Kandos Garden Fair – CONVENT AND CHAPEL

Kandos Gardens Fair – The Convent Steps Up

Published on August 8, 2013 by conventandchapelLeave a comment

Kandos Gardens Fair – This is one of the BIG local events and held every two years – 2013 being the third event. Gardens in the local area will be open for viewing by the public over a weekend, which is quite an extravaganza of a weekend with workshops, displays, entertainment, refreshments and, of course, gardens as the focal point.

The Convent is participating. The Chapel and Grotto should be a good attraction, after all, not many homes and gardens have these! The garden is being positioned as “under construction” – I wonder how long I will get away with this before they write me off after a few years as “She’ll never get to the standard we require”. Anyway, I’m making an effort so as not to be too embarrassed or embarrass the Committee. The other great aspect for me is that in participating in this (and being part of the Committee) I’ve had the opportunity of meeting some wonderful people and gardeners to boot!

The other gardens are seriously good and very different. The soil is good in this area and gardens are highly varied from classical, native, those that focus on permaculture, those with a more decorative garden art aspect … I hope I get to see them all at some point given I will be on host duty for the weekend so can’t join the visitors. I have my trusty friends booked in for the weekend as Stewards as we are expecting to host many through the gates.

I’ve been really impressed with the organisation and attention to detail to ensure that this weekend is a true experience for garden lovers and will offer many varied and engaging activities for attendees. The fact that it is spread across our two towns of Kandos and Rylstone which are so close (7 kms) means a contrast between towns of quite different heritages, periods and styles.

The Convent is planning to play host to local sculptures which I’m very excited about. Whilst I’m sure she will do me proud, I’m far more nervous about the Convent gardens which are in a much more immature state than the other gardens and with a far less experienced gardener! I’m happy that the Convent is being an active part of the community and others get to see what a lovely building she is after all these years. I like to think she is loving the attention just a little as well.

I wonder if Committee members are allowed to win prizes?

Garden Progress in August – bulbs and the beginnings of roses!

Published on August 6, 2013August 6, 2013 by conventandchapel1 Comment

The garden bed off my verandah. Enjoying seeing the initial blue, white and pink coming together, albeit little is flowering. The Fairy rose is proving to be one of my favourites and I think we will see more of her.

The bulbs have been great value. At a time when so little else flowers, the bulbs are not just cheery, but always a surprise and at times spectacular. I look forward to adding more (why didn’t I plant any Bluebells?) and seeing my foundation bulbs naturalise and multiply over the years. I’m also starting to see the importance of colour placement. No mistakes so far, but it is rewarding when colour schemes work in practice.

The depth of blue in the Hyacinths is quite breathtaking and unexpected

This week the Hyacinths flowered. Last weekend there was just a hint of colour in tight tucked-up buds. This weekend was a spectacular show. They must have popped up so quickly. I bought these from Tesselaars and deliberately chose blue but had no idea how deep and vibrant they would be.

A little shy - miniature daffodils — A little shy – miniature daffodils

The Daffodils are growing and many are flowering. I chose a few different varieties which all seem to be thriving. The Snowflakes are always a delight and have been the first up and are still going strong. The Freesias all have lots of buds but are not quite there yet. I’m looking forward to them as they are spread under the Catoneaster.

Elegant and fragrant Erlicheer daffodils around the new Crabapple

As for the roses, well after pruning all the old ones back hard last weekend and planting six standard Icebergs, this weekend I planted eight new roses, mainly from bare root stock (yes, I’m learning terms and actually doing this stuff). Most are classics and I try to keep the list updated on an earlier Rose Blog. I’ll slow down on the roses soon, but still need to get a few more “Saint” ones to finish off the collection (at least for this year). I can’t imagine i won’t always have new ones I want to add as I learn more (two serious Rose books are on their way from Amazon).

Some new additions to the roses outside the sun room

I’m also ready to commence planting the long awaited ‘taties. This weekend I only started with Desiree in a potato bag, but also have Pontiac ready to go. You need to have some growth from the ‘eyes’ and I’ve left Nicola, Kipfler and King Edward potatoes in a nice protected sunny spot in the kitchen so hopefully can get some more bags started.

The other notable editions were two Asparagus crowns and two Rhubarbs in the side ‘Pumpkin Patch’, which is now a healthy mulching zone.

I’d like to think I will slow down soon, but know that I really want to get the front wall garden bed more established … and the weather is so good, it’s easy to spend time out in the garden. The dogs also spent all weekend outside with me, although I tend to think that Tango was more interested in the Dynamic Lifter. I know the roses will be rewarding just like the bulbs in that the new growth and flowers are so obvious to watch develop. I keep being told you can’t kill a rose. Fingers crossed I won’t be the exception to the rule. I look forward to the time when I post the blooms from each of these.

Even more roses outside the Chapel verandah

Nuns and the Original Garden

Published on June 11, 2013June 25, 2013 by conventandchapelLeave a comment

A photo that showed so much. I haven't seen this front porch up close before - it is now a sunroom. Also note the hedge to the left and bountiful bed of annuals. — A photo that showed so much. I haven’t seen this front porch up close before – it is now a sunroom. Also note the hedge to the left and bountiful bed of annuals.

The other week I spent some time at the wonderful Kandos Museum which is a treasure trove of Kandos social history, looking up old photos of the garden. The purpose was two-fold: both for personal interest given I’m restoring and creating the garden, as well as thinking that attendees for the Kandos Garden Fair would be interested in seeing the original photos when the Convent gardens are open for viewing in November.

The garden provided a backdrop for many school photos. The Convent had many locals captured on film a the front steps. Here we can see the formal garden bed which is well established. Also note the conifers framing the photo.

The visit paid off. The Museum has plenty of information and photos on the Convent over the years, however it was a little bittersweet as I realised how much of the beautiful gardens has been lost over the years.

The Good Samaritan nuns lived at the Convent from 1930 into the ’70s when the school closed. That was the hey-day for the gardens with obviously keen gardeners ably supported by locals and recruited school boys.

An early photo of a long-gone driveway and the beginnings of a hedge that was and no longer is.

The garden was considered an important part of the Convent with an original garden layout planned. Whilst the garden changed over the years whilst the nuns were in residence, it always featured formal hedges, many roses and abundant flower beds. I understand the nuns also grew their own veg which would have been in keeping with their humble and frugal practices.

I was surprised to see that there had been a substantial trimmed hedge down the left side of the house where I knew at one time there had been driveway access. Locals had told me before that the now rampant sky-high privet on the other side fence had also once been a neat and trim hedge.

I also found that there had been other formal garden beds within the front lawn and that a path had once run across the front of the house, with prolific flower beds.The formal circular garden bed at the front of the Convent had always been a showpiece – until the ’70s when the ‘bush rock’ garden was installed which has significantly damaged the concrete. At once stage the paths were all beautifully edged and roses sprawled along trellises.

Nuns at the front circular bed in the early '70s. Note the capping around the paths which has now gone. I suspect all this concrete has gone and my paths are new given these cracks now don't show. — Nuns at the front circular bed. Note the path capping which has now gone. I suspect all this concrete has been replaced given these cracks now don’t show. Also note the rose trellises in the background.

The photos fell off after the nuns departed in the ’70s and the building was used as a Presbytery for the resident Priest. With a single person living there, the gardens appear to have been adapted to low maintenance.

Whilst I don’t intend to reproduce the garden, it does give me some good ideas and inspiration. I’m endeavouring to restore the privet hedge along the right side, I’m certainly replanting the central circular garden bed as a feature, the front urns remain and are in use at the front steps and the Grotto will probably look better than ever. The roses which were once such a feature are going back in at an alarming rate.

Most likely taken in the '80s with the 'modernised' bush rock central bed. — Most likely taken in the ’80s with the ‘modernised’ bush rock central bed.

Gardens are always works in progress and this one is no exception. Just that there’s a lot of work which will take many years to come to fruition. The Convent is a patient building which I’m sure plans to be around for many more years to come and seems to be happily overseeing the efforts to date.

Another new aspect of the Convent for me. I can't imagine plantings down the right side looking a the Convent today. I also think this shows part of the now dismantled old septic structure. — Another new aspect of the Convent for me. I can’t imagine plantings down the right side looking a the Convent today. I also think this shows part of the now dismantled old septic structure.
Note the dramatic backdrop of the Coomber Mellon ranges.

This photo did trigger some regret at what it was and could have been - seeing the old structured path and what appears to be garden paths running across the front of the building which are no longer there. — This photo did trigger some regret at what it was and could have been – seeing the old structured path and what appears to be garden paths running across the front of the building which are no longer there.