Visit 23/24th July 2012
35 mills in the gauge. Weather cool but reasonable. There had been a couple of very heavy frosts over the past fortnight according to neighbours. This was evident as daisies and the red hot pokers (Winter Cheer) had been severely hit. Some won't survive.

Winter irises were at their best, blue and white. Particularly pleasing was the white variety. This is the second year it has flowered and will get bigger year by year.

The hellebores are doing well. They should be blooming until October.

As indicated last visit, daffodils are later blooming this year. However they are beginning to bloom and make a show together with the Winter Joy wallfowers.

A few crocuses had sprung up in the garden on the south side. Not sure where they'd come from.

These pokers (Kniphofia sarmentosa) are about to bloom around the garden. They certainly are comfortable in the cold. 

Candytuft seedlings have sprung up around the place They should make a good show in the late Spring. I divided a campanula (white with a blue fleck) and planted one down on the back fence.

I continued the planting down at the dam, with a couple of salvias, including Bog Sage. 

I was visited by some arborists from Melton who lopped the laurel close to the house. It had been starting to grow over the roof and I was pleased to get the job done although neighbours were horrified at the price. The branches were mulched so can be used around the garden.

Visit 10th/11th July, 2012.
Plenty of rain recently, 60 mills in the gauge over the past fortnight, plus another 30 mills overnight. The dam is as full as it can get without flowing over the southern end.
The first daffodil for the season has appeared, one only, a Magnifique. Everything is a fortnight or so later this year. Must be due to the very cold, wet winter.
No golf which gave me more time to work in the garden, rugged up with 4 jumpers, jacket and hat.
Decided to extend the garden down around the dam as space is becoming limited around the house. First planting included a red hot poker 'Winter Cheer',  a lemon poker, a daylily (name unknown, brown and yellow colour) and French lavender. More to follow.
Planted in the main garden were 2 Bulbinella Hookeris and 2 Kniphopfias 'James Nottle', recently purchased from Lambley Nursery.
Cut back and divided some penstemons and campanulas.
Each visit I dig out the blue flowering Michaelmas daisy which is taking over areas of the garden.