Saw Norma's thread and decided to add a couple of shots of my backyard - it's about 3 years old. Started with kikuya and privet trees - the first shot is early and the other is today
Ok where are the pics? i can see them below as attachments, what else do I need to do?
Margaret, you are the victim of the deadly WUPL (won't upload) bug. I've had this bug several times. Symptoms are, firstly, intense frustration followed by sad resignation then fierce determination to try again at another time of day. This last has been a good cure twice that I've caught this bug but on several other occasions it just hasn't worked. I think the solution is to turn the programmer upside down, shake vigorously, gather the money that falls from his/her pockets & invest in another programmer. Then hope the problem goes away.
Were you uploading a file or linking to another site? I link to mine at Flickr and that seems to work ok.
Kathiemt
Selby, Victoria
Were you uploading a file or linking to another site? I link to mine at Flickr and that seems to work ok.
Kathiemt
Selby, Victoria
i was uploading them kathie, well try flickr or try again later woko :(
i'm getting very frustrated now
You've recognised the first symptom, Margaret.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/78483976@N04/6880247794/in/photostream/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/78483976@N04/7026345169/in/photostream/
Well, I can see them when clicking on the links - quite a difference isn't there? Well done.
Kathiemt
Selby, Victoria
Kathie can you tell me how to link to flickr please?
Kathie can you tell me how to link to flickr please?
Are you clicking on the Image logo? I'll do it here to show you.
If you're taking an image from Flickr, make sure you view all sizes first (under the Actions menu above the image you want). Choose the size you want and copy the link for the download link.
Click on the image icon in the menubar here and paste the link where it says URL. Then it works.
Kathiemt
Selby, Victoria
Fantastic work Margaret, the change is sensational!
You can hardly tell you're in suburbia from that 2nd shot.
Did you keep the old dunny down the back? It would make a great part of a "rustic" garden, to my mind at least.
Cheers
Tim
Brisbane
So the pics are working now - and yes, there's quite a change. You wouldn't believe it was the same place. What a wonderful thing you've done.
Kathiemt
Selby, Victoria
M-L
Sorry guys, I tried the Flickr thing, I don't get it. I copied the link, but after that it didn't work. Grrrrrrrrrrrrr, what comes next? I always used flickr on the old forum, no drama, why can't I do this? Oh, stupid technology.
Anyway, the difference in the two gardens is amazing, well done.
M-L
What a great way to screen off your neighbours, Margaret!
Yes Tim, the old dunny is there and it has a thunder box in it. My place is Victorian and i like everything rustic or old. No plastic or modern stuff in sight around here.
Most plants are natives, ( not indigenous, didn't know about that) and there are a few exotics. However the honeyeaters seem to like lots of flowers regardless and there is a vine with berries that the bulbuls love.
Yes Tim, the old dunny is there and it has a thunder box in it. My place is Victorian and i like everything rustic or old. No plastic or modern stuff in sight around here.
Most plants are natives, ( not indigenous, didn't know about that) and there are a few exotics. However the honeyeaters seem to like lots of flowers regardless and there is a vine with berries that the bulbuls love. \
thanks for the comments everyone and Kathie, I tried it again and again it didn't work. It might be because I have a Mac and sometimes there are variations. I have added more pics and I can't see them but they might appear tomorrow.
I can see all the pictures fine Margaret. First time I had to click on a link to view them but when I was here yesterday they were showing as are your other pics of the bottle brush and the berries.
Kathiemt
Selby, Victoria
Melaleuca fulgens
You've done a really great job Margaret - hard to believe the difference after only three years. Lets hope you can be a good influence on those of your neighbours whose idea of a beautiful back yard is grass, a lemon tree and a hills hoist. I am sure there are many of them. Perhaps you could take it up as a business. In real estate some agents hire "stylists" to tart up a house to make it presentable for sale. You could become a garden stylist!
Where are you located Margaret? I was just showing my husband what you've done. He wanted to know if you work :-)
A labour of love and it shows.
Kathiemt
Selby, Victoria
Where are you located Margaret? I was just showing my husband what you've done. He wanted to know if you work :-)
A labour of love and it shows.
Kathiemt
Selby, Victoria
Beautiful, Margaret - I love the pink Melaleuca fulgens - is the other orangey shot the same plant in a different light? Or a different plant?
With the plants and the chairs, it looks really comfortable and homey - a kind of native/cottage garden.
Cheers
Tim
Brisbane
Thanks NP I have no real training, just an eye for what i consider beautiful and my main concern was for blocking out fences, buildings and making a garden that made me feel like i was in the bush and far away from the hustle and bustle of suburbia. As for tarting up gardens, I don't think a beautiful garden happens overnight like we see on those tv shows which i think are rather sterile, but yes I'm sure that doing gardens would be a great job.
Kathie, I'm near Parramatta and yes i work fulltime
Tim, I think both those plants are melaleuca fulgens- one is apricot and the other is deep pink, they are spectacular in spring.
emu bush
bees
Hi Margaret. Beware of that grass with the burgundy drooping flower heads. I believe it's green fountain grass Pennisetum setaceum, a native of North Africa and extensively used by landscapers as an ornamental grass. But in Australia & parts of the US it's an invasive weed which destroys natural ecological systems. You might have already dealt with it because I can't see it in the third photo of your last post.
Really Woko, Ihave still got some but i thought it was a native grass and that it was sterile and see the last pic there is a green grass with flower stems that are erect, i thought it was a version of it. I'm sure the nursery told me it was sterile. Anyway i will get rid of it then because it gives people a rash. Thanks for your advice.
Love this, great work Margaret!!
Hi Margaret. I can see on the right in the last photo what seems to be a clump of grass or a tufty plant of some sort. The Pennisetum is on the left in the second photo & has burgundy/purple flower or seed heads. I don't know about the former but the latter is the one that can cause big problems & you might have already dealt with it because I don't see it in the last photo.
If you're looking for an ornamental grass which is almost certainly local to your area as well as providing great habitat for butterfly larvae & other creatures (all of which make great bird tuckker) could I recommend kangaroo grass Themeda triandra? Some nurseries in & around Adelaide stock it so it's probably available at a nursery near you.
Thanks Lorikeet :)
Woko, I got 2 of those purple fountain grasses out so far and have about 3 more to go. I went to a native nursery and bought lots of grasses. Didn't see that grass though.
We've been getting our garden beds cleared of weeds, some sticky creeper and blackberries. Both my husband and I had accidents last year - him in April resulting spinal cord injury and me in December with a badly broken leg. We're both recovering still and could see our garden was getting away from us so we engaged a couple of gardeners to come in regularly since start of this year. We've been getting in weed resistent mulch to put on the garden beds as they do each section and today went to Bunnings and bought a lot of plants - things we though would attract the local native birds plus bees and butterflies. Can't wait for them to grow so we can see the benefits to the local in habitants. It will look great we're sure. Graham and I can both manage raking mulch and planting bushes and other plants - it's just all the heavy back breaking stuff that's too much for us at the moment. Hoping to be able to report something like Margaret's done - but not for some time.
Kathiemt
Selby, Victoria
Kathie, you better do a before and after shot. That sounds horrible having those injuries but lucky you can get some back breaker workers.
Kathie, you better do a before and after shot. That sounds horrible having those injuries but lucky you can get some back breaker workers.
Perhaps I should Margaret. I have taken some pics but there's plenty more work to be done. Might start a new thread once we're happy with the progress!
Kathiemt
Selby, Victoria
Love the determination of both you & your husband, kathiemt. Hope your new garden attracts heaps of wildlife.
Hi Margaret
What an inspiration! And to think people waste money on landscaper designers and gardeners to do this! What a lovely retreat you have created. I love that you have been able to create the cottage look with natives. Good on you ;)
Connie, I don't think it's a waste of money paying people to do that. It's an investment in your property and some people don't know where to begin or what to do, or don't have the time to do it. But if you do have the time and the inclination then doing what Margaret has done is inspiring and wonderful.
Kathiemt
Selby, Victoria
Thanks Connie, how's your backyard going?
Ohh very slowly, we have a tiny block and just wanting to create a little wildlife haven for my boys to enjoy. The backyard has lawn for now. I have planted indigenous plants on our verge. We have wetlands under constuction (we live in a new development) so hoping to provide some little hideaways and food sources for the birds that come to visit. I have already seen a flock of ibises on the footy field so that was exciting. I will keep the website posted.
Have a great day and happy gardening ;)
Today I noticed a New Holland Honeyeater making a nest in my oak tree
however i also noticed it giving the Fairy Wrens a hard time the other day. I hope it's not going to get all territorial.
It will, Margaret. That's nature. The important thing is to have habitat for both species. Your garden provides plenty of cover for Fairy-wrens to escape into when threatened by New Holland Honeyeaters.
I think the Honeyeater has abandoned it's nest because I haven't seen it doing anything to it. This might be because Indian Minors are hanging in the Oak tree and usually they don't seem to be there but because it has no leaves at the moment they like it.
So my questions are :
Are the Indian Minors driving away the Honeyeater?
Is there anything I can do about them?
I'm wondering if the Fairy Wrens have a nest at the back because they are always there. I have Hardenbergia, a buddleia, a eucalypt, Melaleuca bracteata, an old hibiscus and they are all crammed together so the vegetation is really thick.
Hi Margaret. It's highly likely the Indian mynas are having an impact on the New Holland Honeyeaters. Replacing the deciduous oak tree with indigenous shrubs or an indigenous tree would provide more cover for the New Holland Honeyeaters & may discourage the mynas. However, you may not be willing to sacrifice your oak tree for New Holland Honeyeaters.
Lots of thick native vegetation with adjacent open space or spaces will encourage Superb Fairy Wrens to nest.
Thanks for replying woko :) I doubt that I could get permission to cut the oak tree down. I like it because it is really old, from 1890 I would say, so even though my neighbours have hassled me because they don't like it, i support it's right to live. Usually the mynas aren't in it, i think they like it because the leaves are gone. The honeyeaters are still around though it's disappointing that they abandoned their nest.
I think that sooner or later it will need to be chopped down because I think it might have borers in the back where it is close to the fence.
btw Gardening Australia are considering my garden for a segment on native gardens Woko, I'll be quoting you :)
I'm not sure if it is up to their standards though, they have just requested photos at this stage. Since you told me to go indigenous, i have been pulling things out and putting in new things so it looks a bit scraggly.
How did they find out about your garden Margaret? That's wonderful. I watch that show.
Kathiemt
Selby, Victoria
Kathie I posted some photos on Angus Stewart's FB page but i reckon it doesn't look too good at the moment so if they actually come here they might not choose it at all.
By "scraggly" do you mean "young" or "immature" given that you've recently done some replanting? What I mean by scraggly is good, Margaret. I've yet to see an unscraggly piece of natural bushland.
I hope your garden gets a guernsey on Gardening Australia, Margaret, & that in galvanizes gargantuan megabytes of gardeners across our great nation.
guess what Gardening AUstralia is coming ...yiks i don't know the names of the plants so have to do some studying and Woko I'll be back to ask you some questions about the birds. I kept mentioning this website to them and they want to ensure they get bird shots so i hope the birds show up to be filmed.
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