Spring has sprung!

G'day again bloggers. Well Spring has sprung in earnest! Even though there wasn't a lot of rain for September, only 38ml (about the same as last year), the grass has already taken off and all the wonderful botanic things that happen at this time of year are happening. The roses are well on the way to flowering, the iris are either starting to or thinking about it while most Magnolias are pushing any remaining flowers off to make way for new leaves.

Our new courtyard behind McKellar House is finished too. The lawn mower strip was laid and lawn was sown down. In the end I put a fruit tree, a Peacherine in the centre of the lawn. As it stands, the grass is about ready for its first cut which should make the whole area look settled in. I noticed growth on a couple of the shrubs too, and the Berberis are in leave, not that one can tell as the new growth is camouflaged by the pine bark.

Around the place, I have been poisoning as well. Its the usual spring flush of weeds and ash seedlings emerging at every opportunity. Top dressing the lawns is another task that has been wanting in the last few years, so we began that as well. This involves identifying lawns where the soil level has sunk to the point they have become uneven or lower than the surrounding paths or lawn mower strips. This can be caused by vehicular or pedestrian traffic on them or natural settling of the soils. We use fern sand as the top up soil as it spreads easily and new lawns can be established quickly in it. Also, as Kikuyu is our lawn of choice around here, I find it spreads easily in the new loose fern sand.

Seedling wise, the sweet peas I planted in the raised garden bed at the Birches seem to love their spot as they have taken over the whole bed, clamoured up the ornamental windmill and spilled out over the whole bed onto the surrounding path. They're just starting to flower. Last week I put a few petunias in the other Birches flower bed and look forward to their colour and fragrance in a few weeks.

At home, the broad beans are flowering and the red cabbages are huge and on the verge of forming hearts. I've since planted tomatoes, zucchinis and basil seedlings, though it could be a bit early for the basil. Worth it though in the hope of some early pesto.

Cheers

Craig

Photo: Magnolia "Phillip Tregunna"