived there:o(
    Heaps of potential out the back there Ann. I personally am a bit partial to agapanthus but not sure they would work where you are replanting.
    Angex

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  2. JulesNovember 1, 2010 at 5:23 PM

    Are the weather conditions like Hobart?
    If so Snow in Summer is beautiful with it's lovely grey leaves and profusion of white flowers in spring and summer.
    It totally took over the rock garden in Kingston Beach and filled up all my bare corners in west Hobart so liked both those positions.
    Doesn't grow too high either. Good luck with your choices and the garden looks beautiful.

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  3. JaneNovember 1, 2010 at 11:30 PM

    You never fail to make me smile, Ann, with your wry take on life! Hmm, what about star jasmine as ground cover? Simone posted about it here @ http://honeynfizz.blogspot.com/2010/10/jasmine.html Ask your local nursery if the climate is suitable. J x

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  4. Emma BurgessNovember 2, 2010 at 12:31 AM

    Hi Ann,

    So lovely to catch up on your blog again. I'm not one to ask for gardening advice. Stu my husband is the guru in our family, but definitely not me! Hope you are having a great week. Emma.

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  5. MiseNovember 2, 2010 at 11:13 AM

    I am useless and have no advice. But your garden is supremely orderly - those steps, the pots, the decking! I like to fool myself that bloggers' gardens are as unruly as mine, but clearly no.

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  6. The MoerksNovember 2, 2010 at 6:54 PM

    I am not sure what you should plant, maybe something with white flowers. I love your terraced garden.

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Thanks for taking the time to write, Ann x