A sucker for romance - perhaps! Valentine's has a special place for me and Deb. It was the day I used to 'pop the question' and as my wife will attest my planning went a little awry.

At the time I was working as a chef in an inner-city Perth cafe. I hadn't bothered to make any reservations for dinner anywhere until the day before - big mistake. Our cafe didn't open for dinner so I had forgotten how busy most restaurants became on the most romantic night of the year but after a few hundred phone calls I was gently reminded that perhaps I could have started this process a tad earlier.

Fortunately, as I was running out of names in the Yellow Pages, I struck paydirt. One restaurant in the heart of Subiaco, perhaps Perth's version of England's Soho, had places available. Maybe I should have questioned this peculiarity then but I was just excited to have somewhere to take my future wife-to-be. A tip for beginners: Never book into a restaurant that has seats available a day away from Valentine's - it can never be good. And it wasn't.

I'll leave it there but needless to say preparation was a rapid learning curve for me.

So this year I plan to be on the ball. I'm tossing up between the eternal dozen red roses, maybe a red rose bush for the garden, a love swing or even lingerie and chocolates. No. Those two never go together do they?

Posted by Stuart at 5:51 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Landscaping your garden is like gazing into a crystal ball and hoping that everything is going to grow, weather, change and adapt exactly the way you want it. You know what you want but you also know that some of the variables are outside your control.

This is my favourite aspect of my garden at the moment and has performed far better than I could ever imagine. Keep in mind that it is only 12 months old and the idea was to have a garden full of bustling natives that looked as if someone had formalised the bush. These plants still have a way to go to maturity but it is already beginning to surpass our expectations.

Fortunately we can borrow the landscape from our neighbours who are also growing some natives with a beautiful leucadendron poking it's head above the fence. We were able to keep some of our magnificent peppermint trees and even some of the carex grass in the foreground was originally part of the scene.

We often sit down in the afternoon with a cup of coffee admiring the view and anticipating what this will look like when the fences are covered and we really will feel like we're sitting in the bush.

What's your favourite aspect of your garden and did it naturally occur or have you helped it along the way?

Posted by Stuart at 5:37 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Tropical plants are not everybody's cup of tea especially if you happen to live in regions that are prone to snow and frosts during winter. But even if you are, you may still decide to keep some living indoors where the temperature can be controlled.

Bromeliads, hellaconias, kalanchoe are wonderful tropicals that can do well indoors but given a little help can survive well outdoors in most regions as well. Read on for some things to consider to keep them growing well...

• Temperature is the most important variable for tropical plants to survive and live healthy lives. They require temperatures to be between 10C (50F) and 26C (80F) constantly which is hard to achieve (although not impossible) when you don't live in tropical areas. The best way to keep tropical plants warm in the garden is to ensure they're protected from wind corridors and can receive an adequate amount of light.
• Light many tropical plants grow in rainforests where they are concealed below a canopy of taller trees and so only receive filtered light if any. If your tropical plant is placed in hard light it will struggle and unless repositioned will eventually die. If you are trying to create a rainforest in your garden you will need to be patient while the canopy is growing before you underplant with your favourite tropical plants.
• Water is not as important as is humidity. Tropical plants would normally be mulched extremely well on the floor of a rainforest and the warmth from the mulch accompanied with the moisture remaining from almost zero evaporation can usually be enough to sustain these plants. Others that require more usually are shaped to collect it themselves such as bromeliads. They don't require a lot of water to their roots but trap it in their leaves and disperse it from there.

Posted by Stuart at 4:47 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Peter Jackson, the director of the the Lord of the Rings trilogy and just recently the mega blockbuster King Kong recently took time out of his busy schedule to share his passion for gardening with gardeningtipsnideas.com.

G4D: Peter, you're a fantastic director and we've thoroughly enjoyed your recent movies, how do you take time out to relax and where does gardening fit into your lifestyle?

Peter: Tough question. When I'm not shooting a film I like to get back to my little shack in Wellington, NZ and get my hands dirty in the garden. I find that gardening takes my mind off the pressures of producing million-dollar movies.

G4D: So what does getting your hands dirty look like on your average R&R break?

Peter: Well it's metaphorically speaking of course. The landscapers are the real heroes of the garden I just point them as to where I think the plants will look the most dramatic.

G4D: In an industry such as film-making you obviously become immune to the critics. How do you respond to those who criticise your garden designs?

Peter: Pretty well, I think. (Laughing) Nobody's died yet! Seriously, I like to hear other people's opinions and I draw from their viewpoints. Even the most amateur gardener can sometimes come out with a pearler of an idea that can turn my garden into something bigger than King Kong.

G4D: Have any of the movies you've created ever inspired your garden design?

Peter: Sure, if you take a look down there (pointing to the most farther point in the yard) I had my landscaper F. Rodo create a little Rivendell for me. My children tell me that they've even seen glimpses of hobbits in the woods.

G4D: And your next gardening project?

Peter: The mountains you see behind me are an ecological disaster. I want to get a team up there and rejuvenate their environment. I want to plant trees, native shrubs and hopefully rid this mountain of that wretched snow forever. Hopefully we'll have a tropical rainforest that won't just be a prop.

Posted by Stuart at 7:52 AM | Permalink | Comments (4)

I trimmed the lavender hedge yesterday, sheared the coreopsis, hebes, and erigeron, dug out the spent wallflowers, poppies, chrysanthemums, lobelia and then stood back and realised my garden looked NAKED!!! It's a sickening, mixed with adventurous optimism, kind of feeling. It had to happen. The garden was looking tired and needed a midsummer freshen up.

So we packed up the kids and took a stroll down to the local nursery (Bunnings) where I became their biggest customer of the day - not! But we did buy a few good things to dress up the bare patches. Orange and butter yellow Cosmos and pure white alyssum seeds, purple lisianthus, pink dianthus, purple and pink asters and grey foliage lambs ears and cerastium.

Today - we're planting!!!

Posted by Stuart at 7:17 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Until recently I have never seen the point in palms. The reason: I live in a climate zone where they are possible to grow easily and many (or should I say most) new homeowners have grabbed hold of these low-maintenance plants and adorned their non-existant gardens with them. They have become so fashionable that they have now surpassed conifers as the "lazy-man's" plant of choice.

However, I have since discovered bromeliads in a big way and have now added a rainforest room to our garden (yet to be constructed) which means that palms are going to be a big part of this. Palms when planted in a way as to resemble their own environment look fantastic and distinctly display a tropical atmosphere.

So how do you keep them from looking tired and worn out in your garden? Read on....

• Climate most palms grow in the tropics or mediterranean climates. However it is possible to grow many of them in colder climes depending on what type of palm it is and where it originated from. It is also possible to try and recreate their ideal climate by grouping plants of similar needs together. For instance, I know of many gardeners who have successfully recreated their own rainforests to house their palms.
• Light when you're planting your palm consider how they would grow in their natural environment. If they love to strive for the light they are most likely sun-lovers whereas if they usually reside in the under-canopy they will most likely prefer filtered light. Do some research on your palm first as the lighting conditions for your palm could make or break their growth.
• Fertiliser Palms require more minor elements than most other plants so it is best to hunt around for a suitable fertiliser. One advantage of buying a good quality specific palm fertiliser is that the same product can be used to fertilise most of your non-palm garden as well.

  Fertilise your palms once every month from Spring through the end of Summer.
  

If you're looking for more information on growing palms in your garden take a look at The Palm Shop, The Palm Reader or The Master Gardener Online.

Posted by Stuart at 6:33 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

We originally bought this plant for our last house to hide an unsightly bore pump. It did okay in this position, although it didn't see a lot of light, but in the position it is in now (lots of morning sun and late afternoon shade) it is absolutely thriving. We planted it in this position, again to hide something but this time it was the pipes protruding from the hot water system.

This version, petiolatum, has soft leathery silver foliage while another type "Limelight" has limegreen foliage. It's dense foliage can hide just about anything and can soften walls very well. It displays non-descript white flowers in summer and its main growing period is spring through summer.

It is very easy to propagate from cuttings as we have done with this one and it has only taken 2 seasons to get to this size.

Posted by Stuart at 7:35 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Bringing your garden indoors has so many benefits from softening the space inside your house to purifying the air naturally. The variety of indoor plants is also growing as many people enjoy their benefits and as houses become more confined.

If you've ever wanted to grow plants indoors or you already are read on for tips to deal with some of the problems you may face...

• Leaf Problems nearly all of the problems you will face with indoor plants will show up in their leaves. They express themselves when they're struggling through their leaf presentation. If you have a specific problem with your indoor plant visit The Gardener's Network for a simple list to diagnose the cause.
• Fertilising indoor plants is the same as fertilising plants that grow out in your garden except that they do better when applied with a liquid fertiliser. Most plants will require an application of this every 2-3 weeks.
• Light the idea of keeping plants indoors is to keep them away from the harmful effects of too much light. However, it is possible to limit their light needs too much which will cause them to struggle. Most plants need some light but some will need to be next to a window while others will do better enjoying filtered light. If you're plant is suffering it could be because it is getting too much or too little light. Try adjusting the position of your plant and note any changes in its growth.

Posted by Stuart at 7:14 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

For all my non-Australian readers I feel I need to inform you that today, 26 January, is Australia Day. It's our version of the US' 4th of July except we're not quite as patriotic - we just enjoy having the day off. So if you were after some new posts today, unfortunately this is it.

I'm off enjoying the day in true Australia fashion by taking the day off!

Posted by Stuart at 5:46 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

OK. So you've got some plants in your garden that you just love and some that maybe causing some hassles. Imagine being able to put in an order to have your very own designed plant turn up next week via courier.

What would it look like? Would it flower? Would it be a foliage plant? Or could it even be a foliage plant that flowered and grew as tall as an oak?

If I designed my own plant it would have to be a tree because there are so many trees that I like some aspects of but find other characteristics unappealing or inconvenient. Take for example the mango tree. I love mangoes and I also love bananas. Imagine a tree that would only grow to a height of 3m, produce mangoes in summer and bananas in winter and flowered like a jacaranda.

Or, imagine a rose that constantly flowered, never had a dormant period and flushed different coloured roses each season. Your imagination could run wild couldn't it?

Posted by Stuart at 4:43 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)

The organic vs chemical debate is not one that will end in the near future especially as there seems to be no clear winner. It's a very subjective debate and while many people can see the benefits of buying organic produce only 1% of the Australian population do.

The Australian newspaper recently reported this article [since removed] even citing Rosemary Stanton, a local food celebrity, to be pushing the organic bandwagon. Are we any better off eating organic foods than we are purchasing produce normally from the supermarket? It seems the jury is still out.

Posted by Stuart at 4:32 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Container gardening is becoming more and more fashionable as people's gardens reduce in size. Even for the gardener with acres of land they are still very popular. The main benefit of container plants are that they allow a gardener to express themselves and change their garden at a whim.

Apart from the increased maintenance and water use there are few points that will help you from keeping your container garden looking fresh. Read on....

• Water Retention the biggest problem many gardeners find with their container plants is for them to dry out in summer and become waterlogged in winter. During the peak of the summer months you may need to water many of your container plants twice every day depending on the size of your plant and the size of the pot. This is because your plant will transpire naturally, as does your garden plants, but they also lose moisture as their is less soil to hold it.
• Fertilising your container plants is another area of concern. Because container plants require more water they lose nutrient though the soil quicker than a plant positioned in a garden bed. Use water-soluble slow release fertilisers in conjuction with a good liquid feed such as liquified worm castings or seaweed extract.
• Adequate Drainage is important to stop your plants roots rotting. Apart from having a good potting medium that can drain well, on bigger pots try filling the bottom with broken tiles, bricks or even small stones. Also, lift the pot off the ground with some type of support such as bricks or pot feet so that the container can allow the pot to drain.

Posted by Stuart at 4:07 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Spiders have never worried me as much as they have my wife and kids. I don't jump when I see them and I certainly don't get fearful about them in my house. I find them more an inconvenience than a scary predator who I perceive is planning to devour me while I sleep.

I'm not sure whether it's just a Busselton problem or that most areas have issues with spiders but it seems that keeping these pests at bay is an ongoing struggle. Our gutters are constantly home to many species of spider as they set their traps for flying insects which appears, on the surface, to be a bonus for us. However, I'm still brushing away flies and the midgees and mosquitoes that continually invade us as at night persist.

And while I still struggle with the pests these creatures are supposed to help keep at bay, I find my gutters completely redecorated with their webs which they treat like tents yet forget to pack up when they leave. How am I supposed to control these little critters and teach them to clean up after themselves?

Posted by Stuart at 5:49 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The beauty of growing climbers is that they add vertical dimension to your garden without taking up precious groundspace. Climbers can hide unsightly walls, soften areas with sharp corners, shade lifestyle zones of your garden and add something spectacular as they traverse their way up trees.

They can, however, become quite menacing when left untendered and can even cause irreparable damage to your house or other constructed projects. Read on for how to look after them....

• Well Maintained Support often gardeners misjudge the impact of climbers over the support they have provided for it. A full-grown wisteria could be in excess of a tonne when in flower and if it's not supported well enough will damage the support and the climber. Ensure that there are no signs of stress on the supporting frame and if possible replace the supporting frame if you've assessed that it's not capable of holding future growth.
• Pruning most climbers do well to be pruned after flowering. Usually this is only for shape as you direct it's growing tendrils against the supporting frame. You also need to prune to keep most climbers compact.
• Choosing the Right Climber if you don't choose your climber correctly it may end up biting you in the future. For instance, it is well known that Philodendrons can bring down trees they're allowed to grow on, and some ivy's can remove mortar from between bricks when they allowed to grow against your house. If you have a climber that's beginning to cause problems with the object that's supporting it remove the climber while you can and replace it with something that will have less detriment on its surroundings.

Posted by Stuart at 5:10 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Posted by Stuart at 6:44 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I know, this sounds like a negative post and I should be doing one about my 5 most loved plants or 6 things I enjoy about gardening or something of that ilk. Well..I'm not going to. I feel like having a rant about plants that I really don't like and I still wonder why they sell them in nurseries.

I may change my mind at a later date so I'm going to qualify this post by saying that it's My (Current) 5 most hated plants.
Do you have a list of plants you'd rather not see growing in gardens? Tell us about them maybe we could form a posse and route them out.

Anyway, without further adieu here is my list....

These are listed in most hated order so you can gauge the level of emotive dislike I have for these plants.

1. Celosia maybe it's the way people plant these in the garden that makes them so unappealing. Perhaps they would look good mass planted...perhaps! Though I doubt it very much. They just look so fake. In fact, if they made a fake version of this plant it would be the only imitated version that would look better than the original.
   






2. Vincas if you struggle to grow these in your garden you might contemplate changing hobbies. Anybody can grow these and usually do. They're horrible!! Plant petunias or pansies instead.
   





3. Spider Plant now there are versions of the this plant that I really like that's why this one is only in 3rd place. However, it is one of those plants that have been done to death and seem to trip over them everywhere.
   






4. Snapdragons I've even had these in previous gardens so I don't hate them that much maybe it's just another "everywhere" plant that people could, and should, find alternatives for. It's like eating chicken every night - eventually you get tired of it. Once they start selling these seeds in Kiddie-gro packs you know there no longer a challenge.
   





5. Amaranthus Tricolor why do people grow these as display plants - they look stupid. Sure, I've seen them mass planted which looks ....well, ok...but growing them singularly [shaking head] I struggle to comprehend.
   

Posted by Stuart at 6:04 AM | Permalink | Comments (12)

Conifers are incredibly versatile plants in the garden as they range from tall trees to those with weeping habits and also groundcovers. The conifer family consists mainly of cypresses, junipers, firs, cedars, larches, spruces and pines and is more at home in a formal type setting.

The beauty of conifers has to be their low maintenance appeal. Apart from good soil preparation including drainage and mulching there isn't a lot that is needed for conifers to look good. They suffer from very few problems and the ones they do struggle with, mainly pests, can usually be rectified naturally.

Read on for a couple of problems that you might be facing or if you're after even more information.

• Rust this disease can often strike conifers and once the tree becomes infected it is practically impossible to remove it. The best defense against this disease is to keep your conifers well mulched and well watered. If you notice one of your conifers to have contracted rust remove it immediately before the others can become infected.
• Mites these pests are more pro-active in the cool weather months as they produce webs on the underside of the foliage and suck out plant juices reducing chlorophyll in the plant. The best way to control mites is to hose off or apply an insecticidal soap.

Posted by Stuart at 5:12 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The first coat of paint has now been completed and I'm glad that I don't have to do this job more than once every decade. If you read my Gutter Trash post previously you would know that we're changing the colour, only marginally though.

In fact, it's so marginal that I'd be surprised if anybody ever notices apart from my wife who keeps telling me that it's 100 times better. I'm feeling like it's a case of the Emperor's New Clothes as I'm standing there admiring the new paint job. Am I imagining that these gutters have taken on a whole new look?

I still have the second coat to go and the previous colour was quite dark so maybe the gutters will improve when I've finished that one! We'll wait and see....

Posted by Stuart at 5:39 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

On Saturday we took a trip to Mandurah (a bustling city of 60,000, 80km south of Perth) to Abingdon Miniature Village where we met my parents and my grand-parents (I told you I was still a spring chicken!). It was inspired by the owner's visit in 1999 to Cockington Green in Canberra (Alice will have visited here) and they began construction in March 2000.

Most of the miniature models are exact replica's from some of England's more well-known areas and are hand made using a 1:10 scale.

It's not clear enough to see in this picture but nestled amongst this flowering groundcover is a little village set to appear as though it were built in a valley.

This lake has a model train running around the perimeter of it which does two circuits and then stops at the train station. It then waits a couple of minutes and for someone to walk across the bridge and trigger a sensor before it starts it's journey again.

As you can see, conifers are a big inclusion in this garden with more than 2,500 from over 100 varieties it is the largest conifer display in WA.

This maze was incredible and we almost lost a couple of kids in it. I usually baulk at these as being a little gimmicky but this one was quite hard to work out. They are currently developing a circular one in another part of the garden.

Posted by Stuart at 5:08 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Deciduous trees are a landscaper's delight because they have so many inherent characteristics that can benefit any garden such as;

• Autumn leaf colour


• Summer shade/ Winter Openess


• and, their frame structure during the winter months to name a few

If you want to know how to care for them read on....

• Pruning there may come a time when you decide to prune your deciduous tree either because it's shape is becoming disfigured, broken branches or some of the limbs are interferring with other structures or trees. If it's not performed correctly your pruning efforts may affect the health of your tree and in extreme cases even kill it.
  

  Taken from Powerhousetv.com

  Start with a halfway cut under the limb and away from trunk. Then perform a second cut further away from the limb but on top of it until the branch gives way and breaks. The remove the stub back at the trunk. Don't apply any paint or chemical to seal the wound and leave it to naturally heal itself.
  



• Lack of water if you live in an area where the annual rainfall is not enough to sustain your tree, supplemtary waterings will be needed. Make sure a well is made around the base of the trunk and keep the area watered without allowing it to become too moist. Deciduous trees require more water when they've awaken from their dormant period and beginning to grow their new leaves.
  


• Root Disturbance deciduous trees dislike any major root disturbance. If you plan to dig through the roots for the purposes of laying footings or conduit for electrical work, try another way first. Root disturbance is the main reason for deciduous tree deaths as it hinders the tree's ability to receive nutrients that it previously could.
  

Posted by Stuart at 5:05 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

After a busy week of press interviews, autograph sessions and refining some magical skills we caught up with Harry Potter to discuss his gardening hobby.

Harry: It's all about balance. Knowing when to say "Enough is enough" and take some time off. There'll always be an evil character to destroy and I'm realising more and more that it's not solely my repsonsiblity. The Fab Four are getting a bit of press at the moment...leave it to them I say.

G4D: What are you working on in your garden at the moment?

Harry: Lighting. I read your Hot Gardening Predictions for 2006 and realised I was lacking some oomph! in my garden at night. I wanted to show off some of my plantings and landscape features regardless of when the sun went down.

G4D: Some people are saying your gardening methods are a little unorthodox how would you respond to your critics?

Harry: Sure, here they may seem a little different but at Hogworts they laugh at me for being a purist. I make my own compost, admittedly they have worms of doom crawling throughout, so that may seem a tad queer, but mostly I plant annuals, mow the lawn...you know, the usualstuff gardeners do.

G4D: And you never use magic?

Harry: There have been times for sure when I've had guests coming over for lunch and I couldn't be bothered weeding the front flower beds. But that's a rarity.

G4D: You've been in the news recently as a greens activist. Has that stemmed from your gardening activities?

Harry: Sure. I hate seeing trees cut down to make pencils and drum sticks. I think we need to look after our natural vegetation before it all vanishes.

G4D: You also unveiled your recent landscaping project at your home with many of your friends, and obviously the press, attending. How did it go and what was their reaction?

Harry: I think they were pleasantly surprised actually. They didn't say a lot but I knew they were a little overwhelmed with what I'd constructed.

Posted by Stuart at 5:28 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I sat outside yesterday morning, basking in the warm sunshine and enjoying my garden when I was interrupted by two frolicking monarch butterflies. I pondered for a mere moment contemplating what this means for my garden. It means CATERPILLARS!!! Sure, butterflies are nice and everybody wants butterflies in their garden but caterpillars...well they're another thing.

So I started researching my recent inhabitants and found - yes, to my surpise! - that many people actually develop their gardens in the hope of attracting these mystical winged creatures. You can plan your own butterfly garden by taking a few simple steps that most serious gardeners would dread.

One piece of advice was that

Maintaining a damp, slightly salty area in the yard may attract groups of these butterflies.

These butterflies have got to go.

Posted by Stuart at 6:28 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

I really enjoy this groundcover. It's so adaptable as it can grow in full-sun or almost full-shade. I've used it twice in my garden, once here as it fills in between the slabs which softens the whole aspect and again out the front under a group of Silver Birches. I've naturalised some daffodils under the dichondra in this bed and it looks great in spring.

It takes a little while to get going but give it some liquid fertiliser, spring sunshine and warmth and a regular supply of water and you'll cover any spot in the garden.

Posted by Stuart at 6:10 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Growing your own fruit is very rewarding and with very little effort fruit trees will continue rewarding you year after year. The limiting factor for many gardeners is space but with grafted hybrids now on the market and many gardeners deciding to keep their trees in pots, fruit trees are becoming an easier proposition.

Just like any plant, fruit trees have their own needs and can become fatigued just as easy. Read on to find out how to deal with them......

• No Fruit if your fruit tree isn't producing any fruit it's most probably due to a lack of sunlight getting in amongst the branches. Try staking your vertical branches in a horizontal position by either using weighted bags hanging from the tips of the branch or literally tying the end of the branch to a pre-positioned stake in the ground. This will allow sunlight to penetrate the centre of your tree and should result in flowers and fruit next season.
• Too Much Fruit can also be a problem. If they're all left to ripen the weight of the fruit could break branches. It can also increase the risk of fruit diseases when too much fruit falls to the ground and is allowed to sit around and rot. The best way to deal with this is to selectively prune some of the bearing branches too limit fruit production. This will also result in better fruits as they're given more room to grow and they don't have to share nutrients and water with more fruit.
• Pruning is an important part of fruit trees and should be performed while the tree is dormant (late-winter). Remove branches that are crowding the centre of the tree and any that are broken or growing irregularly. There are many ways to prune and train fruit trees but I think the most consideration needs to be regarding how you will get your fruit off the tree as it grows. If you choose a central leader pruning regime you may find that you will need a large ladder to obtain your fruit.
• Fertilising your fruit tree should happen immediately after pruning. Use lots of newspaper to circle the perimeter of your branch growth with blood and bone underneath it. This will keep the weeds down. Add a generous helping of sheep manure and then cover with pea-straw. This should be enough for the tree right through the fruiting season.

Posted by Stuart at 5:31 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The most interesting gardens are those that have incorporated some sculptures, statues or ornaments in amongst their plantings. However, just as interesting as these are they can also bring down the tone of your garden if placed innapropriately.

Have you ever seen a tropical garden without an Easter Island head or a little Buddha? Or a cottage garden without a sundial? Now, imagine swapping those two pieces over and hosting them in the other garden style. It just doesn't work. The trick is being able to define your style and then purchase your ornaments to complement it.

One of our garden rooms is based on an Australian native theme. There are lots of things we could, and most probably will, decorate it with. At the moment our only ornaments are these jarrah fence posts which we collected from the bush. They don't look out of place because people expect to see them in this setting. We will add things like rusty steel buckets filled with cascading "somethings", plough shears etc.

Another of our garden rooms is cottage style where these things would look out of place. We would do better to have sundials, statues, bird baths etc to accentuate what we're trying to display.

Analyse each statue, sculpture or ornament to see whether it fits or not. The golden rule is: Better to not have something that have a decoration that seems out of place.

Posted by Stuart at 7:54 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Yesterday I found myself cleaning my non-seamless gutters in the middle of summer. I usually leave this job until the end of Autumn (Fall for those who live in places where they call Autumn "Fall") just before the first rains of winter. It makes sense to do it then because you can unclog all the debris before the gutters force the rainwater to your downpipes. It doesn't make sense cleaning them in the middle of summer!

That is unless you plan to repaint them. A long story made short.....we chose the wrong colour blue on our pre-selection colour chart and when we noticed the painter begin painting them we realised we'd made a mistake. This painter was as unhelpful as speed humps on a runway so here we are, 2 years later, repainting them with the colour we originally wanted.

Anyway, back to the gutter trash. I couldn't believe how much debris could accumulate in my gutters since last Autumn but it was like winning a composting lottery. If only the tress around my house could save me the time by directly depositing their leaves onto my compost heap, it would be perfect.

Posted by Stuart at 7:40 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)