creating a garden

 This is the first time I have ever created a garden from scratch. Exciting and terrifying.  There have been moments of absolute surety and absolute indecision. And now a year in, I can't believe how much it has grown. There are lots of positives but also many plants that 'aren't quite in the right spot.' So now it's time to move things around, pull a few out that have gone out of favour plus add a few more, specificaly trees for shade. 

Locals warned me that "it's not called the Bay of Plenty for nothing" (i.e.everything grows bigger and faster than the label says) and they sure were right! So parts of my garden are overplanted and need thinning.

Oh well, I suppose that is what gardening is all about - ongoing change and growth. It's never a static endeavour. Here are some photos from the beginning to now:

my much neglected blog

 Wow, it is almost a year since I posted on here. Realistically, probably one of the most 'different' years of my life. Not necessarily in a bad way but in the adjustment to a completely new retired lifestyle in a new and totally different location. 

Anyhoo - I'll resurrect this blog and see if it still works for me. 

I'll begin with a few snaps from the year neglected:

day 25

Level 3 begins next Tuesday for two weeks then reassessed. TOD on Tuesday then schools to open for those who need it. Government information very clear and specific, all questions answered. Lots to organise.

Photos from the garden...

day 12

Fushias. Macro photography. It's nice to have the time.

Today I got groceries today via click and collect - you have to order a week ahead but...I got high-grade flour (there is no flour in the supermarkets) so I can bake hot cross buns for Easter! This lockdown certainly highlights how our society is so used to having access to absolutely everything and anything we want 24/7. 

day 8

Autumn. I couldn't have asked for a lovelier time to be at home.
The hydrangeas are doing their autumn thing - turning all sorts of amazing colours.

day 2

It's autumn, my favourite time of year. All the fruit trees are laden with goodies.

Unfortunately, there are only two of us to consume it all.

japanese anemones

My kind of flowers, Japanese anemones. They grown like weeds and look wonderful when just plonked into a Crown Lynn vase. 

I have acquired a new high end lens for my camera also and attribute some great shots to this 24-70 2.8L Canon lens. Enjoying getting to know it. 

lavender blue

On my way to somewhere else, I visited Alphra Lavender just out of Te Awamutu. Lavender farms smell amazing and the buzz of the bees is a constant. Photo heaven.

hydrangeas

My garden is full of hydrangeas and I have take a zillion photos of them over the summer. I love hydrangeas. Once upon a time I hated them. My grandmother had them in her garden when I was a child and I thought they were flowers 'just for old ladies,' like lavender. Now I love both.

fairy ring

There's a fairy ring on my back lawn! That's a first. Wikipedia knows all about them -  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fairy_ring . Mine is not quite as perfect as some best example photos however it's pretty obvious when you wander down the back - holy moly a circle of mushrooms!

Haven't seen any faires yet though, will keep an eye out. 

blue flowers

It's been a great summer for blue flowers in my garden. Some continue to bloom. I have to remember to take the time each day to enjoy them.

busy as a bee...

...with a bum full of honey! It's one of my favourite expressions - always brings a smile to my face. As a lover of blue flowers, my garden is full of these busy bees doing their thing. Thank you bees.

parsley, sage, rosemary and ...

oregano, coriander, mint, basil, spearmint, vietnamese mint. I love being able to pick fresh herbs whenever the fancy takes me. They are the most satisfying thing to grow.

spring in my garden

Blue daisy, pansy, magnolia. 

kowhai

It must be spring, the Kowhai is flowering in my garden.