| Hi everyone, you've probably noticed I put a little update on the moving roses thread, so I'll not repeat that.
As usual with us things are proceeding very slowly. Hubby decided to take a bit longer break from working than originally advised. Still, fair enough I suppose, the original 6 months was pretty obscured by grief over his dad's demise. Should be back on the treadmill soon enough and we can confidently proceed, the head hunters seem very active now he's put his head up into the fray. Everyone can be suitably appalled - we plan to build an enormous great house, more like a small village, but consider that ours will not be out of proportion with the land or surrounds. It will be down hill from the road, and with so much land around it and the radically improved facade, it should look very nice. We decided to go with the trend and accept that in Sydney these days kids stay living with family longer than when we were starting out, so we may as well be comfortable. The house could be accommodating as many as 6 or more adults, plus the odd aged parent sleepover. That's another of the things that delayed us, trying to find a house that suited our block (which has a bit of slope), our pocket, our situation and wasn't FUGLY(as the kids would say). Well apparently many councils have learned a thing or two from recent times and have amended the development control plans to prevent houses that seem to be all garage from the front. Builders are adapting accordingly and we find that this has resulted in the house most likely now available in a MUCH more attractive form (what a relief)and they've even just opened a display sample, which is reassuring. It also hase some internal plan improvements as well, and I now pronounce it perfect...well perfect other than the fact we'll have to go back to having a mortgage. To cap it all off, with the recent fall in the housing market, we seem to be detecting the first signs of an improved deal from the building company too, so more the better.
At least we're pretty sure what's the agenda now though, so we're really getting stuck in to getting plants out of the way now it's the right weather. Gosh I've got a lot of daylilies!! I'm so relieved they're so easy to move!
I'm still really worried about the roses and basix, which has been very discouraging over this past season. Trouble is, we can't be certain how we'll go with the basix assessment until we're ready to hand over cash to start the process in earnest. I'm not worried about the house, but they take into account the size of the garden and what's in it. I doubt they'll favour roses, probably expecting pampered prima donnas rather than the concentration I run here.
With the water situation here in Sydney, and the size of the garden, I've been REALLY stingy re the water, not even running the drippers. Flowers diminish of course, but the teas have come through really well....and Monsieur Tillier, what a star! He'd have to be my current favourite I think. Should be in EVERY rose garden in this country (well if there's a big enough spot anyway). No surprise, the roses I bought in Hay are troopers too....well they'd have to be wouldn't they, they survived without care for a century more or less. I haven't planted out my cemetary rose yet, I was waiting till now to disturb, since they're only cuttings from a year ago. I've noticed that the one on the grave has flowered and flowered all summer no matter the heat or lack of rain. I am expecting BIG things when it does go in the ground.
Reduced flowers over summer doesn't really bother me when I'm working anyway. I HATE the heat and tend to hibernate, so really spring and autumn I notice much more, half native garden is good as so many of the natives flower over winter always a good show. Anyway, so many other plants don't constantly flower, I'm not worried about letting the roses retreat a bit through the hotter weather. I like having a break and rejoicing once again as a new flush comes through when there's been some rain or we hit cooler weather. The salvias and catmint etc keep powering through to give colour right through. I accept that the garden needs to be sustainable, so it just has to adapt. Some of the more demanding HTs might get culled. If they haven't been able to adapt to the regime here, well, another rose will. This will apply to some of the yellows, and perhaps the ones that get raves in cooler areas. Joyfulness, maybe Michael Crawford I think. They seem to be the least enthusiastic. Most of the DAs do pretty well.
Oh Tiffany is starting to get going, Glorious thing that she is. Peter frankenfeld has also done well, and Australia Felix too. Editor Stewart also doing well for the trials of where he is positioned and his youth. He'll get priority for an improved site. Squatters dream proved fussier than Mrs Dudley Cross, much to my surprise, and lost a couple of canes. I'll give it a bit more molly coddling next season. (the odd bucket of kitchen water)
I can't remember if I posted that the Superb Fairy Wrens are nesting in the garden now, and the little family is now 4 instead of just mum and dad. I'm a bit worried about them during construction too. Still, most of the yard won't be disturbed. They should do OK.
OH and exciting "confirmation"! I'm really sure we have Cumberland land snails in the garden. I found a live one at last. Usually I just see the occassional different looking shell. So NO defender around my garden anymore (not that I used it much anyway _ the orchid pots I'll make an exception...surely with the size of the garden being bloody minded about the orchid spikes isn't too much of a demand, they're in the front well away from where I've found the snails anyway). I'll just have to keep my fingers crossed for the daffodils, snails don't seem to bother the jonquils at all. My other recommendation for drought tolerant is - wait for it....drum roll.....daphne! I've got one planted along the driveway. A more suitable plant for dry, lightish soil conditions I have never found. Flowering it's head off right now. Fabulous. I think I've watered it twice in 12 months - when it was considerate enough to look a bit dull and thristy to tip me off, other than that it lives on rainfall with quite reasonable amounts of nearby root competition. Grows really really well, quite big now. One day I'm going to get round to propagating it and trying a hedge along the driveway. See how we go, the current ones 3 or 4 years old now, so worth a go. Anyway, this is supposed to be roses forum, and I'd better go anyway. I'll try to keep in better touch. I don't know where my time has gone this year. Having a house husband is supposed to give more time rather than less...a puzzle. |
