Welcome to the machines and muscles post!
Other than sweltering through two of three summer heatwaves (number three due this weekend), where tempers were tried and endurance was at an all time low, so much work has been smashed out these past several weeks.
Proud of absolutely everyone involved, myself included. We have lifted more, dug more and carried more that any of us thought was possible. Quite satisfying, really :)
I've also realised that I am willing to commit to one full day a week. That doesn't include watering, especially as it's been an unusually dry summer for us. The reasons for this decision are simple. I have something to look forward to each week and I don't burn myself out. And (women's libbers, don't read on!), someone's gotta clean the house and clothes.
Now, take a look below at the amazing work achieved in what can arguably be the hottest summer I can honestly remember...
Hubby with his new toy.
After realising that digging by hand the week before with Paul was just insanity, the church hired a digger to help prepare for a new slab.
Michael did an amazing job landscaping with rocks in our newest garden bed. I love how they add a new dimension to the garden.
Thanks to Dan and Pete for the donation...and Pete for helping hubby carry and load them.
After the work out front was done, hubby headed out back to landscape the bike track.
My bougainvilleas are growing out of sight, but this is the only flower I have seen for months.
Any bougainvillea growers out there with tips on how to encourage blooms?
My eldest daughter, Lizzy, even got into this digger thing. Here she is, helping clear the creek.
Gotta say, proud mum :)
Hopefully, should it ever rain properly again, the creek won't flood as quickly.
My geranium is loving its new slope position. I've also added agapanthus offshoots to not only help stabilise the slope, but pretty it up too.
Shout out to three amazing men: Pete Wal, Craig Chalmers, and my man, who all worked hard laying mesh ready for concreting.
Hubby is thrilled to be learning new skills.
Love his heart.
This man is a living legend!
Poppa Ian Wilkins,
we love you,
and are forever inspired by your heart, hard work and wisdom.
This octogenarian is not afraid to step up and volunteer to dig post holes for the fence he himself built!
Looking a little underwhelming now, but these hydrangeas will add so much charm to this area when they mature.
I love Gumtree! Hubby found an add for free tyres, and a day later, this wonderful man took time to deliver 2 loads, because we are a community garden.
Now, we have a bike track edging ready to go, and a few spare for planting in.
I am so excited to see this fence go in! Shady cottage garden, here I come :)
Thanks also to my Lizzy for sparing time across 2 days to help out with digging and tyre moving.
Here, hubby is adding rapid set cement to the post holes.
In no time, this will be a stunning, welcoming entrance garden.
As requested, ten tyres stored up the top ready for me to paint and plant out.
After much research and brain wracking, I decided tyres were the best option for planting out under trees where roots are an issue, and for some native regeneration planting out back where watering won't be easy.
I'm not sure I would plant edible produce in any, but for other plants, I think they are a perfect, recycled planting solution.
And there you have it! An amazing amount of progress despite the hell on earth heat we've been experiencing.
Looking forward to bringing you the next installment!
Thanks for sharing the journey with us :)
No comments:
Post a Comment