As it was – grass running up to the fence. Low maintenance but just a bit boring for a gardener.
In the quest to rebuild the garden, one of the more obvious options was to put in a bed along the front ash brick wall. Obvious and will look great but it is around 40 metres long and I want a deep bed. With grass running right up to it, that’s a lot of digging. But digging I am doing and now beginning to make progress.
Making progress. I’d like the bed to be about twice as deep to allow for an abundant garden
I’ve been planting as I go, starting with the larger plants nearest the wall. After some foundering, I have realised that the plants will be south-facing. I’m not great with my north, souths etc when asked, so whilst the wall may face north, there happen to be two sides to any wall and I’m not planting that side!
This means that I can plant shrubs that are happy with some shade, such as camellias and azaleas near the wall as they will be more protected. I’ve opted for vigorous climbing roses as they should bundle themselves over the wall onto the footpath chasing the sun (or at least so I hope). There are also some standard maples and other ornamentals including lilacs, which I will endeavour to keep to a reasonable height.
Lots more to go
The bed is planned to have three layers – the higher plants and climbers at the back, the salvias and sages and mid-sized perennials in the middle and smaller groundcovers and perennials at the front. That’s the plan. I’m getting some inspiration from fellow bloggers, looking at local gardens and heaps of books. I’d like to incorporate some “useful” plants as most of the garden beds include plants that do more than look nice. I already have the odd berry plants and envisage more fruit and particularly herbs playing a role.
… and even more
Tomorrow I hope my sleepers arrive which will add some much needed structure and stop the rampant grass from invading. The bed will be much deeper than it is currently which will make it screamingly obvious how much more I need to dig out! However I’m sure this will be a very rewarding project and give me a wonderful outlook from the front windows and a great deal of future interest as I watch the plants develop.
A troublesome corner. I’m thinking it may house a deep bed of azaleas.
The broad beans running amok in the veg bed – but more than earning their keep with the prolific and wonderful beans
The first of the veg planted in my veggie beds – predominantly the root veg – are all pretty much finished now and I’ve harvested the last of the parsnips, turnips and swedes and culled some of the older veg that is now going to seed. All rich fodder for my compost bins.
The biggest lesson so far is not to over-plant, although it is so tempting with so many plants, limited space and the joint fears that a lot may die off or I will want to harvest lots of it, not mentioning the pain of thinning out successful seedlings. I have a few different beds I can use now so I’m trying to be a little more disciplined with planting. And not planting everything at once.
Firstly, my biggest successes:
the wide range of cherry tomatoes which had all the neighbours intrigued with both the range of colours and shapes. These grew well against the back wall and I intend to repeat again this year. I already have a few planted in a trough I moved from Sydney. They were 100% consumed last year, including being used for semi-dried preserving.
radishes – I love radishes and always buy them when they are in season. These little ruby jewels are lucky to make it to the kitchen (a bit like the cherry tomatoes) and are dusted off and eaten on the spot. I’ve already replanted some of the longer French Breakfast variety and intend to also do the smaller round traditional variety.
Cucumbers and zucchinis – a little mixed with how well I grew them but enough plants survived me to provide wonderful veg that was quickly consumed. Zucchinis do take up so much space, though.
Eggplants- last year it was a variety called Lady Finger (I think) which was a small thin variety
Broad Beans – I had a post drafted questioning whether the broad beans were worth planting given the space they take up (and they can look messy when I prefer better behaved plants). I now have no doubt that broad beans are wonderful and worth their space in the garden. I have had them in three spots, including in the raised veg bed where they are causing havoc. I deliberately bought the Dwarf variety so they wouldn’t tower. As you can see above, I was mistaken. I now believe that “dwarf” refers to the bean size, not the plant size. Anyway, all the plants have heavily rewarded me with bountiful and beautiful beans that have supplemented many a meal and are great as a salad, added to a risotto or as today, stir fried with the sugar snaps with a little oyster and soy sauce. All is forgiven and they will become a Convent staple in the garden.
Sugar Snap Peas – another heavy cropper with peas that never go to waste
Sugar Snap Peas – I was told by a local that the only thing that grows better than weeds in Kandos is snow peas. On that note, I planted snow peas, normal peas and sugar snaps – all have been great and provide on-the-spot garden snacks for visitors. The sugar snaps, however have been outstanding in both taste and cropping, with the plants continually heavily producing, despite constant picking.
The current plantings, which I am being more disciplined with and pacing myself, including cleaning out beds, and supplementing with new compost, organic fertilisers and mulching (and thanks to Flash and Smokey for all the horse manure) before planting. New additions include: the initial cherry tomatoes, two larger tomato varieties, capsicum, cucumbers, chillies and zucchinis. A couple of passionfruit will supplement the two vines that seem to have successfully survived.
I already have in asparagus, onions, rhubarb and the nine bags of potatoes which are now full to the top with sugar cane mulch and healthy potato plants still peeping out. Mixed lettuces will be a must.
It’s an exciting time to be here (almost permanently) so I can take care of the garden properly and watch the daily changes. I’m also keen to have an interesting display for visitors for the Kandos Gardens Fair. One of the great pleasures is to plan each meal around what the garden currently has to offer. Last night it was Smoked Trout Pie which incorporated my fennel, dill and lemons, as well as using breadcrumbs from homemade bread. Small steps, but so rewarding.
As Spring springs into action, I’m discovering so many new things – either with the old garden or with my new plants which are welcoming their first Spring. Here are a few more favourites coming into flower for the first time.
The first roseThe first bloom on the Banksia Rose which is thriving despite an earlier setback being run over by a rampant carThe Judas tree – these blossoms have lasted for weeks and the leaves have an attractive and distinctive shapeClematis seem to thrive hereThe white Robinia. The pink version is yet to bloomMy first Lilac
First growth on an ornamental mapleJust having a snooze, Mum, while you weedThyme – I can flower, tooLily of the Valley – so delicate and prettyChamomile just starting to flower. Jumped up a bit higher than a groundcover despite the whippersnipper.
Golden Hornet Crab Apple in full bloom, keeping the rampant Borage company
Spring is such a wonderful time of the year, particularly for gardeners. This is my first Spring at the Convent and it is wonderful to see both the old plantings and the new spring into life, particularly my misgivings and the forebodings of the damage that the vicious Winter frosts could inflict on my new garden.
Last weekend was the first Convent Spring Retreat. My friends are always welcome but by setting aside special dates each season, it makes it easier for them to co-ordinate and plan when we can all get together. It was a wonderful extended weekend supplemented by Verve and Moet and also co-ordinated with the wonderful Kandos Hootenanny. The Convent is now much more comfortable being painted and with carpets in bedrooms, curtains and polished floors, as well as some furnished rooms, however guests are still mainly on air beds. Unfortunately the Convent plumbing was a tad overwhelmed with supporting more than one or two residents, although the roses are flourishing with the unpleasant results.
The garden is springing to life and I’m seeing the results of my planting as well as now more heavily planting out, particularly with the impending Kandos Gardens Fair, which has the Convent as one of the gardens on display (although positioned as “in progress”).
Wild asparagus spear – amazing to watch spring up each time
Remember a recent post when I said we had been gathering wild asparagus? Much to my delight, yesterday I noticed three spears coming up from the scavenged “crowns”. As they were old crowns, the spears are thick and generous. I’m now hoping for a bumper crop. Amazing when I think of how woody and dead they looked a few weeks ago. I think the pony poop is beginning to work wonders.
I’ll now show some of the flourishing garden residents as they are now beginning to make an impact and make the garden such an interesting place to visit each day.
Flowering Quince – this is a real, fruiting quince, unlike some of the ornamentals I have also included in the gardenThe Lavenders (together with catmint and thyme) are bushing and flowering along the back garden pathThe lemons and limes flanking the back garden path are covered with new growthSugar Snap Peas – we feasted on these a number of times. They will be a regular garden and menu feature.Alpine Phlox making a splash as a ground cover in the old bobcat tyre tracksAnd the white primulas have flowered their hearts outThe Freesias have been a delight under the Catoneaster. I hope they multiply next yearOne of my all-time favourites – Aquilegia – and my favourite versions in blue
As I start to see light at the end of the tunnel with a permanent move to Kandos and things settling down once my Sydney home goes on the market, I keep telling myself that life will return to “normal”, but I’m not sure what this is anymore.
I’ve never lived in the country before and life in Central NSW in the Convent is likely to be far from what I’ve always considered as normal. I’ve also never been on my own like this before. The girls only moved out recently but moving to a new place without them really means being on my own for the first time.
I guess it means settling into what life will now be like. I know I will have my garden, new home, time to focus on my interests and discover new ones. It will mean making new friends whilst still keeping the old ones. It will also mean participating in activities and helping out here in a town that is much like me in settling into a new future.
With my homemade yoghurt in the fridge along with camembert and feta, my first date and walnut loaf from my new bread maker, the knitting back in action and more roses to plant, life is looking pretty good at the moment. Friends arriving this weekend is the icing on the cake.
Spring has sprung here in Kandos and last weekend was perfect weather (although we definitely need rain).
The Convent gardens are coming back to life. I’m happy to see a number of the plants I though had died off over Winter with the frosts, springing back. Remembering that this is my first Spring in the garden, it’s lovely to watch the young trees I’ve planted blossom and come into leaf for the first time. The trees and plants are all still quite small and dwarfed by the building but I’m sure will fill out over the next few years and fit in well.
One of the locals keeping an eye on our horse poop shovelling endeavours
This weekend was busy with my friends G and L visiting. G and I attended Cheesemaking workshops at Mudgee, as described in my last post. We also did a bit of gardening. The ponies next door seem to have been moved on and we took advantage of utilising some of the prolific horse poo in the garden. The dogs are enjoying this addition much more than they should! Whilst in the paddock, we noticed another local taking advantage of the wonderful sunshine.
Another adventure was harvesting asparagus growing wild on the roadside. Whilst it was very hard work to dig up the crowns, I now have a number in the side bed and am hoping for a harvest in future.
A bit of heavy duty digging to retrieve asparagus on the roadside
Life is a little chaotic at present as I shuffle between Sydney where the house is going on the market in the next week, and Kandos where there is still lots of work being done. I’m hopeful life will settle down a little once the house is actually on the market and even moreso when permanently residing at the Convent (which I’m sure will be the case).
Our cheeses incorporated into a luncheon spread including fetta and olive pull apart bread and spinach and sundried tomato ricotta tarts
… so said Monty Python with great wisdom and insight.
Turning the curd – like the milkmaids of times past
My friend G and I undertook the task of learning to make cheese with a day-long workshop held by The Cheesemaking Workshop at High Valley in Mudgee. Cheesemaking seemed a difficult task given the complexities and varieties of cheeses available, however the class was great fun, highly informative and gave us great confidence that we would become serious artisan cheesemakers of the future.
Our class was learning the fundamentals of soft cheesemaking which would also be the basis for some of the more complex and hard cheeses. Amazingly, we managed to fit in so many types of cheese/dairy products – ricotta, quark, yoghurt, fetta, marscapone, camembert. We were in a group of about 12 that split into sub groups of three which gave us a highly hands on experience in making our own cheeses. It was surprising to see that this was so highly process driven with a few common ingredients and the scientific aspects that made the difference between the types of cheeses, such as how thickly curd was cut, how differently or frequently it was turned or agitated and then the difference in finishing – brines, drying, bacteria additions … All incredibly natural and not difficult – just following processes and being patient as it takes some time to go through steps and allow cheeses to develop.
Setting our cheeses in rounds to dry
Anyway, as a result of the classes, G and I came home well equipped to make cheese and confident to boot. We spent the next few days looking after our fetta and camembert and I’m keen to make some ricotta and take it through to my own baked ricotta tarts. The class also showed us wonderful ways of incorporating our cheese into practical cooking which we more than sampled during the course.
I’d encourage anyone with an interest in cooking and produce to look into taking a course. I know the internet is a great resource and you can buy books, but taking a course, getting tips and doing it under the supervision of a good instructor just makes such a difference.
Our Marscapone efforts
Oh … and please, never throw your cream out again. If it is close to the expiry date and you won’t be using it, just whip it up with a pinch of salt – you can use a handheld beater or a Bamix type blender stick or your full bowl mixer. Making your own butter is so much fun – just whip it and either form it into a ball or shape with your hand or implements. Squeeze out the whey and you have great homemade butter which will last a few more weeks.
From the Hall through to my room with new carpet (!) and view through to the verandah (now also polished).
Just a quick trip and back in a day to have a peek and do some watering. I couldn’t go inside as the floors are mid-polishing but could look through a few doors.
Through the back door looking to the Study.
It’s hard to imagine that it was only just over a year ago that I made my first trip with my friend L to see the Convent. At the time I didn’t even know where Kandos was. Whilst I fell in love with the Convent and location, it was also very shabby and unloved – peeling paint, drab and worn floor covers and obviously unlived in for some time, with piles of crunchy dried slaters along the skirting boards.
The Chapel floor in all its glory.
Whilst I could see the potential and realised that much of the work was only cosmetic and within my reach (although I had originally been seeking a fully renovated property – albeit not a Convent!), I had no idea just how well the old girl would respond. She has risen to the occasion every time and looks wonderful after each tradesman works their magic. She has also revealed her own surprises with the cellar, lovely old fittings and parquetry chapel floor as well as some of the finds such as the old church sign, processional cross and wonderful original large decorative hinges.
I can’t wait now to start putting in furnishings and decorating the place with personal touches, especially since camping there with minimal personal effects since November. A mini move will take place in the next few weeks and each car trip will contain more items.
The first of the Freesias.
As for the garden, Spring is already in the air. Some bulbs are fading but others are still coming into their own. The Freesias under the Catoneaster are just starting to flower after having come up and had buds on them for so long. The first ones are large and bright yellow, which look lovely with the Grape Hyacinths and Snowdrops.
The old Prunus that looked so tortured (and the neighbours regularly suggested could come out with the other plants), has responded well to a trim, feed and mulch and is flowering dramatically.
The Anenomes are working hard in the central front bed as the first flowers. I’m not sure what will come up here after my “seed throw” but I’m sure I will get some Cornflowers and I’ve also added a few Delphiniums. Blue and white are great colours for this location.
The Manchurian Pears are getting their first leaves and many of the plants that were dormant during Winter and were hit heavily with the frosts, are now beginning to show signs of new growth, although I think there may be just a few casualties we will not see again.
I’m sure the Sprouts are not supposed to look like this!
The veggie beds are doing well – the Berry bed is shooting to life and for the first time I can see new growth on the canes. Along with the disastrous beans which were planted at the wrong time and were annihilated by the frosts, I apparently planted peas that were purely ornamental, which have now become compost fodder after waiting months for action. The long- awaited Brussels Sprouts, unless I am sadly mistaken, have gone straight to seed. I’m sure they’re supposed to have sprouts and not look like Broccoli – sorry L. I know you had great expectations but this is all very new to me. However the Broad Beans ( of which I have many planted) are now bearing well and I have taken a pile back to Sydney to make a Risotto.
Much of the white external sections have now been painted or at least been undercoated and have brightened the place up. The original front urns host Gazanias that go well with the paintwork and have filled out well. The back of the Convent, whilst still showing slight signs of the old dark stains, is now so much cleaner with the paintwork really glowing. I may need a new banner for the Blog!
Anyway, I’m hoping this last two weeks is the longest I will be away from the Convent for some time. It will be wonderful to be moving in to the renovated home, making it permanent part of my life and being there for Spring to see everything come to life.
These Gazanias suite the old urns – and need to be able to take plenty of heat.
A Persian Bidjar carpet with Medallion and Pendants according to the auction description and certificate.
Today I spent the day at Lawsons endeavouring to pick up a few more items. From the online catalogue I was particularly interested in chests of drawers, wardrobes and rugs. I haven’t been to a mid week auction before and it appeared to attract mainly dealers with a smattering of private buyers.
The internet must make a big difference to the auction houses as they can now publish the catalogue (with photos) online prior and take a significant amount of absentee, online and phone bids from people who can’t make the auction. It’s good to see the care taken to place these bids as a standard part of the procedure and the prompt follow up. It makes me feel comfortable in placing online/absentee bids.
There was a huge variation in bidding – many items were passed in, a few real bargains – I kicked myself over a Victorian mahogany chiffonier that went for $200. It’s hard to assess size on the internet and some of the chests of drawers were too big, some in poor condition, but the one I loved was unfortunately also loved by others. I didn’t get a bid in as it quickly went for more than double the estimate, which made it quite expensive. The wardrobes were all far too big for my needs.
My arts and crafts mirror with hanging hooks – an informal addition for the back entrance.
This auction had quite a few Persian rugs on which I am no expert, but know I need rugs and this style will suit the Convent. There were two I really liked but both went for much more than the estimates. However I was really pleased with the one I bought for $425 which came with a valuation/insurance certificate of $2,250 . It’s in excellent condition and could go in a number of rooms. It’s also a good size.
Another purchase was an arts and crafts period oak framed mirror with hanging hooks that will be perfectly at home at the back entrance, that I snapped up early at $70 to the auctioneer’s comment that it may well have been the bargain of the day. The other was a beautiful late Georgian mahogany bowfronted mirror with drawers. This would look wonderful sitting on a chest of drawers – I just need to be able to buy one!
Mahogany mirror with drawers. I now just need the chest of drawers for it to sit on.
The central hall. Is that new carpet I see to the right?
I was thrilled tonight to get photos from Michael from Mudgee Carpet Court who is looking after the floors. The boards are Cypress pine and every tells me they’re good quality and should come up well – but it’s hard to imagine what they’ll look like when I’ve only seen them covered in multiple layers of old carpet, masonite and lino.
The lounge room looks great. And I now have some furniture to put in there.
Anyway, I’m relieved and thrilled with the results shown in the photos and can’t wait to get up there and finally put some permanent furniture in place and set up rooms. Looks like this can start next week. I also have removalists booked in a few weeks from now to take some things up to make the Convent look a bit more homely and tidy up my place in Sydney.
Hard to believe this is the old weathered verandah floor outside the Chapel. The old cane furniture should be great here.
More auctions may be on the cards this weekend as it will be best for me to buy what I can prior to finally moving from Sydney. Removalist costs to Kandos do not come cheaply! Items I have my eye out for include smaller old wardrobes (often a good buy as most people have built-ins these days and you can pick up quality old pieces very reasonably), chests of drawers, study/library type chairs, perhaps a sideboard or credenza. Auctions are very opportunistic – you need to be well prepared, disciplined and bid fast – most items are only up for auction for less than a minute! I also think some floor rugs will be in order – and lots!
This was the big surprise. No idea that the old green carpet covered the original parquetry flooring which I’ve been told is great quality and has come up beautifully.
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CONVENT AND CHAPEL 