Downsizing It has been drawn to my attention that I don’t need to grow as much food as I was now that our hollow legs have flown the nest. We are getting used to life as empty nesters and the teen lads are flourishing out in the world. So, I am no longer a Mum providing for my family. It would seem I’ve become something …...
New Month, New Things To Do A pinch and a punch for the first of the month. I couldn’t have been more aware of the passing of time this winter. I feel like spring is closer than normal due to some commitments we have in August. So, I’m pretty much counting this winter as a two-month thing. Unfortunately, I have higher expectations for what I’d …...
Waiting for the sun Today is the winter solstice. At 8:50am the sun was as far away from us as it could possibly be, and I was there for it. Like a crazy person! The sunrise was set for 7:35am but we’re on the back side of a hill away from the rising sun so I knew it would emerge a tad later than that …...
Soil and Things Carrying on with the site survey of the new garden – which pretty much applies to the entire palace garden, I’m taking a deep dive to examine all of the extenuating circumstances that impact the garden that need to be acknowledged and really can’t be ignored. Today I’m not in the garden thanks to the weather. It is technically winter so I …...
The Lay of the Land I’ve decided with Room Three in the Palace to attempt to do things as close to the book as my wilful disregard for following instructions will allow. Ideally I’d like the inspiration for The Palace Garden to come out of my head, inspired by the land, the conditions and the things I like. I appreciate there is nothing new under …...
But I want to build Rome in a Day! I have a fire in my belly and some kind of inflammation in my brain. I love my garden and I have a grand vision for it. For the parts of the garden I have already created, there is a standard in my head that I like it to be at all the time. The thing …...
Creating a Blank Canvas I have been working hard on Room Three of The Palace Garden, although there isn’t much to show for it at this point. Just a patch of weed free earth. Having said that, getting to a weed free state has taking a long time and a lot of effort. As with all the rooms In The Palace it began as a …...
Downsizing This year we have experienced a shift in our family with a couple of significant things happening. Firstly, we have become empty nesters. After years of attempting to fill hollow legs and bottomless pits, the teen lads have well and truly fledged the nest. They no longer require a gardenful of produce to keep them healthy. They are more likely to reach out their …...
The consequences of going away It is always nice to go away somewhere tropical to relax and get pampered. Don’t get me wrong for what I’m about to say, because I’ll take a tropical holiday any day of the week over the ordinary day to day. Not that my ordinary is a normal ordinary, but you know what I mean. But The moment I first …...
Beautiful Blooms of Tahiti You may not have noticed, but I’ve been away again. This year seems to be filled with travel and I’m determined to punctuate it with hard work in the garden so I can make some real progress. This time it was supposed to be all leisure and relaxation as we cruised about island hopping in Tahiti. However, I don’t think I …...
Ohhh I’m Dry?! I was away recently soaking in some wonderful gardens and had a fabulous time. During the weekend I was down in Blenheim at the NZ Gardens Trust Conference I had a major epiphany and to be honest I’m a little shocked I never realised it. While the weekend was decidedly soggy with more rain than they’d had in a year falling in …...
Today is Earth Day. I live on earth so I guess I should join in the celebrations. When you stop taking life for granted and hop off the treadmill that is our rat race and look about there are so many elements of the world around us that can make us stop and catch our breath. The wonder of a seed germinating, the glorious colour …...
Soaking in Wonderful Gardens – Part Three. This was only supposed to be a two-part story, sharing all the wonderful things from my incredible weekend away with the New Zealand Garden Trust. But in the words of my favourite 17th century Philosopher Blaise Pascal, “If I had more time, I would have written you a shorter letter”. But it isn’t just the time, I don’t …...
What am I growing this season. Part One. With less mouths to feed, thanks to an empty nest, some would say my garden is too big. I think I would say my garden is too big. No one needs four zucchini plants, especially when there is just the two of you – no matter how pretty all the different varieties will look together on the …...
Island Time As I write this there is only 2 weeks left of winter – if you go by the calendar, and although this is a season that is often maligned and wished away in anticipation of a better brighter season, I can easily say I’m not ready for it to be over. Well parts of it, like the cold, wind and rain wouldn’t be …...
Downsizing It has been drawn to my attention that I don’t need to grow as much food as I was now that our hollow legs have flown the nest. We are getting used to life as empty nesters and the teen lads are flourishing out in the world. So, I am no longer a Mum providing for my family. It would seem I’ve become something …...
New Month, New Things To Do A pinch and a punch for the first of the month. I couldn’t have been more aware of the passing of time this winter. I feel like spring is closer than normal due to some commitments we have in August. So, I’m pretty much counting this winter as a two-month thing. Unfortunately, I have higher expectations for what I’d …...
Waiting for the sun Today is the winter solstice. At 8:50am the sun was as far away from us as it could possibly be, and I was there for it. Like a crazy person! The sunrise was set for 7:35am but we’re on the back side of a hill away from the rising sun so I knew it would emerge a tad later than that …...
Soil and Things Carrying on with the site survey of the new garden – which pretty much applies to the entire palace garden, I’m taking a deep dive to examine all of the extenuating circumstances that impact the garden that need to be acknowledged and really can’t be ignored. Today I’m not in the garden thanks to the weather. It is technically winter so I …...
The Lay of the Land I’ve decided with Room Three in the Palace to attempt to do things as close to the book as my wilful disregard for following instructions will allow. Ideally I’d like the inspiration for The Palace Garden to come out of my head, inspired by the land, the conditions and the things I like. I appreciate there is nothing new under …...
But I want to build Rome in a Day! I have a fire in my belly and some kind of inflammation in my brain. I love my garden and I have a grand vision for it. For the parts of the garden I have already created, there is a standard in my head that I like it to be at all the time. The thing …...
Creating a Blank Canvas I have been working hard on Room Three of The Palace Garden, although there isn’t much to show for it at this point. Just a patch of weed free earth. Having said that, getting to a weed free state has taking a long time and a lot of effort. As with all the rooms In The Palace it began as a …...
Downsizing This year we have experienced a shift in our family with a couple of significant things happening. Firstly, we have become empty nesters. After years of attempting to fill hollow legs and bottomless pits, the teen lads have well and truly fledged the nest. They no longer require a gardenful of produce to keep them healthy. They are more likely to reach out their …...
The consequences of going away It is always nice to go away somewhere tropical to relax and get pampered. Don’t get me wrong for what I’m about to say, because I’ll take a tropical holiday any day of the week over the ordinary day to day. Not that my ordinary is a normal ordinary, but you know what I mean. But The moment I first …...
Beautiful Blooms of Tahiti You may not have noticed, but I’ve been away again. This year seems to be filled with travel and I’m determined to punctuate it with hard work in the garden so I can make some real progress. This time it was supposed to be all leisure and relaxation as we cruised about island hopping in Tahiti. However, I don’t think I …...