For the Kandos Gardens Fair, I was lucky to be provided sculptures from some of the local sculptors. The Kandos/Rylstone district is home to many talented artists and craftspeople and it was wonderful to benefit from and display their wonderful creations.
Inflitrator Glitch by Mr & Mrs Brown
Firstly, attracting the eye of passers-by was ‘Glitch – Infiltrator Robusta’ byMr & Mrs Brown, the talented and friendly owners of the lovely Brown Owl Gallery in the main street of Kandos.
Ludwig Micek provided the “birds on bikes” – Balance and On Your Bike – that looked so at home positioned in front of the back wall and Follow Me was stunning and appropriate with a beautiful gold angel towering over the Grotto and visible from many aspects of the Convent garden.
The sculptures attracted much attention and looked very comfortable in their settings. I hope I get the opportunity to showcase more talent in the garden in future.
Well, we did it. The Convent participated with other gardens in the district for a weekend of open gardens. I have no idea how many people came through but anywhere from 200 – 400. From locals who wanted to see what I’ve done with the building to people in Sydney who just love gardens.
The Chapel greeted visitors for the first time since its makeover
My Sydney friends acted as my volunteers, for which I will be eternally grateful, and it made the job so much easier for me. I met so many lovely people and now know many more locals. People seemed relieved that the Convent was being treated with respect and, if anything, was just going back to what it always should have been. The Chapel was open and did me proud.
My garden was the “newest” in that most of it was very newly planted and was positioned as “in progress”. Many visitors were keen to see it in a few years time, particularly once the new roses have kicked in. Given I’m not a local and have planted things I love and experimented a bit, many commented that I had plants not often seen in the area but which seemed to be thriving and they were going to now try – which was particularly rewarding to hear.
The Cornflowers – “Look at me, look at me!”
Whilst most of the roses (particularly the original ones) had finished flowering, some plants held back to show their best for the weekend. I think the cornflowers wanted to own the show and dominated in a few spots (and were much loved and admired). They worked well planted so thickly, which was quite unintended and I had no idea they would grow so high. Monday saw heavy winds and a number have now snapped and fallen, so the weekend was their pinnacle.
The standard Good Samaritan roses chose their time to flower well and were much admired
By some strange fate, the Good Samaritan standards chose the weekend to be in their glory and were much admired. The Fairy roses also chose this to be their weekend. I knew the lovely little wisteria-like plants would be my downfall and had tried to find out their names to no avail. Many people asked what they were and no-one could help, including some seriously knowledgable people. Of course I accidentally stumbled across it straight after – indigofera decor. Bugger!
The name stumped us all – indigofera decor. Apologies to everyone who asked!The Lobelias were electric down the side bed
The verandah side garden bed (the pinks, blues and whites with the sparky lobelia at their best) was very popular, but everyone loves to poke through the veggie beds and identify food. The berry bed was a particular hit. Given my garden is so new, people liked to be able to look at all the tags.
All the hard work out the front is not obvious from the street and people were surprised to come inside the gate and see that the front wall is now planted out with the deep sleeper planting beds.
Living Earth’s plant stall provided interest and temptation for visitors
Sculptures (which I loved) and a plant stall all added entertainment and interest and we also served sandwiches, cake, tea and coffee, so had lots going on. There are a few learnings for next time, but would be happy to participate again and the Convent seemed to love the attention.
The Fairy Rose also chose to bloom at its bestThe Chamomile – which I had thought was lawn chamomile – made an amusing and quirky path borderThe Foxgloves on the back wall also chose their time well. Lots more of these and Hollyhocks next year!Roxy refused to miss a minute whilst Tango decided the bedroom was the best place to be
If I’ve been a little lax with posts lately it’s because things are pretty hectic just now. I will be packing and moving out from Sydney in just over a week and this weekend the Convent is open for the Kandos Gardens Fair. Tomorrow the Convent opens its garden and the Chapel as part of a local gardens exhibition for the weekend – going public for what has been a very private building.
It’s been dry here for months with barely a shower – but, of course, rain is forecast for the next few days. We’ll have to see how this works out but I’m hoping the visitors will get a chance to have a good look-around.
I have a bit of latitude given my garden is positioned as “in progress” as the sale only went through earlier this year, but I’m hoping people will find plenty to interest them and enjoy in the work that’s been done so far. I also have amazing sculptures, food, tea and coffee and a plant stall to provide additional interest.
I’ll post pics and a debrief later, but just now hoping I have everything under control. Things should settle down in around ten days (I hope) as my new life kicks off.
The Kandos Gardens Fair is now rapidly approaching, meaning that most of my time is spent in the garden. The other gardens on show are well-established, but given the Convent garden only really started this year, I’m eager to have something to show visitors.
Rose hospital or graveyard? Home to the unsuccessful bare root roses
There have been a few disasters. The bare root roses I planted in a prominent position in front of the established roses at the front of the Convent, did nothing – I mean nothing, other than perhaps die. I’m not sure if they are still alive or not but looked very sad, bare little sticks. I’ve now taken the step of replanting them together in a more protected area which I am hoping is a plant hospital rather than a rose graveyard.
Also taking advice to spray for lawn weeds wasn’t the smartest move. I did it well in advance – maybe around three weeks ago. What I didn’t bargain on was my lawn being all weeds, which means I have large expanses of brown. Or more accurately, very little green areas. It’s also been very dry so I’m now watering like crazy to get some green back.
The back gate garden – looking cheery although the blues haven’t kicked in yet
Otherwise, there are areas I’m really happy with and the garden is positioned as “in progress” which cuts me some slack. I think the roses peaked too early and the lovely original old rose bushes have already finished their main flush of flowers, although I’m deadheading them and feeding, hoping to get some more flowers for the viewing.
In the meantime, the roses that were planted throughout the year are now coming into their own and look like they will be winners. It’s exciting to see plants grow and flower for the first time. Hopefully they will be doing their thing for the visitors we are anticipating.
Lots of blue here with electric lobelias and verbena. That’s Tango admiring the bed
In the meantime, my days are filled with digging, mulching, weeding, pruning, planting, watering and feeding!
Pierre de Ronsard’s first yearMadame Isaac Perriere making her debut!
I have sold my Sydney property which is a big step and a relief in now moving into a new life. However it means deadlines for moving out of Sydney and packing everything up. I’m doing trips to Sydney at least once a week to move things here as well as pack boxes for the removalists, which is surprisingly unsettling.
I’ve only lived at our place in Wahroonga for around five years which is a short time for me, but for many reasons it has been more a home to me than other places. It has been a haven and home for the girls and me, had many good friends through the door and holds many happy memories. Now I’m packing, I’m really missing my girls and realising that they have moved out and we won’t be together again like before. All is good – we’re all doing what we want and is right for us, just a jolt to realise that everything has changed so much. And permanently.
Anyway, Wahroonga is being vacated over the next month, the Convent is becoming more established (a proper fridge and a garbage bin are contributing to the feeling of permanence), I’m making an effort to fit into the local community here and the garden is consuming a large amount of time.
It has now well and truly set in that this has been an enormous move in so many ways, but also feels so right. The dogs have made themselves so at home so quickly from only ever knowing a townhouse. It’s a bit strange given it has been such a big change for them, but they have never appeared uncomfortable with what was asked of them – from the constant long drives (from non-car dogs) to the new house and gardens. It’s a good sign. Their presence and obvious enjoyment has made the transition much easier for me – they have been great little companions through all this. I only hope they will embrace some additions to the Convent. I’m not sure that Roxy will make chooks or another dog or cat very welcome, but I’d love to get some more animals.
Anyway, I’m now so far past the point of no return and have taken so many life-changing steps over the last 18 months. So far it all seems right, just challenging and so much change to take in …
I remember this book so clearly after reading it over forty years go. Now I’m in rural Australia, it has hit home much more closely how the fires impact on the people, lifestyles, countryside and wildlife. I’ve always cared but now being here, watching the news constantly, having to check RTA websites for road accesses and seeing the damage first-hand makes it so much more real – and it hasn’t hit my area yet.
The last week or so has been horrific. I’ve driven through two of the areas in the last week in-between fires. These are areas I have known for decades and have always been beautiful and scenic – places I would have loved to have live in. Now they are deeply scarred by fires. I can’t imagine the devastation felt by the home owners impacted.
I do know that the locals will rally and help people out as much as possible. I also now have a profound appreciation for the local fire services and the importance of their role – and how much we all rely on volunteer support for crises.
The reference to February Dragon was via a novel, that this was when the big fires could hit – at the end of torrid Summers. These fires have come to us well before Summer. We are just mid Spring, hence there is serious trepidation for many months to come.
One of the few vegetables I planted when I first arrived (even before moving in) was tomatoes – mainly the cherry variety. These are great little plants and fruit – being able to pick a handful of mixed varieties for a salad for one person, or harvesting a larger crop for entertaining or preserving. The cherry plants are also a little more manageable than some of the more rampant varieties.
This year is no different, just that I now have more room and can plant more. As usual, like the potatoes, I have approached this with enthusiasm and seem to have collected lots of plants that now need to be planted. The back garden wall is an excellent location, offering lots of sun and is fully wired which saves me from staking. I’m also using terracotta pots and the raised veg beds. I’ve overdone it and think a few may find their way into neighbour’s gardens. So far for the cherries I have:
Tomatoes on the back wall
Cherry Gold
Orange Sunrise
Sweetbite
Grape Toms
Yellow Pear (a favourite visually for colour and shape – tastes good too)
Broad Ripple Yellow Currant
Cherry Ripe
Cherry Roma
Truss Sweet
Cocktail
Mini Roma
Black Cherry (sounds dramatic)
Sun Drop
Little Sugar Yellow
Pink Cherry
Cherry Falls
For larger varieties I have
Tumbling Red Tom
Tumbler Yellow
Grosse Lisse
Beef Steak (sounds like a “Man’s Tomato”)
Black Russian
This time, all varieties are clearly tagged so I can determine the best performers (or best locations). I’ll also collect and label seeds. It’s been a bit disappointing that I don’t seem to have plants coming up from last year’s crop. I was careful to leave some of the tomatoes to self-seed. Well, it’s still early in the season.
Tomatoes in the veg beds. I’m sure I can find a few more places for them. I’ll have to!
The blues have always been my favouritePure yellow next to the Grotto
I’ve loved Aquilegias for some years and always had a few in my garden. They have such stunning flowers but are also fairly hardy plants that self-propagate well by seed. Since being at the Convent and indulging a little more in different varieties now I have the garden beds and suitable conditions, I am loving these lovely perennials more and more.
Yellow with a touch of pink near the Grotto. Is that pesky ivy I can see making a reappearance?
They prefer dappled shade but seem to flourish in a variety of conditions. The flowers are so diverse in colour and quite spectacular for some varieties with towering spikes of flowers. The flowers last well and are also great cut for indoors. The old flower heads set seeds which are easily collected and resown. So the plants are great value, coming back year after year as well as providing new stock.
A gorgeous mauve out the front. So delicate a flower.
I have a penchant for blue and have opted for a few different varieties. It’s still pretty early in the season and I’m continuing to plant new varieties that haven’t flowered yet, but these pictures may give you an indication of why I love these so much in my garden and intend to make them one of the mainstays in the Convent garden. Somehow they seems so appropriate.
Pure white eleganceDramatic red – you can see the spurred petals clearly
I love a Hommus dip but this one is a little more vamped up (I hate that expression about ‘pimping’ things – do we not appreciate the usual connotation?). I think this version was inspired by Jamie Oliver. It takes an extra few minutes which are very well spent for an attractive and tasty plate – it tastes great and looks much more festive, particularly when served with fresh crusty homemade bread.
Ingredients
Hommus (feel free to take an extra step and make your own)
Lemon
Good olive oil
Paprika
Sea salt
Ground pepper
Steps
Stir the Hommus and place in a bowl
Liberally squeeze lemon juice over the top
Liberally pour olive oil over the top
Sprinkle with Paprika
Grind some fresh sea salt and pepper over the top
I don’t think you’ll find much left in half an hour.
The front garden bed is now taking shape with the arrival of the sleepersTaking shape but so much more digging to go.
Last post was about my front wall garden that I am creating and that the sleepers were about to arrive. They have now been placed and even though the beds require much digging out and planting, just having the sleepers provides so much more definition and structure to the garden. I’m thrilled with them – big old hardwood worn railway sleepers with lots of character. Now I just need to keep digging… and planting!!!
One of the online sources I regularly use is Honeysuckle Cottage, which is a supplier of wonderful heritage plants, particularly perennials and herbs which I love. I was surprised when a friend told me they were just near Kurrajong, which I drive through each week on my trip between Kandos and Sydney. This week, dogless in the car, I dropped by and was enthralled by a nursery unlike any other – nothing commercial, just a charming bush setting garden with pathways and arbors leading to table after table and many sections of heritage roses, herbs, perennials – so many plants that were mainly propagated onsite – and plants I have not come across before.
This nursery specialises in heritage plants and propagating the many old and rarer variations – so many thymes, rosemary, lavenders. I was particularly interested in the aquilegias and have never seen so many established plants in so many varieties and colours in one place. Needless to say, the car, which was already pretty solidly packed, managed two more roses – another Lamarque and Madame Alfred Carriere, many aquilegias (after receiving a great run down on the different varieties and their history from an impressively helpful and knowledgeable staff member) and a number of salvias.
The garden path through friend’s eyes – once a bare, unadorned entranceBroad beans – “This could be in Tuscany.” Well, Tuscany/Kandos – very similar.Foxglove (or Digitalis). Planted last Summer and forgotten until now. Dramatic and fitting for the back wall.
I also had friends visiting this weekend. Looking at photos they took of the garden gave me a great feeling of satisfaction and an appreciation of how far the garden has come. This is a wonderful time of the year and for the first time I am seeing growth and flowers on plants that, for some, were planted late last year or early this year.
The flowering Crab Apple – still a small tree but has great promise and the blossoms are lovely.
Forgive me if some of the photos appear indulgent, but I’m also using this Blog as a garden diary so I track what goes in when and when plants flower. Ideally I’d like to keep colour in the garden year round.
This week looks like it will be a pretty physical one with lots of digging, feeding and planting for the front garden bed. I’m comfortable that the Convent gardens will be very unfinished for the Kandos Gardens Fair, but keen that visitors can get a perspective of the direction of the garden and what it will potentially look like.
The original roses from the sunroom. This is the first week of flowering and they are just beautiful and adorning vases inside.
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CONVENT AND CHAPEL 