March 2014 Update

Its been all go at the house recently. In September 2013 I planted up the entertainment area in front of the house. Recently I completed a new part of the garden which is uphill from the house. We planted a range of bushes and plants aimed at increasing shade and penetration on the subsoil and adding lushness. Plants include

• Agapanthus (love em – a friend got about 50 that the neighbour was chucking out)
• Birds of paradise
• Pumpkin – organic matter
• Horseradish & Comfrey to break up the soil and provide organic matter
• Oak – For shade and mulch
• Wisteria – to climb the fence and provide a foliage backdrop
• and a lot of other things I cant remember

The plants were planted in trenches off contour that followed the water lines as they seep from the irrigation pipe on the fence. In the video I give a tour of the new area along with some of my ideas for the new water feature and grape trellis that should cool down the north face of the house.

At Christmas I bought mulch

and this is what I did with it

A fortnight ago I wrote another post on the the estatae here

I have been doing alot at the Estate recently and I thought readers might appreciate an update
Below is a view of the property – 20 acres in country Victoria of regrowth gum forrest (formally gold mined). Its heavily damaged withlittle top soil and although its a forresst the gums offer very little shade.

The videos below show a quick walkaround of the property showing the 20 fruit trees I planted in September, and the new area I have planted on the inside of the fenceline and the plan I have for a fountain and water feature that I hope will cool down the house when it is hot.

The fruit trees were hit hard but look like they will still survive by the unprecedently hot week we had about a month ago (where the whole week was around 40 degrees).

There is also now a new area of planting that we put in the previous week that I hope will start improving the soil and water retention.

I have just modified the front garden of out house and put in a lettuce and herb garden with walkways and irrigation. I am quite proud of my little creation hope you like it!