Visit 18th/19th October

25 mills in the gauge. No golf as I took advantage of the warm weather, low 20s, to burn off a lot of garden rubbish in the paddock and all the laurel tree prunings. I had 5 fires going at the one time. Most successful.

The last of the daffodils had just about finished flowering. The garden looked OK. One highlight was the clematis on 2 of the verandah posts, one white, the other a delicate pink.

Also in flower were the Snow in Summer, prolific even though I'd cut it back hard some time ago. Here it is intertwined with African Daisy.

I don't have many tulips, perhaps 25, but they are at their best at the moment. They are scattered. For better effect I must remember to plant several together next year. 

The poppies have started to bloom. One I'm pleased to see is a delicate orange one. The seeds were brought back by a friend from England some years ago. 

One of my more interesting wallflowers, a yellow one, is in full bloom. The red flowered one is not nearly as impressive. Also pleased to see some pink 'bluebells' in flower, gifts from Pat Murphy. 

The Apple and Quince trees are in blossom at the moment, plus my small lilac tree. Also the one decent rhododendron, Pink Pearl, is ready to burst into bloom.

The purplish colour of all the Honesty plants is becoming evident in various parts of the garden.

Planted this time were 10 more gladioli bulbs, some pink and red marguerite daisies, and a few Penstemon lyallii seedlings. 

This is the time when Sticky Weed is at its most prevalent. It's a damn nuisance and very difficult to root out. I must admit to spraying where it is out in the open. 

I spread some pea straw as a mulch around various plants. Let's hope the chooks from next door don;t scatter it as they have been known to do.

I had some produce this time, plenty of rhubarb plus some asparagus. 

Visit 4th/5th October

Lovely spring day on the Tuesday. 50 mills in the gauge, temp. about 18C. Took advantage of the weather to play golf. 3 pars but 2 10s spoilt the round.

Daffodils are wilting but still making a show. My aim was to have at least some daffodils in flower from June to October and have done so.

There was still plenty of colour in the garden although October is an 'in between' period, until the perennials put on their show in November. One plant which is attractive currently is tall, over 2 metres high, with lovely small soft blue flowers, similar in size to the Easter Daisy. I can't remember its name, if ever I knew it.

Now is the time for the Bendigo Wax (Eriostemon myoporoides) to be at its best. This snap has behind it a small quince tree, now in blossom.

The clematis are just starting to come into flower on two of the verandah posts. How they have grown 

this year.

So pleased have I been with the clematis that I bought a new one 'Golden Tiara' from Broersens and planted it in front of the tank to the right of the cottage. Hopefully it will eventually at least partially cover the tank with its golden blooms and purple stamen. Also from the same catalogue, I planted a Show and Tell Dinner Plate Dahlia (on the south side), plus 3 Lake Michigan Oriental Liliums, (soft pink, fragrant flowers with white centre), one in front of the same tank and two on the north side.

Finally, 10 gladioli bulbs were planted across the front garden. Given the 3 months it takes for them to flower, they should be in bloom shortly after Christmas. 10 more will go in next fortnight.

The leucadendrons on the north side are great to lift the garden with that splash of red.

The gazanias around the garden are always great value with bright colours. This one with light blue felicia in the background.

This dark pink arctotis does best for me, in particularly tough spots.

More of the laurel tree was lopped. I estimate I have now reduced its size by about 1%.