This, my friends, is the back entrance to the garden. The two trees that hang branches on either side and create a kind of arch were planted on a mental health day some fifteen years ago as tiny seedlings. I love how they create a soft tunnel to walk through.
If uou'd walked this way a week ago, you wouldn't have seen such a neat path. Jamie spent the last two days carting tons of topping after scraping off the old, weedy, dirty toppings. Once grey, the path is now bright and warm. You'll notice too the decking is complete, except for the facing boards, which still need screwing in.
A little closer, and you'll see it's a lovely place to sit now. The concrete slab was built by the last owners, but we hated it. It was easier to put decking over it than remove it, but it's taken this long for us to have the time and money (a small gift from Dad) to do it. Eventually we'll put pavers on the other half where the pots are, but we're waiting for some to come up free on Marketplace.
I love how we naturally gravitate out there now - we eat breakfast out there, lounge around and read, drink wine, watch the birds fly past (and the freaking rabbits).
The paths now seem more inviting as they lead to the east side of the garden. Can you see the grapevine in full leaf now? It provides some shade from the west. It does have grapes come the season, but the birds get them first. We don't mind - it's more for shade than anything. Plus it looks pretty.
A friend of mine gifted me this kangaroo paw on the day of Dad's farewell and, not knowing where to put it, I thought it'd be nice in a pot against the decking. The birds will love it too.
The birch is out in full leaf now. I do need to move this yellow iris as it's a little close to the banksia, the leaf you see on the left side of the frame. That's okay - they are easy to transplant and ridiculously hardy.
Here's part of the east garden - you can see the courtyard inside the gazebo, and the pond. WE do need to fix the pond as it leaks after ten years of service. We'll make it a bit bigger. It's kinda essential for the animals around, and the bees.
I'm so proud of all the work we've put in to make this incredible garden. Here's the back half of the east garden - I can see the purple irises and the white sage and lavenders in the distance from the bathroom window!
And here's more of the back garden as you walk past the lemons and limes down toward the orchard. The chooks are to the right.
At last the white lavender is tall enough to elude the darn rabbits.
I do think one of the best things right now though is being in a hammock with a well deserved beer.
With Love,
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