Woo Hoo a Fine Day !!

 It has been so good to see the sun ,even intermittent sun is good. At the moment I think we are all trying to keep up with the weeding due to the perfect conditions. Weeds are beneficial too so I never worry too much about the odd weed unless they are taking over something better. The constant rain is making mulch break down fast and the large mulch piles are turning to compost quicker. There is something about that earthy mulch smell teeming with worms that I love. The soil is alive and worms are thriving.  Speaking of worms reminds me of the time our friends , The Collies  bought up a canoe and I had a fishing line and decided it would be good to try to fish down on the Mary River. Not having any bait I dug up a few worms and put them and soil in a bag and we headed off. We went to Kenilworth and Little Yabba only to find that there really wasn't enough water to launch the boat and even less to fish in. Anyway we had a picnic and the worms had a great day out and they returned to the garden in the afternoon. K

The fernery looking lush 

The Shambles opening this Easter

It's been five years since we opened our garden, "The Shambles". Every opening is special for us and we see it as a way of sharing the garden and inspiring people to garden . It also brings the community together in fundraising and is a chance for us to catch up with return visitors as well as meeting new people. 

Our garden has seen many new changes that will interest visitors and we are kept interested with seasonal growth the addition of new plants and the on going work of maintaining the garden. I love the variety of work that a garden offers. On a really hot day I can find a shady corner to weed and I tend to work around the garden in stages and will attend to an area such as the fernery or the south rose garden so there is always something new to work on. Michael likes the planning , the documentation and maintaining the website . He has been responsible for the advertising for Open Garden events and looks forward to talking plants with visitors to the garden. 

This garden is set on less than one acre and so it is the smallest in the group and yet it is a full and complex garden. Through thoughtful design the garden is totally accessible and as it has developed over thirty years it has a maturity and sense of permanence that only happens over time. The garden surrounds a 112 year old workers cottage . It has seen our family grow up and has provided the backdrop for numerous social gatherings of family and friends over the years. It is a hide and seek garden that children love to explore and it is over flowing with plants and , secret pathways and art works. It has survived droughts an intense wet seasons and has a resilience that  gardens in Queensland need.

This year with reliable rain we have seen substantial plant growth and the garden is looking lovely. By Easter there will be a variety of flowering shrubs in bloom and perhaps a nip in the air . We really look forward to seeing what

people think of our new additions to the garden. See you in the garden, Kyleigh

Opening for the first time Jeff and Lou's garden " Lower Woontooba"

 As first timers , Jeff and Louise admit to feeling a bit apprehensive about opening their garden at Montville." Lower Woontooba" is at 238 Western Avenue and will be open on the 16th an17th of April . They have nothing to worry about as this garden may be relatively new but it is set on a spectacular site with lovely view to the south west into rainforest. It is well hidden behind a hedge so it is not until you enter the property  and see the old Queenslander nestled into the slope beneath a Jacaranda tree that makes you want to explore further  . To the left of the house there are terraced gardens with raised beds planted with  shrubs, perennials and roses. The pathways lead around the house and beyond to the studio which is further down the slope .There is an orchard and fenced vegetable garden , a viewing deck and plenty of space with lovely  green views. This is a good garden to wander in and to see just how much Jeff and Loise have done in a short time. Gradually the garden will evolve and hopefully reopen to the public so people can see the progress. There is something lovely about visiting interesting gardens and seeing how the owners manage their site and getting a glimpse of their vison for the garden.   Opening a garden is a daunting prospect but it is worthwhile and rewarding as people are supportive and often leave inspired to work in their own gardens. It is a day out for some visitors but for the owners it is the culmination of years of work and several months of preparation in the lead up to the day . We applaud Jeff and Lou for taking the first step and sharing their garden.  Don't miss out on seeing this delightful garden  this Easter . 

Don't miss a visit to Rowena's Garden 16th 17th April

 Rowena's garden  " Wongawilli "  Manley Drive ,Montville 

This garden will be open on the 16th and 17th April  Easter  and is well worth a visit .I believe that most people will be blown away by the scale and variety of subtropical tropical and temperate plants that are on display. I still get amazed by it and I have been fortunate to visit often and through the changing seasons. 

Rowena not only had a vision for her house but for the taming of the steep site from the beginning. Several key features such as the terracing , the swimming pool , ornamental ponds ,stone walls and curved drive have defined spaces in the garden so there are plenty of picturesque views to be had as you walk along meandering paths and down stairs to lower levels. So often a house is built without any consideration to the landscape and a garden will often look like an after thought with a very formulaic style. This property is the exception as both the house and the garden have evolved and there is a unity as the house is nestled into it's environment. This garden is complex and has been carefully curated by Rowena who has a particular interest in tropical plants having lived in New Guinea and Fiji . Having a large garden where the trees were planted early on has ensured there are micro climates that support different plants .There are seasonal surprises such as temperate bulbs, stunning orchids and flowering trees. The fact is that there is no real "down "time in a Queensland gardens and a great deal of work and planning is being done by Rowena year round

 

EASTER OPEN GARDENS AT MONTVILL,E

Plant stalls and refreshments available

Sat 16th and Sunday 17th April 2022   9am to 4 pm

1. “The Shambles’ 85 Western Avenue Montville.  Kyleigh and Michael Simpson have opened their garden since 2001 and in 2019 raised $10000 for the Queensland Drought Appeal

2. “Lower Woontooba” 238 western Avenue Montville. Louise and Jeff Tasker are opening their large country garden for the first time.

3. “Wongawilli” 19 Manley Drive   Montville. Rowena Cavanagh has raised money for reconstruction in Fiji after cyclone Winstone in 2016. Rowena has also provided valuable assistance with Open Gardens at "The Shambles"

Visitors will enjoy three fascinating large country gardens, each with a different character in their beautiful borrowed landscapes 

Plants of all sorts for sale 

Refreshments   “Rising Scone Café” at “The Shambles"

Funds raised for Cittamani Hospice  www.cittamanihospice.com.au

Visit beautiful Montville village and the scenic Blackall Range attractions. Perhaps make a weekend of it with some Montville accommodation. https://www.montvilleguide.com.au/montville-accommodation
 

Entry $10 to each garden, cash only please   children free

See  www.montvillegarden.com

http://www.facebook.com/montvillegarden

https://youtu.be/NCD_gXbgyUk

the big catch up

Just a few short weeks after the rain started and the garden has revived from the prolonged dry weather. It's as if it never happened. Suddenly it is time to pick up the pace with garden jobs and to tackle the weedy bits and tame some crazy shrubs. Yesterday Brent came to take down some higher branches on the red cedar, and bolly gum, macadamia and a few others. This has followed up on his last visit when he tamed the front hedge of duranta and privet  ,a job that no one really looks forward to but looks amazing when it is done. That's about it for help in the garden now and the rest is down to me which is fine.
Yesterday was a sad day as we watched the big bunya pine next door get taken down as it was dead. It now lies on the ground and Shadow for some reason is scared of it. A few weeks ago I collected several small Bunya trees from around the base so we might be able to grow another one near by. I like properties that have a few large statement trees , just to marvel at their size and age and Bunyas are particularly important on the Blackall Range .
We have had a couple of visiting groups recently and people seem to enjoy visiting our garden. It is interesting to see what gets the most attention. The coral fountain is popular and lately it has been the begonias and brugmansias that have been in full flower.The masses of macadamia nuts on the ground are also noticed and some people even race up on the verandah to use our vice to open some.  Family visits are generally more frantic with children running around the path ways, looking for bugs and hanging out with Shadow.

Statues in the garden.

Well, I love a good statue as much as the next person and they definitely draw the eye and create a focus in the garden landscape. The questions are what?, why?, where ?, how ? and who?

What statue will you choose for your garden ? Do you have a spiritual need for a deity or will a classic gnome or wild animal such as a giraffe or elephant be on your wish list. These recognisable statues often tell visitors to the garden something about the owner . Sometimes they raise more questions than answers.
Statuary and garden ornamentation often includes features such as concrete balls and some abstract features involving water. It is worth mulling over the statue you will choose for some time as a rushed purchase can lead to tears.
Why? Of course the why seems such an obvious question, why not ? Statues are everywhere , they are in the shops , magazines and on tv. They are all around your suburb and they can be an inexpensive addition to any garden.   Resin , plastic and concrete statues come in all shapes, sizes and colours and there are sure to be many that will appeal to you.
Where? This is where many gardens come undone.A statue can make or break a garden. A constipated cupid sitting on a ball needs an appropriate spot in the garden,maybe a private corner?
A cheeky gnome or large green frog too needs just the right spot to make it work.
How ? This question runs through your mind as soon as you purchase the statue. First of all , How the heck is that thing going to fit in the car ? Seats down, seats up, seat belt , ropes or special delivery? If the sculpture is light weight and slightly quirky such as a family of meerkats this will be no problem unless you are using public transport. If on the other hand you are taken by a life sized version of Michelangelo's David or a Greek goddess it might be time to organise a ute or trailer and lots of blankets and ropes. The last thing you want is something to break off David!
Who ? This does not really apply to the statue but more to who is going to be viewing the statue. Who visits your garden  ? Do you want to get a reaction ? Do you want to offend? Luckily gardeners are so polite they will generally say they love your statues to your face but over on the other side of a bush they are either laughing their heads off or seriously questioning your sanity.
I say go for it , buy or make some garden statuary for now and for the archaeologists of the future. Just imagine the delight when the 2060 Time Team turn up at your place and dig up the meerkats , the oversized snail and the cheeky gnome . Kyleigh